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fondre en larmes

B1 noun 13분 분량

fondre en larmes

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 fondre en larmes 30초 만에

설명 fondre en larmes in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn French. You probably know the word 'pleurer' (to cry). 'Fondre en larmes' is a bit more advanced, but you can understand it by looking at the words. 'Fondre' is like what ice does in the sun—it melts. 'Larmes' are the water that comes from your eyes when you are sad. So, 'fondre en larmes' means you are crying a lot, very suddenly. You might hear this in a story or a movie. At this level, you don't need to use it yourself yet, but try to recognize 'larmes' as 'tears'. If you see a character in a book and the text says 'elle fond en larmes', you know she is very, very sad or very happy. Remember that 'en' is a small word that means 'in' or 'into' here. Just think of it as a 'big cry'.

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By A2, you are beginning to use more descriptive phrases. Instead of just saying 'Il pleure' (He is crying), you can use 'Il fond en larmes' to show that it is a big emotional moment. You should learn how to conjugate 'fondre' in the present tense: 'Je fonds, tu fonds, il fond, nous fondons, vous fondez, ils fondent'. It is also good to know the passé composé: 'J'ai fondu'. In French, we use this expression for big surprises or when someone is very tired and finally starts crying. For example, 'L'enfant a fondu en larmes parce qu'il a perdu son jouet' (The child burst into tears because he lost his toy). Notice that we always use 'larmes' with an 's' at the end. It is a very useful phrase to make your French sound more natural and less like a textbook.

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At the B1 level, you should be able to use 'fondre en larmes' comfortably in your speaking and writing. This is the level where you start to express feelings and opinions more deeply. 'Fondre en larmes' is perfect for describing a reaction to a movie, a piece of news, or a personal experience. You should understand the nuance: it implies a sudden loss of control. It's not just crying; it's 'bursting' into tears. You can also start adding details like 'fondre en larmes de joie' (to burst into tears of joy) or 'fondre en larmes de soulagement' (to burst into tears of relief). Pay attention to the preposition 'en'—never use 'dans' or 'avec'. Also, remember that 'fondre' is a third-group verb, so its past participle is 'fondu'. Practice using it in the imparfait to set a scene: 'Elle fondait en larmes chaque fois qu'elle pensait à lui'.

At the B2 level, you are expected to understand the stylistic impact of using 'fondre en larmes' versus other synonyms like 'éclater en sanglots' or 'pleurer à chaudes larmes'. 'Fondre en larmes' is slightly more poetic and less 'noisy' than 'éclater en sanglots'. It suggests a dissolution of the self into emotion. You should be able to use this phrase in more complex sentence structures, such as using it with the gerund: 'En voyant son ami, elle a fondu en larmes'. You should also recognize it in literature and news reports, where it is often used to humanize a subject. At this level, you should be careful with the auxiliary verb; always use 'avoir' (J'ai fondu en larmes). If you use 'être', you are saying you literally melted like ice cream. This is a common trap for B2 students who are learning about verbs of change of state.

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For C1 learners, 'fondre en larmes' is a tool for sophisticated narrative and emotional nuance. You should explore the metaphorical depth of the verb 'fondre' (to melt). It implies that the person was previously 'frozen' or 'solid' in their resolve, and the emotion has caused them to liquefy. You can use this phrase to discuss psychological states in essays or literary analysis. For example, you might analyze a character's development by noting the moment they finally 'fondent en larmes' as a moment of catharsis or truth. You should also be aware of the register: it is neutral to slightly formal, making it appropriate for journalism, literature, and serious conversation. Compare it with the more colloquial 'craquer' or the extremely literary 'verser des pleurs'. Your mastery should include perfect control over all tenses, including the subjonctif: 'Il fallait qu'elle fonde en larmes pour se sentir mieux'.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete grasp of the idiomatic landscape surrounding 'fondre en larmes'. You understand not only its primary meaning but also its rhythmic and evocative role in a sentence. You can use it to create specific atmospheric effects in creative writing. You might pair it with rare adverbs or use it in the passive voice in very specific literary contexts, though this is rare. You should also be able to distinguish it from highly specific maritime or culinary metaphors involving 'fondre'. Furthermore, a C2 speaker knows the cultural weight of the phrase—how it fits into the French tradition of expressing deep, sincere emotion in literature (like the works of Victor Hugo or Marcel Proust). You can use it with irony or sincerity, and you understand its relationship to other 'larmes' idioms like 'pleurer des larmes de crocodile' (to cry crocodile tears) or 'avoir les larmes aux yeux' (to have tears in one's eyes). Mastery at this level means the phrase is a natural part of your emotional vocabulary.

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연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

fondre en larmes 30초 만에

A common French idiom meaning 'to burst into tears', used to describe a sudden and intense emotional release.
Literally translates to 'to melt into tears', suggesting a loss of emotional structure or control.
Requires the verb 'fondre' to be conjugated and always uses the preposition 'en' followed by the plural 'larmes'.
Suitable for various contexts including sadness, joy, and relief, found in both daily speech and formal literature.

