faire de la peine (à) in 30 Seconds
- To cause sadness or pity to someone.
- The phrase expresses emotional pain or sympathy.
- Used when something is a sad sight or situation.
- Often followed by 'à' to specify the recipient.
The French expression faire de la peine (à) is a very common and useful phrase that translates to 'to cause sorrow or pain (to someone)' or 'to sadden (someone)'. It's used when an action, situation, or piece of news evokes feelings of sadness, pity, or distress in someone. It implies an emotional impact, making the recipient feel unhappy or disheartened. This expression is quite versatile and can be used in a wide range of contexts, from personal interactions to broader societal issues.
- Core Meaning
- To cause emotional pain, sadness, or distress to someone.
- Emotional Impact
- Focuses on the negative emotional response elicited in the person being affected.
- Versatility
- Applicable to personal misfortunes, sad stories, or unfortunate circumstances.
Seeing the stray dog alone in the rain fait de la peine. (It saddens me.)
When you use faire de la peine, you are describing a situation that evokes sympathy or sadness. It's not about physical pain, but rather emotional suffering. The preposition 'à' is often used to specify to whom the pain is caused. For example, 'Cette histoire me fait de la peine' means 'This story causes me sorrow.' It can also be used impersonally, like 'Il fait de la peine de voir...' ('It is sad to see...'). The intensity can vary; something might 'faire un peu de peine' (cause a little sadness) or 'faire beaucoup de peine' (cause a lot of sadness).
The news of the accident a fait de la peine à toute la communauté. (The news of the accident saddened the entire community.)
This expression is frequently used in everyday conversation, literature, and media. It's a fundamental part of expressing empathy and acknowledging the emotional impact of events. You'll hear it when people discuss unfortunate circumstances, personal struggles, or even fictional narratives that evoke strong emotions. Understanding faire de la peine allows you to express a nuanced range of emotional responses in French.
- Emotional Nuance
- Captures feelings of pity, sympathy, and sadness, often triggered by someone's misfortune or suffering.
- Grammatical Structure
- Typically follows the structure 'faire de la peine à [person/people]' or used impersonally with 'il fait de la peine'.
C'est terrible de faire de la peine à quelqu'un sans raison. (It's terrible to cause someone sorrow for no reason.)
Using faire de la peine (à) correctly involves understanding its grammatical structure and the emotional context it conveys. The core of the expression is 'faire de la peine', meaning 'to cause sorrow'. The preposition 'à' is usually added to indicate the person or people who are experiencing this sorrow or sadness. This makes the phrase more specific and personal.
- Personal Sadness
- When you are the one feeling sad, you use 'me fait de la peine' (causes me sorrow).
- Causing Sadness to Others
- When someone or something causes sadness to another person, you use 'fait de la peine à [person]'.
- Impersonal Usage
- It can also be used impersonally, meaning 'it is sad' or 'it is regrettable'.
Leur situation fait de la peine. (Their situation causes sorrow.)
Let's look at some sentence structures. When referring to yourself feeling sad, you might say: 'J'ai vu ce film hier, et il m'a fait de la peine.' (I saw this movie yesterday, and it made me sad.) Here, 'm'' is the direct object pronoun representing 'me'.
When describing something that causes sadness to another person, the structure is 'X fait de la peine à Y'. For example: 'Ne pas aider les plus démunis fait de la peine à beaucoup de gens.' (Not helping the most vulnerable causes sadness to many people.)
The impersonal use often starts with 'Il est...' or simply 'Il fait...'. For instance: 'Il fait de la peine de voir tant de souffrance dans le monde.' (It is sad to see so much suffering in the world.) In this case, 'il' is an impersonal pronoun.
Son départ a fait de la peine à tous ses amis. (His departure saddened all his friends.)
You can also use adverbs to modify the intensity: 'Cela fait un peu de peine.' (That causes a little sadness.) or 'Cela fait beaucoup de peine.' (That causes a lot of sadness.)
- Direct Object Pronouns
- When the recipient of the sadness is specified as a pronoun (me, you, him/her, us, them), it precedes 'fait de la peine'. Example: 'Cela nous fait de la peine.' (This saddens us.)
- Indirect Object
- When the recipient is a noun or pronoun phrase, 'à' is used. Example: 'Leur détresse fait de la peine à quiconque a un cœur.' (Their distress causes sorrow to anyone with a heart.)
Le fait qu'il soit seul me fait de la peine. (The fact that he is alone saddens me.)
