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B1 verb 11分で読める

perplexer

練習する例文メモとヒント perplexer 30秒で

解説 perplexer in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'perplexer' is quite advanced. You probably won't need to use it yourself yet, but it's helpful to know it's related to the English word 'perplex'. When you see 'perplexer', think of the word 'confus' (confused) or 'pas comprendre' (to not understand). It's a verb that describes when a thing or a situation makes someone go 'Huh?'. For example, if a math problem is very hard, you could say it 'perplexes' you. At this stage, focus on the fact that 'perplexer' is an action done by a thing to a person. It's like a puzzle that is too hard to solve. You might hear a teacher say 'Cette question va vous perplexer' (This question will confuse you). Just remember: Perplexer = To make someone confused.

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At the A2 level, you can start to recognize 'perplexer' as a regular '-er' verb. This means it follows the same rules as 'parler' or 'manger'. You might encounter it in short stories or news headlines. It's more specific than 'confondre'. While 'confondre' means you mix up two things (like mistaking a brother for a sister), 'perplexer' means you just don't understand why something is happening. If your friend usually likes pizza but suddenly says they hate it, that might 'perplexer' you. You can try using it with simple pronouns: 'Cela me perplexe' (That confuses me). It's a great way to sound a bit more sophisticated than just saying 'Je ne comprends pas'.

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At the B1 level, you should be able to use 'perplexer' to describe complex situations. This is the level where you start expressing opinions and feelings about abstract topics. 'Perplexer' is perfect for this. It describes an intellectual confusion. You might use it when talking about a movie plot that didn't make sense or a strange cultural habit you noticed in France. Remember that the thing causing the confusion is the subject. 'Le film me perplexe' is correct. Also, start noticing the difference between the verb 'perplexer' and the adjective 'perplexe'. You say 'Je suis perplexe' (I am perplexed) but 'L'histoire me perplexe' (The story perplexes me). Using the verb correctly at this level shows you understand French sentence structure and transitive verbs.

At the B2 level, you should use 'perplexer' to add nuance to your arguments. In a debate or an essay, 'perplexer' suggests that a problem is genuinely difficult and requires thought. It’s a 'smart' word. You can use it in the conditional mood to show doubt: 'Une telle proposition me perplexerait beaucoup' (Such a proposal would perplex me a lot). You should also be aware of its synonyms like 'dérouter' or 'déconcerter' and know when to choose 'perplexer' instead. Choose it when the confusion is logical or intellectual. You might also see it in the 'passé simple' in literature (e.g., 'Cela le perplexa'), which is a good sign that you are moving into advanced reading territory.

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At the C1 level, 'perplexer' becomes part of your stylistic toolkit. You understand that while 'laisser perplexe' is more common in speech, the active verb 'perplexer' can create a more direct and impactful sentence in writing. You can use it to describe subtle paradoxes in philosophy, politics, or science. You should be comfortable with its placement in complex sentences, such as 'Ce qui ne cesse de me perplexer, c'est la passivité des citoyens' (What never ceases to perplex me is the passivity of the citizens). At this level, you also recognize the etymological connection to 'weaving' and can appreciate the metaphorical 'tangle' of thoughts the word implies. You use it to indicate a high-level cognitive challenge.

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At the C2 level, you have a total mastery of 'perplexer'. you use it with precision, perhaps even ironically or to highlight a specific rhetorical point. You are aware of its rarity in common speech and use it deliberately to evoke a certain literary or academic tone. You can distinguish between 'perplexer' and its most subtle relatives like 'méduser' or 'ébahir'. You might use it in a critique of a complex legal text or a scientific paper, noting how certain ambiguities 'perplexent' the reader. Your use of the word is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker, appearing naturally in contexts where intellectual depth and precision are required.

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練習する例文メモとヒント

perplexer 30秒で

Perplexer is a formal French verb meaning 'to perplex' or 'to baffle', used when something is too complex to understand easily.
It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs a direct object (the person being confused) and a subject (the cause of confusion).
Learners should distinguish it from the adjective 'perplexe'; use the verb for the action and the adjective for the state of being.
Commonly found in literature, journalism, and academic contexts to describe deep, intellectual confusion or challenging paradoxes.