The French expression fondre en larmes is a powerful and evocative idiom that translates literally to "to melt into tears." In English, the closest equivalent is "to burst into tears" or "to break down in tears." This phrase is used to describe a sudden, overwhelming emotional release where a person can no longer contain their sadness, joy, or relief, and begins to cry uncontrollably. The choice of the verb fondre (to melt) is particularly poetic; it suggests that the person's emotional defenses or their stoic exterior have dissolved under the heat of intense feeling, much like ice melting into water. It implies a transition from a solid, controlled state to a fluid, emotional state.

Emotional Intensity: This expression is not used for a few stray tears. It signifies a significant and visible outpouring of emotion. It is the moment when the 'dam breaks'.
Spontaneity: The phrase suggests that the crying happens suddenly. It is often triggered by a specific piece of news, a realization, or a peak in stress.
Versatility: While most commonly associated with sadness or grief, one can also 'fondre en larmes' out of extreme happiness, relief, or even frustration.

En apprenant la nouvelle de sa réussite, elle a fondu en larmes de joie.

Upon hearing the news of her success, she burst into tears of joy.

In everyday French conversation, this phrase is widely understood and used across all social registers, from formal literature to casual storytelling. It carries a certain weight that the simple verb pleurer (to cry) does not. When you say someone 'pleure', you are stating a fact about their physical action. When you say they 'fondent en larmes', you are painting a picture of their internal psychological state collapsing. It is a favorite of novelists and journalists because it humanizes the subject immediately. For instance, in a news report about a disaster survivor, using this phrase conveys the depth of their trauma more effectively than saying they were simply crying.

L'enfant, perdu dans la foule, a fini par fondre en larmes avant de retrouver sa mère.

Contextually, you will find this expression in high-stakes environments. It is common in sports when an athlete loses a championship, in weddings during the vows, or in movies during a tragic goodbye. It is a 'high-register' emotional marker. Interestingly, the phrase 'fondre en larmes' is almost always plural ('larmes'). You would never say 'fondre en larme' because the image is of a flow, not a single drop. The preposition 'en' is also crucial; it indicates the state into which the person is transforming. It is a transition from being a person who is 'whole' to a person who is 'liquid tears'. This metaphysical aspect of the French language makes it much more descriptive than the English 'to cry'.

Dès qu'il a vu la photo de son grand-père, il a fondu en larmes.

Literary Usage: In 19th-century French literature, this phrase was used to describe the sensitivity of 'heroines' or the tragic realization of 'heroes'. It persists today as a staple of narrative writing.

Using fondre en larmes correctly requires attention to verb conjugation and the specific preposition 'en'. Unlike some other French idioms that might be invariable, 'fondre' must be conjugated to match the subject of the sentence. Because it describes a specific event or a sudden change in state, it is most frequently found in the passé composé or the passé simple (in literature). However, it can also be used in the imparfait to describe a state or a recurring action, or even the future tense to predict a reaction.

Past Tense (Passé Composé): Used for a completed action: 'Hier, quand elle a vu le film, elle a fondu en larmes.' (Yesterday, when she saw the movie, she burst into tears.)
Descriptive Past (Imparfait): Used for background context: 'À chaque fois qu'il écoutait cette chanson, il fondait en larmes.' (Every time he listened to that song, he would burst into tears.)

Ne lui dis pas ça, ou elle va fondre en larmes immédiatement.

When constructing your sentences, remember that the phrase is self-contained. You do not need to add 'ses' (his/her) before 'larmes'—it is simply 'en larmes'. Adding 'ses' would be grammatically incorrect in this specific idiom. However, you can add adjectives or prepositional phrases to specify the reason for the tears. Common additions include 'de joie' (of joy), 'de tristesse' (of sadness), 'de douleur' (of pain), or 'de soulagement' (of relief). This allows the speaker to clarify the emotional tone of the scene while keeping the core idiom intact.

Le témoin a fondu en larmes devant le juge.

Another stylistic choice is the placement of adverbs. If you want to emphasize the speed or the violence of the reaction, you can place adverbs like 'soudainement' (suddenly), 'brusquement' (abruptly), or 'silencieusement' (silently) either before the verb or after the whole expression. For example: 'Elle a brusquement fondu en larmes' or 'Elle a fondu en larmes brusquement'. The former is slightly more common in written French. It is also important to note that 'fondre en larmes' implies a transition. If someone is already crying, you wouldn't use 'fondre'; you would use 'continuer de pleurer' or 'redoubler de larmes' (to cry even harder).

Après des heures de tension, ils ont tous les deux fondu en larmes.

Negation: In negation, the 'ne... pas' surrounds the conjugated verb: 'Il n'a pas fondu en larmes malgré la tristesse.' (He did not burst into tears despite the sadness.)

You will encounter fondre en larmes in a variety of real-world contexts, ranging from the highly dramatic to the deeply personal. Because of its descriptive power, it is a favorite in French media and storytelling. If you watch French news broadcasts (like those on TF1 or France 2), you will often hear this phrase during human-interest stories or interviews. For example, a journalist might describe a victim's reaction by saying, 'La mère de la victime a fondu en larmes à l'annonce du verdict.' This immediately signals to the audience that the emotion was raw and uncontrollable.