You'll encounter the expression faire de la peine (à) in a multitude of everyday French conversations and media. It's a fundamental way to express empathy and acknowledge emotional distress. Listen for it in situations where people are discussing unfortunate events, personal struggles, or expressing sympathy.
- Everyday Conversations
- When friends discuss a mutual acquaintance going through a difficult time: 'J'ai appris pour son père, ça fait de la peine.' (I heard about his father, it's saddening.)
- News and Media
- Reporting on a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis: 'Les images de la catastrophe font de la peine.' (The images of the disaster are heartbreaking.)
- Literature and Film
- Describing a character's emotional state or the impact of events on others: 'La solitude du personnage fait de la peine.' (The character's loneliness is saddening.)
When someone expresses concern for a struggling friend: 'Je sais que tu traverses une période difficile, et ça me fait de la peine de te voir comme ça.' (I know you're going through a difficult time, and it saddens me to see you like this.)
In France, discussions about social issues, poverty, or the elderly often involve this expression. For instance, someone might comment on a documentary about homelessness: 'Ce documentaire fait de la peine, mais il est important de le regarder.' (This documentary is sad, but it's important to watch it.)
You might also hear it in more personal contexts, like when a parent talks about their child's struggles: 'Voir mon fils échouer à son examen m'a fait de la peine.' (Seeing my son fail his exam saddened me.)
A conversation about a sad movie: 'Le film était magnifique mais il a fait de la peine à tout le monde dans la salle.' (The movie was beautiful but it saddened everyone in the room.)
In France, discussions about animal welfare are also a common place for this expression. For example, 'Les conditions de vie de certains animaux en captivité font de la peine.' (The living conditions of some animals in captivity are saddening.)
- Empathy in Action
- Used when expressing sympathy for someone's difficult situation, whether personal or observed.
- Social Commentary
- Often employed when discussing societal problems or unfortunate circumstances affecting groups of people.
A parent comforting a child: 'Je comprends que tu sois déçu, et ça fait de la peine de te voir pleurer.' (I understand you are disappointed, and it saddens me to see you cry.)
When learning faire de la peine (à), learners often make a few common mistakes, primarily related to grammar and the precise nuance of the expression. Understanding these pitfalls can significantly improve your fluency and accuracy.
- Confusing 'faire de la peine' with 'avoir mal' or 'souffrir'
- 'Avoir mal' means 'to have pain' (physical or emotional), and 'souffrir' means 'to suffer'. 'Faire de la peine' is about causing that pain or suffering to someone else, or describing a situation that evokes sadness. You don't 'faire de la peine' to yourself; you 'avez mal' or 'souffrez'.
- Incorrect use of 'à'
- Forgetting the 'à' when specifying the recipient of the sorrow is a frequent error. The structure is 'faire de la peine à quelqu'un'. Saying 'Cela fait peine lui' instead of 'Cela lui fait de la peine' is grammatically incorrect.
- Overusing it for minor inconveniences
- 'Faire de la peine' implies a significant emotional impact. Using it for trivial matters can sound overly dramatic or insincere. For minor annoyances, other expressions might be more appropriate.
Incorrect: 'Mon vélo cassé fait peine.' (My broken bike causes sorrow.) Correct: 'Mon vélo cassé me fait de la peine.' or 'La vue de mon vélo cassé fait de la peine.' (The sight of my broken bike is saddening.)
Another common mistake is the omission of 'de'. The phrase is 'faire de la peine', not just 'faire peine'. While 'faire peine' can sometimes be used in very specific, often older or regional contexts, the standard and universally understood form is 'faire de la peine'.
Misplacing pronouns is also an issue. When using object pronouns (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur), they must precede 'fait de la peine'. For example, 'Cela nous fait de la peine' is correct, not 'Cela fait de la peine nous'.
Incorrect: 'Sa tristesse fait peine à moi.' Correct: 'Sa tristesse me fait de la peine.' (His sadness saddens me.)
Finally, learners might confuse the direct and indirect object usage. When the sadness is caused *to* someone, 'à' is used. If the sadness is felt *by* someone (as the direct recipient), direct object pronouns are used. For example, 'L'histoire fait de la peine à mon ami' (The story saddens my friend), but 'L'histoire me fait de la peine' (The story saddens me).
- Grammatical Completeness
- Ensure the inclusion of 'de la' before 'peine'. The full expression is 'faire de la peine'.