The French verb perplexer is a sophisticated transitive verb that translates directly to the English 'to perplex'. In its essence, it describes the action of throwing someone into a state of uncertainty, hesitation, or profound confusion. Unlike simple misunderstanding, being perplexed implies a cognitive deadlock where the facts provided do not align with one's logical expectations. It is a word that carries a certain weight of intellectual rigor; you wouldn't typically use it for a minor slip-up, but rather for a situation, a paradox, or a behavior that defies immediate explanation. When something perplexe an individual, it leaves them searching for a missing piece of the puzzle, often resulting in a contemplative or even slightly troubled silence.

Semantic Nuance: While 'confondre' suggests a mixing up of two things, 'perplexer' suggests a total halt in the flow of thought because the subject is too complex or contradictory to process.
Register: This verb belongs to a formal or literary register. In everyday conversation, French speakers are more likely to use the phrase 'laisser perplexe' (to leave perplexed) rather than the active verb 'perplexer', but the verb itself remains a powerful tool in academic, journalistic, and literary writing.

Cette décision soudaine du gouvernement commence à perplexer les analystes les plus expérimentés.

To use 'perplexer' correctly, one must understand that the subject of the verb is almost always the cause of the confusion—an event, a statement, or a mystery—and the direct object is the person experiencing the confusion. For example, 'Son silence me perplexe' (His silence perplexes me). It is rarely used in the passive voice in modern French, as speakers prefer the adjective 'perplexe' to describe the state of the person. Understanding this verb allows a learner to express a specific type of 'not knowing'—one that is rooted in the complexity of the object rather than the ignorance of the subject. It is the verb of the detective, the scientist, and the philosopher, all of whom face phenomena that challenge their existing frameworks of understanding.

L'énigme mathématique a fini par perplexer toute la classe de terminale.

Cognitive Impact: The verb implies a state of 'suspension'. When you are perplexed, your mind stops moving forward because it cannot resolve the contradiction presented to it.

Historically, the word shares roots with 'plexus' (meaning woven or braided). Thus, to perplex someone is to 'entwine' or 'weave' their thoughts into a knot that is difficult to untie. This visual metaphor is incredibly helpful for learners. Imagine a thread of thought that suddenly gets tangled with another thread; that is the moment of 'perplexion'. In the modern French landscape, this verb acts as a bridge between the simple 'troubler' (to trouble) and the more intense 'sidérer' (to stagger/amaze). It occupies the middle ground of intellectual curiosity mixed with frustration.

Les résultats de l'étude pourraient perplexer ceux qui croient encore à cette théorie obsolète.

Social Context: Using this word in a professional meeting suggests that you are giving serious thought to a problem, rather than just being 'confused', which can sometimes sound unprofessional.

Mastering the use of perplexer involves understanding its role as a transitive verb. It requires a subject (the cause) and a direct object (the person). In French, word order is crucial when using object pronouns with this verb. For instance, if you want to say 'It perplexes me', you must place the pronoun 'me' before the verb: 'Cela me perplexe'. This structure is common with verbs of emotion or mental state in French. If the subject is a person doing something that causes confusion, you might say: 'Jean me perplexe avec ses questions incessantes' (Jean perplexes me with his incessant questions).

Conjugation Patterns: As a regular -er verb, it follows standard patterns: je perplexe, tu perplexes, il perplexe, nous perplexons, vous perplexez, ils perplexent. In the passé composé, it uses 'avoir': 'Cela m'a perplexé'.

Le comportement de mon chat ne cesse de me perplexer chaque matin.

One of the most effective ways to use 'perplexer' is in the infinitive form following another verb. Phrases like 'aller perplexer' (going to perplex) or 'pouvoir perplexer' (can perplex) are frequently used to describe potential outcomes. For example: 'Cette nouvelle loi va perplexer les citoyens' (This new law is going to perplex the citizens). It is also useful in the conditional mood to express a hypothetical confusion: 'Une telle réponse me perplexerait' (Such an answer would perplex me). This adds a layer of politeness and intellectual distance to your speech.

Nous ne voulons pas perplexer notre audience avec trop de détails techniques.

Common Subjects: Common subjects for 'perplexer' include: 'la situation', 'le problème', 'la réaction', 'le mystère', and 'le paradoxe'.