À la fin du concert, la chanteuse a fondu en larmes face à l'ovation du public.

In French cinema and television dramas, this expression is a staple of stage directions and dialogue. Screenwriters use it to indicate a pivotal moment of vulnerability for a character. When a character who has been strong throughout the film finally 'fond en larmes', it marks their breaking point. You'll hear it in period dramas, romantic comedies, and gritty police procedurals alike. It's a universal human experience, and the French language captures it with this specific, slightly formal but very common idiom. It's also frequently found in literature—from the classic novels of Balzac and Flaubert to modern bestsellers by authors like Guillaume Musso or Marc Levy.

Journalism: Common in 'faits divers' (news snippets) to describe the emotional state of witnesses or involved parties.
Social Media: In vlogs or personal posts, people use it to describe their reaction to a surprise or a touching video: 'J'ai fondu en larmes en voyant cette vidéo de chatons !'

Le petit garçon a fondu en larmes quand son ballon s'est envolé.

In everyday conversation, while people might use the simpler 'se mettre à pleurer' (to start crying), 'fondre en larmes' is used when the speaker wants to emphasize the intensity of the scene. If you are telling a friend about a difficult conversation you had with your boss, you might say, 'J'étais tellement stressé que j'ai fini par fondre en larmes.' This gives your friend a much clearer picture of your distress than simply saying you cried. It's about the manner of the crying—it was a 'melting', a total surrender to the emotion. You will also hear this in sports commentary, especially during the Olympic Games or the World Cup, when athletes are overcome by the magnitude of their achievement or the bitterness of their defeat.

En retrouvant sa maison détruite, il a fondu en larmes.

While fondre en larmes is a relatively straightforward idiom, English speakers and French learners often make a few recurring mistakes. The most common error involves the preposition. In English, we say 'burst into tears' or 'break down in tears'. This leads many learners to incorrectly say 'fondre dans les larmes' or 'fondre à larmes'. In French, the only correct preposition for this idiom is en. The preposition 'en' here indicates a transformation of state, much like 'transformer en or' (to transform into gold).

Wrong Preposition: Incorrect: Il a fondu dans les larmes. Correct: Il a fondu en larmes.
Singular vs. Plural: Incorrect: Elle a fondu en larme. Correct: Elle a fondu en larmes. (Always plural!)

Attention : On ne dit jamais fondre avec des larmes.

Another common mistake is confusing the verb fondre with similar-sounding verbs. Some learners might accidentally use fendre (to split/crack) or foncer (to darken or to charge ahead). While 'fendre le cœur' (to break someone's heart) is another valid emotional idiom, 'fendre en larmes' is not a phrase. Similarly, make sure not to confuse 'larmes' (tears) with 'armes' (weapons). Saying 'fondre en armes' would mean 'to melt into weapons', which is quite a different image! Pronunciation is key here; the 'l' at the beginning of 'larmes' must be clear.

Elle a fondu en larmes (Correct) vs Elle est fondue en larmes (Incorrect - uses 'être' instead of 'avoir').

Conjugation errors are also frequent. Because 'fondre' is a third-group verb ending in -re, learners sometimes try to conjugate it like a first-group verb (e.g., 'il fondre'). Remember that the third person singular is 'il fond' (the 'd' is silent). In the passé composé, the auxiliary verb is avoir, not être. Even though 'fondre' can describe a change of state (which often uses 'être'), in this idiomatic expression, we always use 'avoir'. So, 'Il a fondu' is correct, while 'Il est fondu' would imply he literally melted like a piece of cheese.

The 'Ses' Trap: In English, we often say 'she burst into HER tears' (though 'she burst into tears' is more common). In French, 'fondre en ses larmes' sounds very unnatural and redundant. Keep it simple: 'fondre en larmes'.

French has a rich vocabulary for expressing sadness and crying. Depending on the intensity and the context, you might want to choose an alternative to fondre en larmes. The most direct alternative is éclater en sanglots. While 'fondre' suggests a melting or dissolving, 'éclater' (to explode/burst) suggests a more violent, loud, and sudden eruption of sobbing ('sanglots'). If 'fondre en larmes' is a silent but heavy flow of tears, 'éclater en sanglots' is the loud, gasping cry that often follows a shock.

Éclater en sanglots: More violent and audible than 'fondre en larmes'. Focuses on the physical act of sobbing. Example: 'Il a éclaté en sanglots après l'accident.'
Pleurer à chaudes larmes: Literal translation: 'To cry with warm tears.' This emphasizes the sincerity and the depth of the grief. It suggests a long, heartfelt cry rather than a sudden burst.

Elle ne s'est pas contentée de pleurer, elle a éclaté en sanglots.

For a slightly more informal or metaphorical take, you might hear être en nage or être tout en larmes. However, these describe a state rather than an action. If you want to describe a child who is constantly whining or crying for no reason, the verb pleurnicher (to whimper/snivel) is perfect. On the other end of the spectrum, pleurer comme une Madeleine is a very common idiomatic expression meaning 'to cry excessively' or 'to cry a river'. It refers to Mary Magdalene and her famous weeping in the Bible. It is often used slightly ironically or to describe someone who is being very dramatic.