- Pronoun Placement
- When using object pronouns (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur), they should always precede 'fait de la peine'.
Incorrect: 'Elle fait peine à nous voir pleurer.' Correct: 'Elle nous fait de la peine de nous voir pleurer.' (She is saddened by seeing us cry.)
While faire de la peine (à) is a very common and versatile expression, French offers other ways to convey similar sentiments of sadness, pity, or distress. Understanding these alternatives allows for more nuanced and precise communication.
- Tristesse (Noun)
- 'Tristesse' means sadness. You can say 'Cela me cause de la tristesse' (This causes me sadness), which is more literal than 'fait de la peine'.
- Attrister (Verb)
- 'Attrister' is a verb meaning 'to sadden' or 'to grieve'. It's a direct equivalent of 'rendre triste'. Example: 'Cette nouvelle m'attriste.' (This news saddens me.) This is more formal than 'fait de la peine'.
- Compassion / Pitié (Nouns)
- 'Compassion' and 'pitié' both mean pity or compassion. You might say 'J'ai de la compassion pour lui' (I have compassion for him) or 'Je ressens de la pitié' (I feel pity). These focus more on the feeling of sympathy rather than the act of causing sorrow.
Faire de la peine: 'Leur situation difficile fait de la peine.' (Their difficult situation causes sorrow.) - Focuses on the emotional impact.
Another alternative is 'rendre triste', which directly translates to 'to make sad'. For example, 'Son départ l'a rendu triste.' (His departure made him sad.) This is very similar to 'faire de la peine à', but 'faire de la peine' often carries a stronger connotation of pity or sorrow.
'Navrer' is another verb that means 'to grieve' or 'to be very sorry'. It's often used in more formal contexts. 'Je suis navré d'apprendre votre perte.' (I am deeply sorry to hear of your loss.)
For expressing pity, you might use 'avoir pitié de quelqu'un'. 'J'ai pitié de ces enfants abandonnés.' (I feel pity for these abandoned children.) This highlights the feeling of compassion towards someone in a vulnerable state.
Attrister: 'La nouvelle de son accident a attristé tout le monde.' (The news of his accident saddened everyone.) - A direct verb for causing sadness.
Here's a comparison:
- Faire de la peine
- To cause sorrow/pain; evokes pity or sadness.
- Attrister
- To sadden; a direct verb, often slightly more formal.
- Rendre triste
- To make sad; a very direct and common alternative.
- Navrer
- To grieve, to be very sorry; typically for more serious or formal situations.
- Avoir pitié de
- To feel pity for; emphasizes compassion for someone in a vulnerable state.
Rendre triste: 'La rupture l'a rendu très triste.' (The breakup made him very sad.) - A straightforward way to express sadness.
How Formal Is It?
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Fun Fact
The word 'peine' is related to the English word 'pain'. Both words share the same Latin root, highlighting the universal human experience of suffering, whether physical or emotional.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the 'r' in 'faire' like an English 'r'.
- Not nasalizing the 'en' sound in 'peine'.
- Adding an 'n' sound at the end of 'peine' as if it were 'pen' in English.
Difficulty Rating
Understanding 'faire de la peine' in reading requires grasping the emotional nuance and grammatical structure, particularly the use of 'à' and object pronouns. Texts dealing with emotional themes will frequently use this expression.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Conjugation of 'faire'
In 'faire de la peine', the verb 'faire' conjugates according to the subject: Je fais, tu fais, il/elle fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils/elles font.
Use of 'à' with verbs of emotion
Many verbs expressing emotions or reactions require the preposition 'à' when followed by a noun or pronoun recipient, such as 'faire de la peine à quelqu'un'.
Object Pronouns (Direct and Indirect)
When the recipient of the sorrow is a pronoun, direct object pronouns (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur) are used before 'fait de la peine': 'Cela me fait de la peine'.
Impersonal Constructions
Expressions like 'Il fait de la peine de...' or 'C'est triste et ça fait de la peine...' use impersonal subjects to describe a general sentiment.
The Partitive Article 'de la'
The expression requires the partitive article 'de la' before 'peine', forming 'faire de la peine', indicating an unspecified amount of sorrow.
Examples by Level
Le chiot perdu fait de la peine.
The lost puppy makes one feel sad.
Simple subject + faire de la peine.
Voir le vieux monsieur seul fait de la peine.
Seeing the old man alone is saddening.