In negative sentences, 'perplexer' helps clarify that something is straightforward. 'Cela ne me perplexe pas du tout' (That doesn't perplex me at all) is a strong way to indicate that you find a situation logical or expected. Furthermore, in more advanced writing, you might see 'perplexer' used with 'faire' to create a causative construction: 'Il a fait en sorte de nous perplexer' (He made sure to perplex us). This implies a deliberate attempt to cause confusion, often used in the context of strategy or gamesmanship.

Pourquoi est-ce que tu cherches toujours à perplexer tes interlocuteurs ?

While perplexer might not be the first word a child learns, it is ubiquitous in adult intellectual life in France. You will most frequently encounter it in the realm of high-quality journalism. Editorialists in newspapers like Le Monde or Le Figaro often use it to describe the public's reaction to complex geopolitical events or economic shifts. For instance, a journalist might write about how a sudden change in central bank policy 'perplexes' the markets. This usage highlights the word's ability to describe collective confusion on a grand scale.

Literature & Arts: In French literature, from the 19th-century realists to contemporary novelists, the verb is used to describe the internal state of characters facing moral dilemmas or strange social customs.

L'intrigue de ce nouveau roman policier risque de perplexer même les lecteurs les plus assidus.

In the academic world, particularly in philosophy and the sciences, 'perplexer' is a staple. A professor might discuss a paradox that 'perplexes' the scientific community for decades. Here, the word takes on a positive connotation of intellectual challenge—a problem that is so deep it requires new ways of thinking. Similarly, in legal contexts, a particularly ambiguous clause in a contract might be said to 'perplexer' the judges, leading to a lengthy deliberation. It signifies a genuine legal 'casse-tête' (brain-teaser) that cannot be easily solved by existing statutes.

Son refus de coopérer sans raison apparente a fini par perplexer la police.

You will also hear this word in documentaries and high-brow talk shows (like those on France Culture). When experts debate, they use 'perplexer' to acknowledge the difficulty of a subject without admitting defeat. It’s a way of saying, 'This is hard, and I am thinking deeply about it.' In the tech world, a new, disruptive technology might 'perplexer' the established industry leaders. In all these cases, 'perplexer' is the word of choice when 'confondre' is too simple and 'étonner' (to surprise) is not serious enough. It implies a lasting state of inquiry.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with perplexer is confusing the verb with the adjective perplexe. In English, we often say 'I am perplexed'. A direct, but incorrect, translation might lead a student to say 'Je suis perplexé'. While this might be understood, it is not standard French. Instead, one should say 'Je suis perplexe' (using the adjective). The verb 'perplexer' should be reserved for the action: 'Cette situation me perplexe'. Understanding this distinction between the state (adjective) and the cause (verb) is the hallmark of an intermediate learner moving toward fluency.

Mistake 1: The Passive Trap: Avoid 'Je suis perplexé par...'. Use 'Cela me perplexe' or 'Je suis perplexe face à...'.
Mistake 2: Overusing the Verb: Don't use 'perplexer' for simple confusion like getting lost in a city. That's 'se perdre' or 'être désorienté'.

Incorrect: Je suis très perplexé par ton message.
Correct: Ton message me perplexe au plus haut point.

Another common mistake is the pronunciation of the 'x'. In French, the 'x' in 'perplexer' is pronounced like 'ks' (per-plek-say), similar to the English 'complex'. Some learners mistakenly pronounce it like a 'z' or 's' due to other French words like 'six' or 'deuxième'. Keeping the 'ks' sound crisp is essential for being understood. Additionally, learners often forget that 'perplexer' is a transitive verb that doesn't usually take a preposition like 'à' or 'de' before the object. It is 'perplexer quelqu'un', not 'perplexer à quelqu'un'.

Erreur de préposition: L'énigme perplexe à tout le monde.
Correct: L'énigme perplexe tout le monde.

Finally, be careful not to confuse 'perplexer' with 'persuader' (to persuade) or 'perplexité' (the noun). While they look somewhat similar, their meanings are worlds apart. A learner might accidentally say 'Il m'a perplexé de venir' thinking they mean 'He persuaded me to come'. This would actually mean 'He confused me about coming', which changes the sentence's intent entirely. Always double-check the 'perplex-' root against the English 'perplex' to stay on track.