Arrête de pleurnicher et explique-moi ce qui se passe.

If you are looking for a more formal or literary term, you might encounter verser des larmes (to shed tears). This is much more controlled and dignified than 'fondre en larmes'. You might 'verser une larme' (shed a single tear) at a poignant moment in a speech, whereas 'fondre en larmes' would be considered inappropriate in a formal public speaking context. Finally, craquer (to crack/break) is a modern, slightly more colloquial way to say someone has reached their limit and started crying or lost their temper due to stress. 'Elle a fini par craquer' often implies 'she eventually burst into tears'.

Pleurer comme une Madeleine: Idiomatic and slightly informal. Used for someone crying a lot. 'Dès qu'elle voit un film triste, elle pleure comme une Madeleine.'
Fondre en larmes de... [émotion]: The most versatile way to describe a sudden burst of any strong emotion that leads to crying.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The English word 'foundry' (where metal is cast) shares the same Latin root 'fundere' as 'fondre'. So, metaphorically, when you 'fondre en larmes', you are like metal being melted in a furnace of emotion.

발음 가이드

UK /fɔ̃dʁ ɑ̃ laʁm/

US /foʊndʁ ɑ̃ lɑːɹm/

The stress is generally even, but a slight emphasis is often placed on 'larmes' to highlight the emotional impact.

라임이 맞는 단어

armes charmes alarmes gendarmes vacarmes désarmes rames drames

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing the final 's' in 'larmes'. It is silent.
Confusing the nasal vowels /ɔ̃/ and /ɑ̃/. They must be distinct.
Failing to pronounce the French 'r' in 'fondre'.
Saying 'fondre' as 'fonder' (to found/establish).
Pronouncing 'larmes' as 'alarmes' (alarms).

난이도

독해 2/5

Easy to recognize in text due to the common words 'fondre' and 'larmes'.

쓰기 3/5

Requires correct conjugation of a third-group verb and remembering the preposition 'en'.

말하기 3/5

Nasal vowels in 'fondre' and 'en' can be tricky for beginners.

듣기 2/5

Usually spoken clearly in emotional contexts, making it easier to catch.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

pleurer larme fondre triste joie

다음에 배울 것

éclater en sanglots pleurer comme une Madeleine sangloter le chagrin émouvant

고급

poignant déchirant la catharsis verser des pleurs larmoyant

알아야 할 문법

Third-group verbs in -re

Fondre follows the pattern: je fonds, tu fonds, il fond, nous fondons, vous fondez, ils fondent.

Preposition 'en' for state change

Used in phrases like 'se transformer en', 'fondre en', 'éclater en'.

Passé composé with 'avoir'

Even though it indicates a change of state, 'fondre en larmes' uses 'avoir': J'ai fondu.

Plural of nouns in idioms

Some idioms require the plural even if the sense is singular: 'en larmes', 'en vacances'.

Subjunctive after emotional expressions

Il est triste qu'elle fonde en larmes ainsi.

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수준별 예문

Elle pleure, elle fond en larmes.

She is crying, she is bursting into tears.

Present tense of 'fondre'.

L'enfant fond en larmes dans le magasin.

The child bursts into tears in the store.

Subject-verb agreement: L'enfant (il) fond.

Pourquoi est-ce qu'il fond en larmes ?

Why is he bursting into tears?

Question form with 'est-ce que'.

Je ne veux pas fondre en larmes.

I don't want to burst into tears.

Infinitive after 'vouloir'.

Le bébé fond en larmes quand il a faim.

The baby bursts into tears when he is hungry.

Present tense 'fond'.

Elle regarde le film et fond en larmes.

She watches the movie and bursts into tears.

Two verbs with the same subject.

Maman fond en larmes de joie.

Mom bursts into tears of joy.

Use of 'de joie' to specify the emotion.

Ne fonds pas en larmes, s'il te plaît.

Don't burst into tears, please.

Imperative negative form.

Hier, elle a fondu en larmes après le test.

Yesterday, she burst into tears after the test.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Quand il a vu le cadeau, il a fondu en larmes.

When he saw the gift, he burst into tears.

Temporal clause with 'quand'.

Nous avons tous fondu en larmes à la fin.

We all burst into tears at the end.

Plural subject 'nous' with 'avons fondu'.

Elle fondait en larmes chaque soir.

She used to burst into tears every evening.

Imparfait for habitual action.

Est-ce que tu as fondu en larmes aussi ?

Did you burst into tears too?

Interrogative in passé composé.

Il a fondu en larmes en lisant la lettre.

He burst into tears while reading the letter.

Gerund 'en lisant'.

Ils ont fondu en larmes devant la télé.

They burst into tears in front of the TV.

Preposition 'devant'.

Elle va fondre en larmes si tu pars.

She is going to burst into tears if you leave.

Futur proche with 'aller'.

Dès qu'elle a franchi la porte, elle a fondu en larmes.