Infinitive phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
C'est une histoire qui fait de la peine.
It's a story that causes sorrow.
Impersonal 'c'est' + relative clause.
Le petit oiseau tombé fait de la peine.
The little fallen bird is sad to see.
Adjective + noun as subject + faire de la peine.
La pluie sans fin fait de la peine.
The endless rain is disheartening.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Ce dessin fait de la peine.
This drawing is sad.
Demonstrative adjective + noun as subject + faire de la peine.
La musique triste fait de la peine.
The sad music causes sorrow.
Adjective + noun as subject + faire de la peine.
Quand il pleure, ça fait de la peine.
When he cries, it makes one sad.
Subordinate clause + impersonal pronoun 'ça'.
Cette situation me fait de la peine.
This situation causes me sorrow.
Subject + direct object pronoun 'me' + faire de la peine.
Leur pauvreté fait de la peine à voir.
Their poverty is sad to see.
Subject + faire de la peine + infinitive.
Son accident a fait de la peine à ses parents.
His accident saddened his parents.
Past tense of faire + subject + faire de la peine à + indirect object.
Il est triste de voir cela, ça fait de la peine.
It is sad to see that, it causes sorrow.
Impersonal 'il est' + infinitive + 'ça' + faire de la peine.
Les nouvelles du matin m'ont fait de la peine.
The morning news saddened me.
Past tense + subject + direct object pronoun 'm'' + faire de la peine.
La solitude des personnes âgées fait de la peine.
The loneliness of the elderly is saddening.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Ne pas avoir de travail fait de la peine.
Not having a job is disheartening.
Infinitive phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Ce film m'a fait de la peine.
This movie made me sad.
Past tense + subject + direct object pronoun 'm'' + faire de la peine.
Voir des enfants sans abri fait de la peine à tout le monde.
Seeing homeless children saddens everyone.
Infinitive phrase as subject + faire de la peine à + general plural noun.
Leur détresse nous fait de la peine.
Their distress causes us sorrow.
Subject + direct object pronoun 'nous' + faire de la peine.
C'est une histoire qui fait beaucoup de peine.
It's a story that causes a lot of sorrow.
Impersonal 'c'est' + relative clause + adverb 'beaucoup'.
Les conditions de vie difficiles font de la peine.
Difficult living conditions are saddening.
Plural noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Leur séparation a fait de la peine à leurs enfants.
Their separation saddened their children.
Past tense + subject + faire de la peine à + noun phrase.
Il est regrettable de constater que cela fait de la peine à tant de gens.
It is regrettable to note that this saddens so many people.
Impersonal 'il est' + adjective + infinitive + subordinate clause.
La cruauté envers les animaux fait de la peine.
Cruelty towards animals is heartbreaking.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Ce spectacle de rue m'a fait de la peine.
This street performance made me sad.
Past tense + subject + direct object pronoun 'm'' + faire de la peine.
Il est désolant de constater à quel point cette situation fait de la peine.
It is distressing to see how much this situation causes sorrow.
Impersonal 'il est' + adjective + infinitive + subordinate clause with 'à quel point'.
Le manque de solidarité dans le monde fait de la peine.
The lack of solidarity in the world is disheartening.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Ses paroles blessantes ont fait de la peine à son ami.
His hurtful words saddened his friend.
Past tense + subject + faire de la peine à + noun phrase.
La dégradation de l'environnement fait de la peine aux générations futures.
The degradation of the environment saddens future generations.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine à + noun phrase.
Voir tant de potentiel gâché fait vraiment de la peine.
Seeing so much potential wasted is truly saddening.
Infinitive phrase as subject + adverb 'vraiment' + faire de la peine.
Leur histoire tragique nous fait de la peine.
Their tragic story saddens us.
Subject + direct object pronoun 'nous' + faire de la peine.
Il est pénible de voir des gens souffrir, cela fait de la peine.
It is painful to see people suffer, that causes sorrow.
Impersonal 'il est' + adjective + infinitive + pronoun 'cela' + faire de la peine.
La négligence envers les aînés fait de la peine à la société.
Neglect towards the elderly saddens society.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine à + noun phrase.
Il est inconcevable que tant de souffrance puisse faire de la peine à l'humanité entière.
It is inconceivable that so much suffering can cause sorrow to all of humanity.
Impersonal 'il est' + adjective + subordinate clause with subjunctive.
Le spectacle de la misère humaine ne cesse de faire de la peine.