French is a language rich in synonyms for confusion, each with its own specific 'flavor'. If perplexer feels too formal or not quite right for your context, consider these alternatives. The most common synonym is dérouter. While 'perplexer' is purely intellectual, 'dérouter' (literally 'to take off the road') implies a loss of direction or a sudden change in plans that leaves someone unsettled. It is very common in both formal and informal French.

Dérouter vs Perplexer: Use 'dérouter' for physical or strategic confusion; use 'perplexer' for mental or logical puzzles.
Déconcerter: This verb is closer to 'to disconcert' or 'to throw off balance'. It often involves an emotional element, like being surprised by someone's unexpected rudeness.

Sa réponse m'a totalement déconcerté, je ne m'y attendais pas.

Another excellent alternative is intriguer. If the confusion is mixed with curiosity, 'intriguer' is the perfect choice. While 'perplexer' can be frustrating, 'intriguer' suggests that you want to find out more. For instance, 'Son comportement m'intrigue' means his behavior makes you wonder why he's doing it. On the more intense end of the spectrum, we have déboussoler (to lose one's compass). This is a very expressive, slightly more informal word used when someone feels completely lost or overwhelmed by a situation.

Cette affaire criminelle continue de perplexer les enquêteurs, contrairement à l'affaire précédente qui les avait simplement intrigués.

Embarrasser: In French, this can mean 'to hinder' or 'to clog up', but also 'to embarrass' in the sense of putting someone in a difficult spot where they don't know what to do.

Finally, for a very formal or literary context, you might use abasourdir (to stun/deafen with surprise) or méduser (to petrify/amaze, as if by Medusa). These are much stronger than 'perplexer' and imply a state of shock where one can't even think. Choosing the right word depends on the intensity of the confusion and whether it is a quiet, thoughtful state ('perplexer') or a loud, shocking one ('abasourdir').

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

The 'plex' in 'perplexer' is the same 'plex' found in 'solar plexus' and 'googleplex'. It all goes back to the idea of weaving or folding.

発音ガイド

UK /pɛʁ.plɛk.se/

US /pɛr.plɛk.se/

The stress in French is always on the final syllable: per-plek-SAY.

韻が合う語

fixer annexer vexer complexer indexer relaxer taxer malaxer

よくある間違い

Pronouncing the 'x' as 'z' or 's'.
Muting the 'r' too much like in English.
Stressing the first syllable.
Mispronouncing the '-er' ending as 'er' instead of 'ay'.
Adding an 'i' sound before the 'x' (per-pleik-say).

難易度

読解 3/5

Easy to recognize for English speakers due to the cognate.

ライティング 5/5

Requires careful distinction between the verb and the adjective 'perplexe'.

スピーキング 6/5

The 'x' pronunciation and uvular 'r' can be tricky for beginners.

リスニング 4/5

Clearly audible in formal speech or news broadcasts.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

comprendre confus question problème difficile

次に学ぶ

dérouter déconcerter intrigue paradoxe ambiguïté

上級

aporie hermétisme onirisme méduser abasourdir

知っておくべき文法

Transitive Verbs

Perplexer takes a direct object: 'Cela me perplexe'.

Object Pronoun Placement

The pronoun goes before the verb: 'Cela *te* perplexe'.

Regular -er Conjugation

Follows the pattern of 'aimer' or 'parler'.

Passé Composé with Avoir

J'ai perplexé, tu as perplexé, etc.

Adjective vs Verb

Use 'perplexe' for the state and 'perplexer' for the action.

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レベル別の例文

Ce jeu me perplexe.

This game perplexes me.

Simple subject-verb-object order.

La question perplexe l'enfant.

The question perplexes the child.

Direct object 'l'enfant' follows the verb.

Est-ce que cela te perplexe ?

Does that perplex you?

Question form with 'est-ce que'.

Le plan ne me perplexe pas.

The plan does not perplex me.

Negative form using 'ne... pas'.

Ces mots me perplexent.

These words perplex me.

Plural subject 'ces mots' requires plural verb ending '-ent'.

Pourquoi cela te perplexe ?

Why does that perplex you?

Question with 'pourquoi'.

Le chat perplexe son maître.

The cat perplexes its master.

Simple present tense.

Ça me perplexe un peu.

That perplexes me a bit.

Use of 'un peu' to modify the intensity.