As soon as she crossed the door, she burst into tears.

Use of 'dès que' for immediate action.

Il a essayé de rester calme, mais il a fini par fondre en larmes.

He tried to stay calm, but he ended up bursting into tears.

Phrase 'finir par' + infinitive.

Elle a fondu en larmes de soulagement après l'opération.

She burst into tears of relief after the surgery.

Noun 'soulagement' (relief).

Je l'ai vue fondre en larmes au milieu du discours.

I saw her burst into tears in the middle of the speech.

Perception verb 'voir' + infinitive.

L'athlète a fondu en larmes sur le podium.

The athlete burst into tears on the podium.

Locational preposition 'sur'.

Elle a fondu en larmes sans dire un seul mot.

She burst into tears without saying a single word.

Preposition 'sans' + infinitive.

Il est rare qu'il fonde en larmes en public.

It is rare that he bursts into tears in public.

Subjunctive 'fonde' after 'il est rare que'.

Chaque fois qu'elle voit cette photo, elle fond en larmes.

Every time she sees this photo, she bursts into tears.

Indefinite phrase 'chaque fois que'.

Submergée par l'émotion, la mariée a fondu en larmes pendant ses vœux.

Overwhelmed by emotion, the bride burst into tears during her vows.

Past participle as an adjective: 'submergée'.

Il craignait que sa mère ne fonde en larmes devant les invités.

He feared that his mother might burst into tears in front of the guests.

Subjunctive with 'ne' explétif after 'craindre'.

Bien qu'elle soit forte, elle a fini par fondre en larmes.

Although she is strong, she ended up bursting into tears.

Concessive clause with 'bien que' + subjunctive.

À l'annonce de la faillite, les employés ont fondu en larmes.

At the announcement of the bankruptcy, the employees burst into tears.

Noun phrase 'à l'annonce de'.

Elle a fondu en larmes, incapable de contenir sa tristesse plus longtemps.

She burst into tears, unable to contain her sadness any longer.

Apposition with an adjective phrase.

Le film était si poignant que toute la salle a fondu en larmes.

The movie was so poignant that the whole theater burst into tears.

Consecutive clause with 'si... que'.

Il a fondu en larmes, touché par la générosité de ses voisins.

He burst into tears, touched by the generosity of his neighbors.

Passive past participle 'touché par'.

Elle s'est retenue toute la journée avant de fondre en larmes chez elle.

She held it in all day before bursting into tears at home.

Reflexive verb 'se retenir' followed by 'avant de'.

C'est au moment où elle a perçu la fragilité de son père qu'elle a fondu en larmes.

It was at the moment she perceived her father's fragility that she burst into tears.

Cleft sentence 'C'est... que'.

Elle a fondu en larmes, comme si un barrage venait de céder en elle.

She burst into tears, as if a dam had just broken inside her.

Comparison with 'comme si' + imparfait.

Il aurait fallu un cœur de pierre pour ne pas fondre en larmes devant un tel spectacle.

It would have required a heart of stone not to burst into tears before such a sight.

Conditional past 'aurait fallu' and idiom 'cœur de pierre'.

Elle a fondu en larmes, une réaction viscérale qu'elle ne pouvait réprimer.

She burst into tears, a visceral reaction she could not suppress.

Relative clause with 'que'.

L'écrivain décrit son personnage fondant en larmes dans un élan de désespoir.

The writer describes his character bursting into tears in a surge of despair.

Present participle 'fondant'.

Elle a fondu en larmes, trahie par ses propres nerfs après des semaines de tension.

She burst into tears, betrayed by her own nerves after weeks of tension.

Past participle 'trahie' as a circumstantial modifier.

Il arrive que les plus stoïques fondent en larmes sans prévenir.

It happens that the most stoic people burst into tears without warning.

Subjunctive 'fondent' after impersonal 'il arrive que'.

Elle a fondu en larmes, trouvant enfin l'exutoire nécessaire à sa peine.

She burst into tears, finally finding the necessary outlet for her grief.

Present participle 'trouvant' indicating result.

Sa contenance s'effrita soudainement et elle fondit en larmes, révélant une vulnérabilité insoupçonnée.

Her composure suddenly crumbled and she burst into tears, revealing an unsuspected vulnerability.

Passé simple 'fondit' for literary narrative.

Nul ne put l'empêcher de fondre en larmes lorsque le glas sonna enfin.

No one could prevent her from bursting into tears when the death knell finally rang.

Negative subject 'Nul' and passé simple 'put'.

Elle a fondu en larmes, sa douleur se muant en un fleuve intarissable.

She burst into tears, her pain transforming into an inexhaustible river.

Participial clause 'sa douleur se muant'.

Qu'elle fondît en larmes à cet instant précis n'étonna personne dans l'assemblée.

That she burst into tears at that precise moment surprised no one in the assembly.

Imparfait du subjonctif 'fondît' in a subject clause.

Elle a fondu en larmes, comme si l'armure de glace qu'elle s'était forgée venait de se briser.

She burst into tears, as if the ice armor she had forged for herself had just shattered.