The spectacle of human misery never ceases to be saddening.
Noun phrase as subject + infinitive + adverb 'ne cesse de'.
L'indifférence face à l'injustice fait de la peine.
Indifference in the face of injustice is disheartening.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
La perte d'une culture ancestrale fait de la peine aux générations futures.
The loss of an ancestral culture saddens future generations.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine à + noun phrase.
Voir des écosystèmes fragiles disparaître fait de la peine.
Seeing fragile ecosystems disappear is heartbreaking.
Infinitive phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Le manque de compréhension mutuelle fait de la peine dans les relations.
The lack of mutual understanding causes sorrow in relationships.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine + prepositional phrase.
Il est profondément navrant que de telles atrocités puissent faire de la peine.
It is deeply distressing that such atrocities can cause sorrow.
Impersonal 'il est' + adverb + adjective + subordinate clause.
Leur dévouement altruiste, malgré les obstacles, nous fait de la peine.
Their altruistic dedication, despite the obstacles, saddens us.
Noun phrase as subject + direct object pronoun 'nous' + faire de la peine.
L'aliénation sociale et la déshumanisation inhérente à certains systèmes font de la peine.
Social alienation and the inherent dehumanization of certain systems are heartbreaking.
Complex noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Il est lamentable de constater que la quête effrénée du profit fait de la peine à l'âme humaine.
It is lamentable to note that the frantic pursuit of profit causes sorrow to the human soul.
Impersonal 'il est' + adjective + subordinate clause with complex vocabulary.
La perpétuation de cycles de violence et de désespoir fait de la peine.
The perpetuation of cycles of violence and despair is saddening.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Le silence complice face à l'oppression fait de la peine.
The complicit silence in the face of oppression is heartbreaking.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Observer la fragilité de l'existence et la précarité de nos vies fait de la peine.
Observing the fragility of existence and the precariousness of our lives is saddening.
Infinitive phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Le déclin des valeurs morales dans une société individualiste fait de la peine.
The decline of moral values in an individualistic society is disheartening.
Noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Il est odieux de songer que l'exploitation des plus vulnérables continue de faire de la peine.
It is odious to think that the exploitation of the most vulnerable continues to cause sorrow.
Impersonal 'il est' + adjective + infinitive + subordinate clause.
La dissonance cognitive créée par la contradiction entre les idéaux et la réalité fait de la peine.
The cognitive dissonance created by the contradiction between ideals and reality is saddening.
Complex noun phrase as subject + faire de la peine.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— This expression is used when something causes you personal sadness or distress. It's a direct way to express your emotional reaction.
J'ai entendu parler de ton problème, et ça me fait de la peine.
— This impersonal construction is used to express that a situation is sad or regrettable to witness.
Il fait de la peine de voir autant de déchets dans la nature.
— This phrase describes a situation that is inherently sad or evokes pity, without necessarily specifying who is feeling the sadness.
Les sans-abri dans la rue, leur situation fait de la peine.
— This indicates that a particular event or situation causes sadness to a large number of people.
La fermeture de l'usine cela fait de la peine à beaucoup de gens.
— This means that 'she' caused sadness to her friend. The 'à' is crucial here to indicate the recipient of the sorrow.
En lui annonçant la mauvaise nouvelle, elle a fait de la peine à son ami.
— This means not to cause sadness or distress. It's often used as a plea or a reassurance.
S'il te plaît, ne fais pas de peine à ta mère.
— This is used to describe a narrative or account that is sad or evokes sympathy.
Le livre raconte une histoire qui fait de la peine.
— This implies that something is unpleasant or sad to look at.
Le vieux bâtiment abandonné fait de la peine à voir.
— This is used when hearing something causes you sadness or distress.
Cela fait de la peine d'entendre qu'il est malade.
— This intensifies the expression, meaning 'to cause a lot of sadness' or 'to be very sad'.
La guerre fait beaucoup de peine à tout le monde.
Often Confused With
'Avoir mal' means 'to have pain' (physical or emotional). 'Faire de la peine' means to cause pain or sadness to someone else, or to be a sad sight.
'Souffrir' means 'to suffer'. While related to 'peine', 'faire de la peine' is about the act of causing or evoking this suffering, not the suffering itself.
'Triste' is an adjective meaning 'sad'. 'Faire de la peine' is a verbal expression that describes the action or situation causing sadness.