Ton attitude commence à me perplexer.

Your attitude is starting to perplex me.

Verb 'perplexer' in the infinitive after 'commence à'.

Le professeur ne veut pas perplexer les élèves.

The teacher does not want to perplex the students.

Infinitive after 'vouloir'.

Cette règle de grammaire m'a perplexé hier.

This grammar rule perplexed me yesterday.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Nous allons perplexer nos parents avec cette surprise.

We are going to perplex our parents with this surprise.

Futur proche with 'aller'.

Le message de Marie nous perplexe tous.

Marie's message perplexes us all.

Plural object pronoun 'nous'.

Je ne comprends pas ce qui te perplexe.

I don't understand what is perplexing you.

Relative clause with 'ce qui'.

Ses explications perplexent souvent la classe.

His explanations often perplex the class.

Adverb 'souvent' placement.

Est-ce que mon silence vous perplexe ?

Does my silence perplex you?

Formal 'vous' as object.

Ce paradoxe temporel finit par perplexer les scientifiques.

This time paradox ends up perplexing the scientists.

Use of 'finit par' + infinitive.

Rien ne semble perplexer cet homme d'affaires.

Nothing seems to perplex this businessman.

Negative subject 'rien' and 'sembler'.

Si tu changes d'avis, cela va me perplexer.

If you change your mind, it's going to perplex me.

Conditional 'si' clause with future intent.

Il a écrit un poème qui perplexe ses lecteurs.

He wrote a poem that perplexes its readers.

Relative pronoun 'qui' as subject.

Le manque de preuves perplexe encore la police.

The lack of evidence still perplexes the police.

Abstract subject 'le manque de preuves'.

Pourquoi cherches-tu à me perplexer avec ces chiffres ?

Why are you trying to perplex me with these figures?

Infinitive after 'chercher à'.

La fin du film m'a totalement perplexé.

The end of the movie totally perplexed me.

Passé composé with intensifying adverb 'totalement'.

Cette situation pourrait perplexer n'importe qui.

This situation could perplex anyone.

Conditional 'pourrait' expressing possibility.

L'ambiguïté de ses propos ne manque pas de perplexer l'audience.

The ambiguity of his remarks doesn't fail to perplex the audience.

Idiomatic 'ne pas manquer de'.

Ce qui me perplexe le plus, c'est son absence de réaction.

What perplexes me the most is his lack of reaction.

Cleft sentence 'Ce qui... c'est'.

Bien que l'idée soit bonne, elle perplexe certains experts.

Although the idea is good, it perplexes some experts.

Conjunction 'bien que' followed by subjunctive.

Il craignait que ses actions ne finissent par perplexer ses alliés.

He feared that his actions might end up perplexing his allies.

Subjunctive after 'craindre que' (ne explétif).

La complexité du dossier a fini par perplexer le juge.

The complexity of the case ended up perplexing the judge.

Passé composé with 'finir par'.

On dirait que ce mystère perplexe même les plus intelligents.

It seems that this mystery perplexes even the smartest people.

Comparative 'les plus intelligents'.

Sa manière de travailler continue de perplexer ses collègues.

His way of working continues to perplex his colleagues.

Verb 'continuer de' + infinitive.

Nous ne voulions pas perplexer davantage les investisseurs.

We didn't want to perplex the investors any further.

Adverb 'davantage' meaning 'more'.

L'hermétisme de cette œuvre d'art perplexe les critiques les plus avertis.

The hermeticism of this artwork perplexes the most knowledgeable critics.

High-level vocabulary 'hermétisme' and 'avertis'.

Cette contradiction apparente ne semble guère perplexer l'auteur.

This apparent contradiction hardly seems to perplex the author.

Formal negation 'ne... guère' (hardly).

Il est fascinant de voir comment ce problème peut perplexer l'esprit humain.

It is fascinating to see how this problem can perplex the human mind.

Impersonal construction 'Il est... de'.

Le silence du Premier ministre perplexe les observateurs politiques.

The Prime Minister's silence perplexes political observers.

Journalistic context.

Peu de choses parviennent à perplexer un philosophe de son calibre.

Few things manage to perplex a philosopher of his caliber.

Restrictive subject 'Peu de choses'.

La structure même de l'atome continue de perplexer les physiciens.