Plus-que-parfait 's'était forgée' and 'comme si' structure.

Elle a fondu en larmes, laissant libre cours à une amertume longtemps contenue.

She burst into tears, giving free rein to a long-contained bitterness.

Idiom 'laisser libre cours à'.

À peine eut-il fini son récit qu'il fondit en larmes, terrassé par ses propres souvenirs.

Hardly had he finished his story when he burst into tears, overwhelmed by his own memories.

Passé antérieur 'eut fini' and passé simple 'fondit'.

Elle a fondu en larmes, non par faiblesse, mais par une sorte de transcendance émotionnelle.

She burst into tears, not out of weakness, but through a kind of emotional transcendence.

Contrastive structure 'non par... mais par'.

동의어

éclater en sanglots pleurer à chaudes larmes pleurer comme une Madeleine craquer verser des larmes se mettre à pleurer sangloter pleurnicher

반의어

éclater de rire rester de marbre se contenir garder son sang-froid

자주 쓰는 조합

fondre en larmes de joie

fondre en larmes de tristesse

fondre en larmes de soulagement

soudainement fondre en larmes

finir par fondre en larmes

presque fondre en larmes

fondre en larmes devant quelqu'un

fondre en larmes en silence

faire fondre en larmes

fondre en larmes de douleur

자주 쓰는 구문

être au bord de fondre en larmes

— To be on the verge of bursting into tears. It describes the moment just before the emotional release.

Elle était au bord de fondre en larmes pendant tout l'entretien.

empêcher quelqu'un de fondre en larmes

— To prevent someone from bursting into tears. Usually involves comfort or distraction.

Il a essayé de la faire rire pour l'empêcher de fondre en larmes.

voir quelqu'un fondre en larmes

— To witness someone's emotional breakdown. Often used in narrative storytelling.

C'était déchirant de voir son père fondre en larmes.

fondre en larmes à cause de...

— To burst into tears because of a specific reason or person.

Elle a fondu en larmes à cause de la fatigue accumulée.

ne pas pouvoir s'empêcher de fondre en larmes

— To not be able to help but burst into tears. Indicates a lack of control.

Je n'ai pas pu m'empêcher de fondre en larmes en voyant la fin du film.

fondre en larmes dès que...

— To burst into tears as soon as something happens. Shows a quick trigger.

Elle fond en larmes dès qu'on lui parle de son ex.

fondre en larmes tout à coup

— To burst into tears all of a sudden. Emphasizes the abruptness.

Tout à coup, sans prévenir, il a fondu en larmes.

laisser quelqu'un fondre en larmes

— To let someone cry it out. Sometimes necessary for emotional healing.

Il l'a laissée fondre en larmes sur son épaule.

fondre en larmes de nouveau

— To burst into tears again. Implies a recurring emotional state.

Après s'être calmée, elle a fondu en larmes de nouveau.

fondre en larmes devant le public

— To burst into tears in front of an audience. Often seen in sports or awards.

Le gagnant a fondu en larmes devant le public ému.

자주 혼동되는 단어

fondre en larmes vs fendre le cœur

This means 'to break someone's heart', not 'to burst into tears'. Both are emotional, but 'fendre' is the action of the cause, while 'fondre' is the reaction of the person.

fondre en larmes vs fondre en excuses

This is not a standard phrase. Use 'se confondre en excuses' to mean 'to apologize profusely'.

fondre en larmes vs fonder

The verb 'fonder' means 'to found' or 'to establish' (e.g., a city or a company). It is conjugated differently (je fonde, tu fondes).

관용어 및 표현

"Pleurer comme une Madeleine"

— To cry a river or cry excessively. Refers to the biblical Mary Magdalene.

Elle pleure comme une Madeleine depuis ce matin.

informal

"Avoir les larmes aux yeux"

— To have tears in one's eyes. A less intense version of 'fondre en larmes'.

Il avait les larmes aux yeux en écoutant l'hymne national.

neutral

"Pleurer des larmes de crocodile"

— To cry crocodile tears. To pretend to be sad or cry hypocritically.

Ne l'écoute pas, elle pleure des larmes de crocodile.

neutral

"Avoir la larme facile"

— To be easily moved to tears. To cry easily.

Mon grand-père a la larme facile devant les films romantiques.

neutral

"Rire aux larmes"

— To laugh until one cries. To laugh very hard.

On a ri aux larmes pendant tout le spectacle.

neutral

"Sécher ses larmes"

— To dry one's tears. To stop crying and move on.

Il est temps de sécher tes larmes et de continuer.

neutral

"Être tout en larmes"

— To be all in tears. To be currently crying a lot.

Elle est arrivée au bureau tout en larmes.

neutral

"Verser une larme"

— To shed a tear. Often used to mean showing a small amount of emotion.

Même le plus dur des soldats a versé une larme.

neutral

"Le cœur en larmes"

— A heart in tears. To be deeply sad internally.

Il est parti, le cœur en larmes, vers son nouveau pays.

literary

"Noyer son chagrin dans les larmes"

— To drown one's sorrow in tears. To cry as a way to cope with grief.