Idioms & Expressions
— This idiom means 'to have a heavy heart' or 'to be very sad'. It describes the feeling of deep sorrow, similar to what one might feel when something 'fait de la peine'.
J'ai le cœur gros en pensant à son départ.
neutral— This idiom means 'to have tears in one's eyes', indicating that something is so sad or moving that it brings tears. It's a physical manifestation of the sadness evoked by something that 'fait de la peine'.
En voyant la fin du film, j'ai eu les larmes aux yeux.
neutral— Meaning 'to be deeply sorry' or 'to be grieved', this expresses a strong sense of sadness and regret, often in response to bad news or unfortunate events.
Je suis navré d'apprendre votre perte.
formal— This verb means 'to lament' or 'to wail', describing an outward expression of deep sorrow or grief, often in response to something that causes great 'peine'.
Elle se lamentait sur son sort.
neutral— This idiom means 'to feel very down' or 'to have one's morale at rock bottom'. It describes a state of deep unhappiness, often resulting from circumstances that 'font de la peine'.
Après cet échec, j'ai le moral dans les chaussettes.
informal— Meaning 'to have a broken heart', this idiom refers to extreme emotional pain, usually due to heartbreak or profound loss.
Depuis leur séparation, il a le cœur brisé.
neutral— Meaning 'to shed tears', this is a direct action associated with sadness or sorrow, often a consequence of something that 'fait de la peine'.
Il a versé des larmes en écoutant cette chanson triste.
neutral— Meaning 'to cry from sorrow', this specifies the cause of crying as deep sadness or grief.
Elle pleurait de chagrin après avoir perdu son emploi.
neutral— Meaning 'to be dejected' or 'to be cast down', this describes a state of low spirits and discouragement, often due to unfortunate events.
Après la mauvaise nouvelle, il était complètement abattu.
neutral— Meaning 'to feel blue' or 'to be in low spirits', this idiom describes a general feeling of sadness or melancholy.
Aujourd'hui, j'ai le cafard, je ne sais pas pourquoi.
informalEasily Confused
The word 'peine' on its own can mean 'sorrow', 'difficulty', 'effort', or even 'punishment'. Learners might get confused about its specific role in the expression.
In 'faire de la peine', 'peine' specifically refers to emotional sorrow or distress. It's part of a fixed expression and doesn't carry its other meanings directly.
Il a fait beaucoup de peine pour réussir son examen (effort). vs. La mort de son animal a fait de la peine à tout le monde (sorrow).
This phrase is similar in structure but means 'to feel sad' or 'to have sorrow'. It focuses on the internal feeling of the subject.
'Faire de la peine' is about causing sadness (transitive or impersonal), while 'avoir de la peine' is about experiencing sadness (intransitive).
J'ai de la peine pour toi (I feel sad for you). vs. Ton histoire me fait de la peine (Your story makes me sad).
'Plaindre' means 'to pity' or 'to complain'. It's related to the concept of sadness and sympathy.
'Faire de la peine' is more about causing or evoking the feeling of sadness/pity. 'Plaindre' is either the act of pitying someone or the act of complaining about one's own misfortune.
Il faut plaindre les malheureux (pity). vs. Il se plaint toujours (complains). vs. Leur situation fait de la peine (causes sadness).
'Chagrin' also means 'sorrow' or 'grief'. It's a synonym for 'peine' in some contexts.
'Faire de la peine' is a set expression. 'Chagrin' can be used more broadly as a noun (le chagrin) or in verbs like 'chagriner' (to grieve). While related, 'faire de la peine' is the idiomatic expression for causing sorrow.
Il éprouve un profond chagrin (grief). vs. Son départ fait de la peine (causes sorrow).
'Attrister' is a verb meaning 'to sadden'. It's a direct alternative to 'faire de la peine'.
'Faire de la peine' is a more idiomatic and often slightly less formal expression than the verb 'attrister'. 'Attrister' is a single verb, whereas 'faire de la peine' is a verbal phrase.
Cette nouvelle m'attriste (saddens me). vs. Cette nouvelle me fait de la peine (This news saddens me).
Sentence Patterns
Subject + fait de la peine.
Le chien fait de la peine.
Subject + me/te/nous/vous fait de la peine.
Cela me fait de la peine.
Subject + fait de la peine à + noun/pronoun.
Sa détresse fait de la peine à ses parents.
Impersonal 'Il fait de la peine de + infinitive'.
Il fait de la peine de voir cela.
Subject + a fait de la peine (past tense).