The very structure of the atom continues to perplex physicists.

Emphatic 'même' after the noun.

Elle craignait que son départ soudain ne perplexe sa famille.

She feared that her sudden departure might perplex her family.

Subjunctive mood in a dependent clause.

L'évolution rapide de l'IA perplexe les législateurs du monde entier.

The rapid evolution of AI perplexes legislators worldwide.

Contemporary topical subject.

L'onirisme de ce récit, loin de charmer, finit par perplexer le lecteur.

The dreamlike quality of this narrative, far from charming, ends up perplexing the reader.

Literary construction 'loin de... finit par'.

Cette aporie philosophique ne cesse de perplexer les penseurs contemporains.

This philosophical aporia never ceases to perplex contemporary thinkers.

Technical term 'aporie' and 'ne cesse de'.

Le décalage entre le discours et les actes perplexe au plus haut point.

The gap between speech and actions perplexes to the highest degree.

Adverbial phrase 'au plus haut point'.

Il se demanda si l'absurdité de la situation n'allait pas perplexer ses descendants.

He wondered if the absurdity of the situation wouldn't perplex his descendants.

Indirect speech with 'si' and future-in-the-past.

La subtilité de l'ironie proustienne peut parfois perplexer les néophytes.

The subtlety of Proustian irony can sometimes perplex neophytes.

Cultural reference and specific vocabulary 'néophytes'.

Que ce résultat puisse perplexer la communauté scientifique est indéniable.

That this result might perplex the scientific community is undeniable.

Subjunctive clause as the subject of the sentence.

L'étrangeté de son comportement n'en finit pas de nous perplexer.

The strangeness of his behavior never stops perplexing us.

Idiomatic 'n'en finit pas de'.

Une telle versatilité ne peut que perplexer les analystes les plus rigoureux.

Such versatility can only perplex the most rigorous analysts.

Restrictive 'ne... que' (only).

よく使う組み合わせ

Perplexer l'esprit

Perplexer l'opinion publique

Finir par perplexer

Ne pas manquer de perplexer

Perplexer les analystes

Totalement perplexer

Sembler perplexer

Chercher à perplexer

Continuer de perplexer

Pouvoir perplexer

よく使うフレーズ

Cela me perplexe.

— That baffles me. Used when something is illogical.

Son absence de réponse ? Cela me perplexe.

De quoi me perplexer.

— Something to baffle me. Used to point out a confusing fact.

Il y a de quoi me perplexer dans ce rapport.

Sans vouloir vous perplexer...

— Without wanting to confuse you... Used as a polite introduction to a complex topic.

Sans vouloir vous perplexer, voici les chiffres.

Rien pour nous perplexer.

— Nothing to confuse us. Used when a situation is clear.

Il n'y a rien pour nous perplexer ici.

Tout pour perplexer.

— Everything to confuse. Used when a situation is a total mess.

C'est une affaire qui a tout pour perplexer.

S'amuser à perplexer.

— To have fun confusing someone.

Il s'amuse à perplexer ses amis avec des devinettes.

Loin de me perplexer...

— Far from confusing me... Used to show confidence.

Loin de me perplexer, ton défi m'excite.

De nature à perplexer.

— Likely to confuse.

Ses propos sont de nature à perplexer les électeurs.

Vouloir perplexer.

— To intend to confuse.

Je ne voulais pas te perplexer avec mes histoires.

Assez pour perplexer.

— Enough to confuse.

C'est assez pour perplexer n'importe qui.

よく混同される語

perplexer vs Perplexe (adjective)

Learners often say 'Je suis perplexé' (wrong) instead of 'Je suis perplexe' (correct).

perplexer vs Persuader

Similar sound but opposite meaning (to convince vs to confuse).

perplexer vs Complexer

This means 'to give someone a complex' or 'to make someone feel self-conscious', not to confuse them.

慣用句と表現

"Laisser perplexe"

— To leave someone perplexed. This is the most common idiomatic use of the root.

Cette nouvelle me laisse perplexe.

Neutral

"Rester perplexe"

— To remain perplexed. Describing the state of being stuck in confusion.

Devant ce choix, il est resté perplexe.

Neutral

"Rendre perplexe"

— To make someone perplexed. Often used as an alternative to the verb 'perplexer'.