Elle a passé la soirée à noyer son chagrin dans les larmes.

literary

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fondre en larmes vs larmes vs armes

They sound very similar.

Larmes are tears; armes are weapons. One comes from the eyes, the other from a gun or sword.

Il a versé des larmes (He shed tears) vs Il a pris ses armes (He took his weapons).

fondre en larmes vs fondre vs fendre

Similar spelling and sound.

Fondre means to melt; fendre means to split or crack.

La glace fond (The ice melts) vs Il fend du bois (He splits wood).

fondre en larmes vs en vs dans

Both can mean 'in'.

In this idiom, 'en' is the only correct preposition. 'Dans' is used for physical locations.

Fondre en larmes (Idiom) vs Nager dans les larmes (Literally swimming in tears - very rare).

fondre en larmes vs pleurer vs pleurnicher

Both involve crying.

Pleurer is neutral; pleurnicher is pejorative and implies whining for no good reason.

Elle pleure son père vs L'enfant pleurniche pour un bonbon.

fondre en larmes vs fondre vs se fondre

Reflexive vs non-reflexive.

Fondre is to melt; se fondre means to blend in or merge (e.g., into a crowd).

Le beurre fond vs Il se fond dans la masse.

문장 패턴

Il/Elle fond en larmes.

Elle fond en larmes.

Sujet + a fondu en larmes.

L'enfant a fondu en larmes.

Sujet + a fondu en larmes de [Nom].

Il a fondu en larmes de joie.

Sujet + finit par fondre en larmes.

Elle finit par fondre en larmes.

En [Gérondif], Sujet a fondu en larmes.

En le voyant, elle a fondu en larmes.

Sujet était sur le point de fondre en larmes.

Il était sur le point de fondre en larmes.

Il arrive que Sujet fonde en larmes.

Il arrive qu'il fonde en larmes.

À peine... que Sujet fondit en larmes.

À peine eut-il fini qu'il fondit en larmes.

어휘 가족

명사

larme (tear)

larmoiement (watering of the eyes)

fondant (melting candy/cake)

동사

fondre (to melt)

larmoyer (to have watery eyes)

pleurer (to cry)

형용사

larmoyant (tearful/maudlin)

fondu (melted)

fondamental (fundamental - though unrelated in meaning, shares a root)

사용법

frequency

High in literature, journalism, and emotional storytelling.

자주 하는 실수

Using 'être' instead of 'avoir' in the past. → J'ai fondu en larmes.
Even though it's a change of state, this idiom always uses 'avoir'.
Using the preposition 'dans'. → Elle a fondu en larmes.
The preposition 'en' is required to show the transformation into a state of crying.
Using 'larmes' in the singular. → Il fond en larmes.
The idiom is fixed in the plural form 'larmes'.
Confusing 'fondre' with 'fonder'. → Elle a fondu en larmes.
'Fonder' means to establish or found. 'Fondre' means to melt.
Saying 'fondre avec des larmes'. → Fondre en larmes.
'Avec' is incorrect here; the idiom describes what you 'become' or 'into what' you melt.

팁

Conjugation Check

Remember that 'fondre' is a third-group verb. The third person singular is 'il fond' (no 't', just 'd'). In the plural, the 'd' is pronounced: 'ils fondent'.

Emphasize with Adverbs

You can make the phrase stronger by adding adverbs like 'littéralement' (literally) or 'complètement' (completely). Example: 'Elle a complètement fondu en larmes'.

Nasal Distinction

Practice the difference between the /ɔ̃/ in 'fondre' and the /ɑ̃/ in 'en'. A good way is to say 'un bon enfant' to practice different nasal sounds.

Specify the Emotion

Don't just say they cried. Say why! 'De joie', 'de honte' (of shame), 'de colère' (of anger). It makes your French much more precise.

Narrative Use

In stories, use 'fondre en larmes' at the climax of a scene to show a character's breaking point. It's a very effective storytelling tool.

Listen for the 'L'

When listening, don't confuse 'larmes' with 'armes'. The 'L' sound is crucial for the meaning. 'Fondre en larmes' is emotional; 'fondre en armes' makes no sense.

Acceptability

In France, 'fondre en larmes' is seen as a sincere expression of human feeling. Don't be afraid to use it to describe deep emotions.

Avoid 'Ses'

Never say 'fondre en ses larmes'. It's redundant. Just 'fondre en larmes' is the standard and correct idiomatic form.

The 'Melt' Connection

Connect 'fondre' to 'fondue'. If you like French food, this is the easiest way to remember that the verb means 'to melt'.

Passé Simple

If you are reading or writing a formal story, look for 'fondit'. This is the passé simple of 'fondre' and is very common in classic novels.

암기하기

기억법

Think of an ice cube (fondre/melt) shaped like a heart that suddenly turns into water (larmes/tears) when it gets too hot (emotion). Fondre + Larmes = Melting into tears.

시각적 연상

Visualize a candle melting. Instead of wax dripping down the side, the drops are large, clear tears. The candle is the person; the wax is the tears.

