در ۱۵ ثانیه
- Used when you haven't seen someone in a long time.
- A polite way to say 'You've been making yourself scarce.'
- Combines a compliment with a gentle observation of absence.
معنی
While it literally means 'to make oneself rare,' you use it when someone hasn't been around lately. It is a polite, slightly playful way to say 'I haven't seen you in forever.'
مثالهای کلیدی
3 از 6Seeing a friend after months
Dis donc, tu te fais rare en ce moment !
Hey, you're making yourself scarce these days!
A colleague finally visits the breakroom
On ne vous voit plus au café, vous vous faites rare.
We don't see you at coffee anymore, you're becoming a rare sight.
Texting a friend who hasn't replied
Alors, tu te fais rare ? On sort ce soir ?
So, are you hiding? Are we going out tonight?
زمینه فرهنگی
In France, this phrase is a staple of 'la politesse'. It allows people to express that they've noticed an absence without being intrusive or demanding an explanation. In Quebec, the phrase is used similarly, but you might also hear 'Tu es rendu rare,' which uses the verb 'rendre' (to become/to be rendered). In many West African French-speaking countries, social presence is highly valued. 'Se faire rare' can sometimes carry a slightly stronger weight of 'we miss you' than in Europe. In Belgium, especially in Brussels, the phrase is used in professional networking events to gently nudge someone to attend more gatherings.
The 'Compliment' Rule
Always remember that this is usually a compliment. You are telling the person that their presence is valuable enough to be missed.
Watch the Agreement
Don't forget the 's' on 'rares' if you are talking to a couple or a group. 'Vous vous faites rares !'
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- Used when you haven't seen someone in a long time.
- A polite way to say 'You've been making yourself scarce.'
- Combines a compliment with a gentle observation of absence.
What It Means
Imagine a friend who usually hangs out every weekend suddenly disappears for a month. You finally see them at a cafe. You wouldn't just say 'hello.' You would say they are se faire rare. It means they have been absent or hard to find lately. It is like saying they are a rare Pokémon or a solar eclipse. You are acknowledging their absence without being too pushy or rude.
How To Use It
You use the reflexive verb se faire followed by the adjective rare. If you are talking to a girl, it stays rare because the spelling doesn't change. For a group, it is still rare. You can use it in the present tense like tu te fais rare or the past. It is very flexible. It sounds much more elegant than just saying 'you aren't here.'
When To Use It
Use this when you want to be charmingly accusatory. It works great when a colleague finally comes to the office after working from home. It is perfect for that friend who stopped replying to the group chat. Use it at a family dinner for the cousin who lives abroad. It shows you noticed they were gone. It implies that their presence is valuable and missed.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this if someone was gone for a tragic reason. If a friend was in the hospital, saying they are se faire rare sounds cold. Avoid it in very strict legal or medical settings. It is a social phrase, not a technical one. Also, don't use it for someone you see every single day. That would just be confusing humor.
Cultural Background
French culture values the 'art of the absence.' There is a certain prestige in not being available 24/7. By saying someone is 'making themselves rare,' you are giving them a bit of mystery. It dates back to high society where being seen everywhere was considered common. Being 'rare' meant you were exclusive and in demand.
Common Variations
You might hear tu deviens rare which means 'you are becoming rare.' Another one is on ne te voit plus, which is more direct. Some people might say tu joues les prolongations if you are staying away too long. But se faire rare remains the most classic and stylish choice for any social situation.
نکات کاربردی
This phrase is perfectly neutral and fits almost any social situation. Just remember to conjugate the reflexive pronoun (`me`, `te`, `se`, `nous`, `vous`, `se`) correctly.
The 'Compliment' Rule
Always remember that this is usually a compliment. You are telling the person that their presence is valuable enough to be missed.
Watch the Agreement
Don't forget the 's' on 'rares' if you are talking to a couple or a group. 'Vous vous faites rares !'
Use it for objects
To sound more native, use it for things like 'le soleil' or 'le temps libre'. 'Le temps libre se fait rare !'
مثالها
6Dis donc, tu te fais rare en ce moment !
Hey, you're making yourself scarce these days!
A classic way to start a conversation after a long break.
On ne vous voit plus au café, vous vous faites rare.
We don't see you at coffee anymore, you're becoming a rare sight.
Polite use of 'vous' in a professional but relaxed setting.
Alors, tu te fais rare ? On sort ce soir ?
So, are you hiding? Are we going out tonight?
Short and punchy for a text message.
Viens voir ta grand-mère, tu te fais trop rare.
Come see your grandmother, you're around far too little.
Used here to express a bit of 'grandma guilt' with love.
Le soleil se fait rare cette semaine, comme toi !
The sun is making itself rare this week, just like you!
A funny comparison between the person and the weather.
C'est un plaisir de vous voir, vous vous faites rare dans nos soirées.
It is a pleasure to see you; you have been scarce at our parties.
Very elegant and welcoming.
خودت رو بسنج
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'se faire rare'.
Depuis qu'il a son nouveau travail, Marc ________.
Marc is 'il' (3rd person singular), so we use 'se fait rare'.
Which sentence is correct when talking to a group of friends?
Talking to three friends you haven't seen in a month:
When addressing a group (vous), the adjective 'rare' must be plural (rares).
Choose the best response for the dialogue.
A: 'Salut Julie ! Ça fait longtemps !' B: 'Oui, je sais, ________.'
Julie is acknowledging her own absence, so she says 'je me fais rare'.
Match the sentence to the correct context.
1. 'Les cabines téléphoniques se font rares.' 2. 'Tu te fais rare, mon pote !'
The first refers to objects disappearing, the second to a friend's absence.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Agreement Rules
بانک تمرین
4 تمرینهاDepuis qu'il a son nouveau travail, Marc ________.
Marc is 'il' (3rd person singular), so we use 'se fait rare'.
Talking to three friends you haven't seen in a month:
When addressing a group (vous), the adjective 'rare' must be plural (rares).
A: 'Salut Julie ! Ça fait longtemps !' B: 'Oui, je sais, ________.'
Julie is acknowledging her own absence, so she says 'je me fais rare'.
1. 'Les cabines téléphoniques se font rares.' 2. 'Tu te fais rare, mon pote !'
The first refers to objects disappearing, the second to a friend's absence.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
سوالات متداول
10 سوالNo, it's generally considered friendly and playful. It's a way of saying 'I miss seeing you' without being too emotional.
Yes, if you have a cordial relationship. It's a neutral phrase that works well in most professional settings.
'Être rare' means to be unique or scarce by nature. 'Se faire rare' means to not show up often.
Use 'être' as the auxiliary: 'Tu t'es fait rare.'
Yes, it is universally understood across the Francophonie, from France to Canada to Africa.
Not usually. You wouldn't say a restaurant 'se fait rare,' but you could say 'Les bons restaurants se font rares' (meaning they are hard to find).
Yes, 'Tu as disparu de la circulation' is a more casual, slangy way to say the same thing.
No, 'rare' is the same for masculine and feminine. It only changes for plural (rares).
Yes! 'Je sais, je me fais rare en ce moment, j'ai beaucoup de travail.' It's a common excuse.
It's very common in both, though it's a staple of spoken social interaction.
عبارات مرتبط
se faire désirer
similarTo play hard to get.
ne plus donner de nouvelles
similarTo stop giving news/updates.
être aux abonnés absents
synonymTo be unreachable.
passer en coup de vent
contrastTo drop by very briefly.