Ses excuses m'ont rendu perplexe.

Neutral

"Un air perplexe"

— A perplexed look.

Il affichait un air perplexe après la réunion.

Neutral

"Plonger dans la perplexité"

— To plunge someone into perplexity. A dramatic way to say 'to perplex'.

Cette annonce a plongé le pays dans la perplexité.

Formal

"Sortir de sa perplexité"

— To get out of one's perplexity/confusion.

Il a enfin réussi à sortir de sa perplexité.

Formal

"Être le comble de la perplexité"

— To be the height of confusion.

C'est le comble de la perplexité pour nous.

Formal

"Nager dans la perplexité"

— To be swimming in confusion (to be totally lost).

Depuis ce matin, je nage dans la perplexité.

Informal

"Perplexe comme un pou"

— Very perplexed (slang/humorous).

Il était perplexe comme un pou devant la machine.

Informal

"Face à la perplexité"

— Facing confusion.

Face à la perplexité générale, il a dû s'expliquer.

Neutral

間違えやすい

perplexer vs Confondre

Both relate to confusion.

Confondre is for mixing up two things. Perplexer is for not understanding one complex thing.

Je confonds les jumeaux, mais leur comportement me perplexe.

perplexer vs Étonner

Both involve a reaction to something unexpected.

Étonner is just surprise. Perplexer is surprise plus the inability to understand.

Sa victoire m'étonne, mais sa tactique me perplexe.

perplexer vs Troubler

Both imply a lack of clarity.

Troubler is more emotional or related to peace. Perplexer is purely intellectual.

Son départ me trouble, et ses raisons me perplexent.

perplexer vs Gêner

Sometimes confusion causes discomfort.

Gêner is about bother or embarrassment. Perplexer is about the mind being stuck.

Sa présence me gêne, mais ses paroles me perplexent.

perplexer vs Douter

Perplexity leads to doubt.

Douter is the feeling of not believing. Perplexer is the cause of not understanding.

Je doute de sa sincérité car son récit me perplexe.

文型パターン

[Subject] me perplexe.

Ce livre me perplexe.

Cela ne me perplexe pas du tout.

Ta réaction ne me perplexe pas du tout.

[Subject] va perplexer [Object].

Cette nouvelle va perplexer tout le monde.

Ce qui me perplexe, c'est [Noun/Phrase].

Ce qui me perplexe, c'est son silence.

Il finit par me perplexer avec [Noun].

Il finit par me perplexer avec ses mensonges.

Sans vouloir vous perplexer, [Sentence].

Sans vouloir vous perplexer, la situation est grave.

Rien ne semble pouvoir le perplexer.

Rien ne semble pouvoir le perplexer, il a réponse à tout.

Peu de mystères parviennent à le perplexer.

Peu de mystères parviennent à le perplexer durablement.

語族

名詞

la perplexité (perplexity/confusion)

動詞

perplexer (to perplex)

形容詞

perplexe (perplexed/baffled)

使い方

frequency

Moderate in written French; low to moderate in spoken French.

よくある間違い

Je suis perplexé. → Je suis perplexe.
In French, the adjective 'perplexe' is used for the state of being, not the past participle 'perplexé'.
Cela me perplexe à moi. → Cela me perplexe.
The direct object pronoun 'me' is sufficient; adding 'à moi' is redundant and grammatically incorrect here.
L'énigme perplexe les gens. → L'énigme perplexe les gens.
Ensure the subject is the cause. If you meant 'People are perplexed', use the adjective.
Je perplexerai. → Je perplexe.
Don't confuse the present tense with the future simple if you mean 'It confuses me now'.
Perplexer de quelque chose. → Être perplexe devant quelque chose.
The verb 'perplexer' doesn't take 'de'. Use the adjective with 'devant' or 'face à'.

ヒント

Verb vs Adjective

Always remember: 'Je suis perplexe' (state) vs 'Cela me perplexe' (action).

Formal Writing

Use 'perplexer' in your essays to demonstrate a high level of French.

The 'X' Sound

Keep the 'ks' sound short and sharp. Don't let it slide into a 'z'.

Synonym Choice

Use 'déboussoler' for informal confusion and 'perplexer' for formal puzzles.

News Reading

Look for this word in 'Le Monde' to see it used in political analysis.