Word Web

Fondre Larmes Émotion Tristesse Joie Cœur Pleurer Visage

챌린지

Try to write three sentences using 'fondre en larmes' in three different tenses: present, passé composé, and futur proche. Then, say them out loud focusing on the nasal vowels.

어원

The verb 'fondre' comes from the Latin 'fundere', which means 'to pour' or 'to cast' (as in metal). The noun 'larme' comes from the Latin 'lacrima'. The combination of the two to create the idiom 'fondre en larmes' dates back several centuries in French, evolving from the literal sense of melting into a metaphorical sense of emotional dissolution.

원래 의미: To pour out like a liquid or to dissolve into tears.

Romance (Latin roots).

문화적 맥락

Be aware that while 'fondre en larmes' is common, using it to describe someone's reaction can be seen as either empathetic or slightly dramatic depending on your tone. Use it with care in professional settings.

English speakers often use 'burst into tears'. The French 'melt' is more poetic and suggests a gradual but inevitable breakdown compared to the 'burst' which is purely explosive.

Victor Hugo often used similar imagery in 'Les Misérables' to describe Jean Valjean's emotional moments. The song 'Ne me quitte pas' by Jacques Brel evokes a similar level of desperation and weeping. Marcel Proust's descriptions of childhood sensitivity often involve characters on the verge of 'fondre en larmes'.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Watching a sad movie

J'ai fondu en larmes à la fin.
C'était tellement triste que j'ai fondu en larmes.
Le film m'a fait fondre en larmes.
Préparez les mouchoirs, vous allez fondre en larmes.

Receiving good news

Elle a fondu en larmes de joie.
C'était un tel soulagement qu'il a fondu en larmes.
On a tous fondu en larmes en apprenant la nouvelle.
Elle ne s'y attendait pas et a fondu en larmes.

A breakup or loss

Il a fondu en larmes quand elle est partie.
Elle a fondu en larmes en pensant à lui.
Après l'enterrement, il a enfin fondu en larmes.
Elle a fondu en larmes en rangeant ses affaires.

Stress at work or school

Elle a fini par fondre en larmes devant son patron.
Le stress était tel qu'il a fondu en larmes.
J'ai failli fondre en larmes en plein milieu du cours.
Elle a fondu en larmes après son échec.

A reunion

Ils ont fondu en larmes en se retrouvant.
Elle a fondu en larmes dans les bras de sa mère.
Dès qu'il l'a vue, il a fondu en larmes.
C'était des retrouvailles à fondre en larmes.

대화 시작하기

"Quel est le dernier film qui t'a fait fondre en larmes ?"

"Est-ce que tu as tendance à fondre en larmes facilement ?"

"T'arrive-t-il de fondre en larmes de joie ?"

"Quelle chanson te donne envie de fondre en larmes ?"

"Comment réagis-tu quand quelqu'un fond en larmes devant toi ?"

일기 주제

Décris un moment où tu as fondu en larmes de joie. Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ?

Penses-tu qu'il est important de pouvoir fondre en larmes de temps en temps pour évacuer le stress ?

Raconte une scène de film ou de livre où un personnage fond en larmes et explique pourquoi c'était émouvant.

Écris sur une fois où tu as dû te retenir de fondre en larmes en public.

Pourquoi penses-tu que l'expression 'fondre' est utilisée pour les larmes en français ?

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

No, you must always use the plural 'larmes'. Even if you are imagining the start of crying, the idiom requires the plural form because it represents the flow of tears. Using the singular would sound grammatically incorrect to a native speaker.

Not at all. While sadness is common, it is frequently used for joy, relief, and even intense frustration. You can specify the emotion by adding 'de joie', 'de soulagement', etc. It simply describes the intensity of the reaction, not just the mood.

It is slightly more descriptive and 'literary' than the basic verb 'pleurer', but it is very common in everyday speech. It sits in the 'neutral' register and is appropriate for almost any situation except perhaps a very cold, technical report.

'Éclater en sanglots' is more violent and involves loud sobbing. 'Fondre en larmes' can be quiet but involves a lot of tears. Think of 'éclater' as an explosion and 'fondre' as a sudden melting.

In the passé composé, use the auxiliary 'avoir' and the past participle 'fondu'. For example: 'J'ai fondu', 'Tu as fondu', 'Il a fondu', 'Nous avons fondu', 'Vous avez fondu', 'Ils ont fondu'.

In French, 'en' often denotes a change of state or transformation (e.g., 'en or', 'en pierre'). Since you are 'transforming' into a state of crying, 'en' is the logically correct preposition for this idiom.

It is rarely used for animals unless they are anthropomorphized in a story or a cartoon. For real animals, we usually don't use the word 'larmes' in this way.

No. You must use 'avoir'. Saying 'je suis fondu' means 'I am melted' (like a piece of cheese), which is not what you want to say! Always use: 'J'ai fondu en larmes'.

Yes, it is extremely common. You will hear it in movies, read it in news articles, and use it in your own stories. It is a fundamental emotional expression in the French language.

No. If you only cry one tear, use 'verser une larme' or 'avoir une larme à l'œil'. 'Fondre en larmes' implies a significant and sudden outpouring.

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