le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle
To age suddenly
بهطور تحتاللفظی: The game is not worth the candle
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- The effort or cost outweighs the final reward.
- A classic way to say 'it's not worth it.'
- Derived from the high cost of candles in 16th-century gambling.
معنی
This phrase is used when the effort or cost of something is way higher than the reward. It is the French way of saying 'it's not worth the trouble' or 'the juice isn't worth the squeeze.'
مثالهای کلیدی
3 از 6Deciding whether to repair an old phone
Réparer ce vieux téléphone ? Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle.
Repairing this old phone? It's not worth the trouble.
Discussing a high-stress job offer
Le salaire est bon, mais avec tout ce stress, le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle.
The salary is good, but with all that stress, it's not worth it.
Texting a friend about a long drive for a short party
Conduire 4 heures pour une fête d'une heure ? Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle !
Driving 4 hours for a 1-hour party? Not worth the squeeze!
زمینه فرهنگی
In France, this phrase is often used by politicians and economists during debates to criticize expensive projects with low social impact. While used in Quebec, locals might also use 'Ça vaut pas la peine' or more colorful local expressions like 'Ça vaut pas de la petite bière'. Belgian French speakers use this idiom frequently in professional settings, maintaining the same neutral-to-formal register as in France. In countries like Senegal or Ivory Coast, the phrase is understood but might be replaced in casual speech by 'C'est pas la peine' or 'Laisse tomber'.
Use it to say 'No' politely
In a professional setting, it's a very polite way to decline a request that would take too much time.
Don't forget the 'en'
Without 'en', the phrase sounds like you are a time traveler from 1550. Keep it modern!
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- The effort or cost outweighs the final reward.
- A classic way to say 'it's not worth it.'
- Derived from the high cost of candles in 16th-century gambling.
What It Means
Imagine you are playing a card game at night. To see your cards, you have to buy a candle. If the prize you win is smaller than the cost of that candle, you are losing money. That is exactly what le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle means. It describes a situation where the energy, time, or money you spend is simply too much for what you get back. It is about ROI—Return on Investment—but for your life.
How To Use It
You use this phrase to decline an offer or stop a project. It usually starts with le jeu and ends with la chandelle. You can use it as a standalone sentence to end a debate. You can also use it to advise a friend against a bad idea. It feels wise and calculated. Use it when you want to sound like you have thought things through. It is perfect for when you are feeling a bit cynical about a task.
When To Use It
Use it when a friend wants to drive three hours for a mediocre burger. Use it at work when a project requires 50 hours of overtime for a tiny bonus. It works great when texting about a date that requires too much effort. If you are debating whether to fix an old, broken car, this is your go-to line. It fits perfectly in any situation involving a trade-off. It is the ultimate 'hard pass' for logical people.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for deeply emotional or tragic situations. If someone is mourning, do not say their grief 'isn't worth the candle.' That would be very rude. Avoid using it for very small, trivial things like picking up a dropped pen. It carries a bit of weight, so save it for actual decisions. Also, it is a bit too long for high-intensity sports moments. You want something shorter when you are out of breath.
Cultural Background
This phrase dates back to the 16th century, long before electricity. Back then, candles were expensive luxury items. Gamblers in taverns had to pay for the candles used to light their tables. If the stakes of the game were low, the winner might still lose money because of the candle cost. It reflects the old French spirit of being practical and slightly frugal. It has survived centuries because the logic of 'cost vs. benefit' never goes out of style.
Common Variations
You will mostly hear the negative version: le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle. However, you can occasionally hear the positive: le jeu en vaut la chandelle. This means 'it is totally worth it.' Some people might shorten it in very casual speech to just ça n'en vaut pas la peine. But the candle version is much more stylish. It adds a touch of classic French flair to your conversation.
نکات کاربردی
This phrase sits in the perfect 'neutral' zone. It is sophisticated enough for a formal report but common enough for a casual chat over coffee. Just remember to keep the `ne...pas` structure for the negative meaning.
Use it to say 'No' politely
In a professional setting, it's a very polite way to decline a request that would take too much time.
Don't forget the 'en'
Without 'en', the phrase sounds like you are a time traveler from 1550. Keep it modern!
The Positive Version
You can use 'Le jeu en vaut la chandelle' to encourage someone to take a big risk for a big reward.
مثالها
6Réparer ce vieux téléphone ? Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle.
Repairing this old phone? It's not worth the trouble.
A classic example of cost vs. benefit analysis.
Le salaire est bon, mais avec tout ce stress, le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle.
The salary is good, but with all that stress, it's not worth it.
Used here to weigh emotional cost against financial gain.
Conduire 4 heures pour une fête d'une heure ? Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle !
Driving 4 hours for a 1-hour party? Not worth the squeeze!
Commonly used in texts to decline plans logically.
S'habiller élégamment pour un rendez-vous au fast-food ? Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle.
Dressing up for a fast-food date? The game isn't worth the candle.
Adds a bit of dry humor to a mundane situation.
J'ai réalisé que pour cette amitié, le jeu n'en vaut plus la chandelle.
I realized that for this friendship, it's just not worth the effort anymore.
Shows a more serious, reflective side of the phrase.
Compte tenu des risques, le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle pour la commune.
Given the risks, the venture is not worth the candle for the municipality.
Demonstrates the phrase's utility in formal, logical arguments.
خودت رو بسنج
Complete the idiom with the missing words.
Je ne vais pas réparer cette vieille télé, le jeu n'___ vaut pas la _______.
The full idiom is 'le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle'.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
Dans quelle situation diriez-vous : 'Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle' ?
The idiom is used when the effort (10 hours) is much greater than the reward (5 euros).
Choose the best response for Marc.
Julie: 'On devrait repeindre toute la maison avant de la vendre demain !' Marc: '_________________'
Marc is saying that the effort of painting the whole house in one day is too much for the benefit.
🎉 امتیاز: /3
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
بانک تمرین
3 تمرینهاJe ne vais pas réparer cette vieille télé, le jeu n'___ vaut pas la _______.
The full idiom is 'le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle'.
Dans quelle situation diriez-vous : 'Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle' ?
The idiom is used when the effort (10 hours) is much greater than the reward (5 euros).
Julie: 'On devrait repeindre toute la maison avant de la vendre demain !' Marc: '_________________'
Marc is saying that the effort of painting the whole house in one day is too much for the benefit.
🎉 امتیاز: /3
سوالات متداول
3 سوالNot at all! It's a classic idiom that remains very common in newspapers, business, and daily life.
Usually no. It's for actions, projects, or objects. For a person, you'd say 'Il n'en vaut pas la peine'.
It's a pronoun replacing the 'game' or the 'effort' involved in the action.
عبارات مرتبط
valoir le coup
synonymto be worth it
valoir la peine
similarto be worth the trouble
c'est pas la mer à boire
contrastit's not that difficult
le compte n'y est pas
similarthe numbers don't add up