La nouvelle a fait de la peine.
Subject + faire de la peine + adverb (beaucoup, un peu).
Le film fait beaucoup de peine.
Relative clause + fait de la peine.
L'histoire qui se passe fait de la peine.
Impersonal 'C'est + adjective + de + infinitive + qui fait de la peine'.
C'est triste de voir qui fait de la peine.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Related
How to Use It
Very common
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Forgetting 'de la'.
→
faire de la peine
The expression requires the partitive article 'de la' before 'peine'. Saying 'faire peine' is generally incorrect in modern standard French.
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Omitting 'à' when specifying the recipient.
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Cela fait de la peine <strong>à</strong> mon ami.
When you want to say who is being saddened, the preposition 'à' is necessary. The correct structure is 'faire de la peine à [person/people]'.
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Using 'faire de la peine' for physical pain.
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Ma jambe me fait mal. (My leg hurts.)
'Faire de la peine' refers to emotional sadness or pity, not physical pain. For physical pain, use 'avoir mal' or 'faire mal'.
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Incorrect pronoun placement.
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Cela <strong>me</strong> fait de la peine.
When using object pronouns (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur), they must precede 'fait de la peine'.
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Confusing 'faire de la peine' with 'avoir de la peine'.
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Ton histoire me fait de la peine. (Your story makes me sad.)
'Faire de la peine' means to cause sadness, while 'avoir de la peine' means to feel sad. The subject and object roles are reversed.
Tips
Mastering the Nasal Sound
The 'en' in 'peine' is a nasal vowel. Try to pronounce it without touching your tongue to the roof of your mouth, letting the sound resonate in your nasal passage. It sounds similar to the 'an' in 'want' but with a distinct French nasal quality.
The Crucial 'à'
Remember that when you are specifying *who* is being saddened, you almost always need the preposition 'à'. Forgetting it is a common mistake. 'Cela fait de la peine à mon ami.'
Connect to 'Pain'
Link the French word 'peine' to the English word 'pain'. Visualize 'faire de la peine' as 'to make emotional pain' – a way to remember its meaning of causing sadness or distress.
Synonym Exploration
Don't just stick to 'faire de la peine'. Learn its synonyms like 'attrister' and 'rendre triste' to add variety and precision to your expression of sadness.
Sentence Creation
Actively create sentences using 'faire de la peine' in different contexts. Try using it with different subjects and recipients to solidify your understanding of its grammatical variations.
Listen for Emotion
When watching French films or listening to French music, pay attention to how characters express sadness or sympathy. You'll likely hear 'faire de la peine' used frequently in emotional scenes.
Empathy in French
Understanding 'faire de la peine' is key to understanding how empathy is expressed in French culture. It's a common way to acknowledge and share in someone's sorrow.
Pronoun Placement
When using object pronouns (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur), they always precede 'fait de la peine'. For example, 'Cela nous fait de la peine', not 'Cela fait de la peine nous'.
Nuance of Pity
While it means 'to cause sadness', 'faire de la peine' often carries a stronger connotation of pity or sympathy, especially when referring to someone's unfortunate circumstances.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'pain' (peine)ful situation that makes you feel sad. The 'faire' (to make) part means you are causing or witnessing this sad 'pain'. Think of a sad movie that 'makes you feel pain' (fait de la peine).
Visual Association
Picture a person crying (peine) because something sad happened (faire). Or visualize a broken heart (peine) as a result of a distressing event (faire).
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'faire de la peine' in three different sentences describing situations that evoke sadness or pity. Ensure you correctly use the preposition 'à' if you specify the recipient of the sorrow.
Word Origin
The expression 'faire de la peine' originates from the Latin word 'poena', which means 'punishment', 'penalty', or 'suffering'. Over time, its meaning evolved to encompass emotional suffering and sorrow.
Original meaning: In older French, 'peine' could refer to a penalty or torment. The phrase 'faire peine' initially might have had connotations closer to 'to cause torment' or 'to inflict suffering'.
Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance > FrenchCultural Context
This expression should be used with sensitivity. While it describes sadness, it's important not to trivialize genuine suffering. The context and tone are crucial to conveying sincere empathy rather than mere observation.
In English, we might say 'it saddens me', 'it's heartbreaking', 'it's a pity', or 'it makes me feel bad'. The French 'faire de la peine' often carries a nuance of pity or sympathy that can be stronger than just 'sadness'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Discussing personal misfortunes or sad news.