The Tangle

Remember that 'plex' means 'weave'. A perplexed mind is a tangled mind.

Direct Object

Do not use 'à' after perplexer. It's 'perplexer quelqu'un'.

Professionalism

Using 'perplexer' in a meeting shows you are thinking deeply about a problem.

Daily Practice

Try to find one thing every day that 'perplexes' you and say it in French.

The French Mind

The French value 'la clarté', so 'perplexer' is a strong word for them.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of a 'complex' puzzle that 'perplexes' you. Both words have 'plex', meaning 'woven' or 'tangled'.

視覚的連想

Imagine a cat trying to untangle a ball of yarn. The tangled yarn is the problem, and the cat is 'perplexed'.

Word Web

Puzzle Mystery Logic Confusion Tangle Brain Doubt Search

チャレンジ

Write three sentences about a mystery movie you watched, using 'perplexer' in at least one of them.

語源

From the Latin 'perplexari' (to be confused), which comes from 'perplexus' (entangled/interwoven). The root 'plectere' means 'to weave'.

元の意味： To be physically entangled or woven together, which evolved into a metaphorical mental entanglement.

Indo-European > Italic > Latin > French.

文化的な背景

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral, intellectual term.

Very similar to the English 'perplex', making it a reliable cognate for English speakers.

Used in literary criticism of Marcel Proust Common in French translations of Sherlock Holmes Frequent in philosophical essays by Sartre

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Academic/School

Cette théorie me perplexe.
Un problème pour perplexer la classe.
Ne pas perplexer les élèves.
L'énigme nous perplexe.

Politics/News

Le vote perplexe les experts.
Une décision qui perplexe.
L'opinion est perplexée (adjective used as verb - common error).
Le silence du ministre perplexe.

Personal Relationships

Ton attitude me perplexe.
Pourquoi tu me perplexes ?
Je ne veux pas te perplexer.
Son changement d'avis me perplexe.

Science/Technology

Les données perplexent les chercheurs.
Un bug qui perplexe l'équipe.
La physique quantique perplexe.
Cela va perplexer les utilisateurs.

Literature/Art

Le style perplexe le lecteur.
Une œuvre faite pour perplexer.
L'artiste cherche à nous perplexer.
La fin du livre me perplexe.

会話のきっかけ

"Qu'est-ce qui te perplexe le plus dans la langue française ?"

"Est-ce que la fin de ce film t'a perplexé autant que moi ?"

"Y a-t-il une règle de grammaire qui continue de te perplexer ?"

"Le comportement de certaines personnes peut vraiment nous perplexer, n'est-ce pas ?"

"Est-ce que les nouvelles technologies te perplexent parfois ?"

日記のテーマ

Décris une situation récente qui t'a perplexé. Pourquoi était-ce difficile à comprendre ?

Penses-tu qu'il est bon de se laisser perplexer par l'art ?

Écris sur un mystère historique qui perplexe encore les historiens aujourd'hui.

Comment réagis-tu quand quelque chose te perplexe au travail ou à l'école ?

Invente une courte histoire où un personnage cherche délibérément à perplexer ses amis.

よくある質問

10 問

It is technically possible as a past participle, but native speakers almost always say 'Je suis perplexe'. Avoid 'perplexé' unless you are using the passive voice in a very formal context.

Not really. In daily conversation, people prefer 'Ça me laisse perplexe' or 'Je ne comprends pas'. Use 'perplexer' to sound more formal or when writing.

The noun is 'la perplexité'. For example: 'Il est dans une grande perplexité' (He is in a state of great confusion).

No, 'perplexer' is a direct transitive verb. You perplex *someone* (perplexer quelqu'un).

The meaning is identical. The main difference is the grammatical preference for the adjective 'perplexe' in French.

It follows the regular pattern: je perplexerai, tu perplexeras, il perplexera, nous perplexerons, vous perplexerez, ils perplexeront.

Yes, if their behavior or words are confusing. 'Tu me perplexes' is perfectly valid.

No, it is a 'true friend' (vrai ami). The meaning is the same in both languages.

'Dérouter' is more about being 'thrown off' or losing one's way. 'Perplexer' is more about the mental puzzle.

Usually, it's used for intellectual things (words, ideas, behavior). For senses, 'troubler' or 'intriguer' might be better.

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