- Ça me fait de la peine.
- C'est une triste nouvelle.
- Je suis désolé(e) d'apprendre ça.
Expressing sympathy for others.
- Je comprends ta douleur.
- Je suis là pour toi.
- Cela doit être difficile.
Describing unhappy situations or sights.
- C'est une situation lamentable.
- La vue est désolante.
- C'est navrant de voir ça.
Talking about difficult life events (loss, illness, separation).
- C'est une période difficile.
- Je te souhaite du courage.
- Cela demande beaucoup de force.
Reacting to sad stories or media.
- Ce film m'a beaucoup ému.
- L'histoire est touchante.
- J'ai pleuré en lisant ce livre.
Conversation Starters
"Did you hear about what happened to our neighbor? It really makes me feel sad."
"I saw a documentary last night about the refugee crisis, and it was heartbreaking."
"What do you think about the current economic situation? It's quite disheartening."
"Have you ever felt so sad about something that it made you cry?"
"When you see someone struggling, how does it make you feel?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time when something you witnessed made you feel deep sorrow. Use 'faire de la peine' in your description.
Think about a situation that recently made you sad. How did you react, and what did you do to cope with the feeling?
Write about a character in a book or movie whose story evoked strong feelings of pity or sadness. Explain why.
Consider a societal issue that you find particularly distressing. How does it affect you personally, and what are your thoughts on it?
Reflect on a time you had to deliver bad news to someone. How did you approach it, and how did you feel afterward?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsLiterally, 'faire' means 'to make' and 'peine' means 'sorrow' or 'pain'. So, it translates to 'to make sorrow' or 'to make pain'. However, the idiomatic meaning is 'to cause sadness or pity to someone', or to be a sad sight.
You use 'à' when you want to specify who is being saddened or pitied. For example, 'Sa situation fait de la peine à ses parents' (His situation saddens his parents). If you are expressing your own sadness, you use a direct object pronoun like 'me fait de la peine'.
No, 'faire de la peine' is primarily used for emotional pain, sadness, or pity. For physical pain, you would use expressions like 'avoir mal' (to have pain) or 'faire mal' (to hurt).
It's generally considered neutral to informal. While it's very common in everyday speech, more formal contexts might prefer verbs like 'attrister' or 'navrer'.
'Faire de la peine' means to cause sadness to someone else or to be a sad sight. 'Avoir de la peine' means to feel sad or to have sorrow oneself.
While 'faire peine' can sometimes be encountered, especially in older texts or specific regional uses, the standard and universally understood expression is 'faire de la peine'. It's safer and more correct to always include 'de la'.
It's used when discussing unfortunate events, someone's suffering, sad news, or anything that evokes pity or sympathy.
You use a direct object pronoun before 'faire de la peine'. For example, 'Cette histoire me fait de la peine' (This story makes me sad).
You can use 'attrister' (to sadden), 'rendre triste' (to make sad), 'navrer' (to grieve/be sorry), or 'inspirer la pitié' (to inspire pity), depending on the nuance and formality.
Yes, in the expression 'faire de la peine', 'peine' specifically refers to emotional sorrow, distress, or pity. It does not carry its other meanings like 'effort' or 'difficulty' in this context.
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Summary
The expression 'faire de la peine (à)' signifies causing sorrow or evoking pity. It's used when something is a sad sight or situation, or when an action distresses someone, often requiring the preposition 'à' to indicate the affected party.
- To cause sadness or pity to someone.
- The phrase expresses emotional pain or sympathy.
- Used when something is a sad sight or situation.
- Often followed by 'à' to specify the recipient.
Mastering the Nasal Sound
The 'en' in 'peine' is a nasal vowel. Try to pronounce it without touching your tongue to the roof of your mouth, letting the sound resonate in your nasal passage. It sounds similar to the 'an' in 'want' but with a distinct French nasal quality.
The Crucial 'à'
Remember that when you are specifying *who* is being saddened, you almost always need the preposition 'à'. Forgetting it is a common mistake. 'Cela fait de la peine à mon ami.'
Context is Key
While 'faire de la peine' is common, avoid overusing it for minor annoyances. It implies a genuine emotional impact, so save it for situations that truly evoke sadness or pity.
Connect to 'Pain'
Link the French word 'peine' to the English word 'pain'. Visualize 'faire de la peine' as 'to make emotional pain' – a way to remember its meaning of causing sadness or distress.
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