malgré l'âge
malgré l'âge 30秒了解
- Used to express that something remains true or effective even as a person gets older.
- Commonly used to praise the health, wit, or family bonds of elderly people in French culture.
- A more elegant and common alternative to 'bien que' when followed by a noun like 'âge'.
- Essential for discussing resilience, longevity, and the enduring nature of human relationships.
The phrase malgré l'âge is a common French locution that translates literally to "despite age" or "notwithstanding the years." While it might seem straightforward, its application in French culture often carries a weight of admiration, resilience, or continuity. It is primarily used to describe situations where a quality, a bond, or an ability persists even as time passes and the body or circumstances change. In the context of family, it highlights the enduring nature of blood ties that remain unshaken by the generational gap or the physical aging of parents and children. It suggests that the essence of a person or a relationship is immune to the chronological clock.
- Semantic Core
- The preposition 'malgré' indicates a concession, implying that age should normally be an obstacle, yet it is being overcome.
- Family Context
- Often used to describe a grandmother's sharp wit or the unbreakable love between siblings who are now elderly.
Ma grand-mère reste très active malgré l'âge.
In a broader sense, you will encounter this phrase in biographies, medical discussions, and sports journalism. When an athlete performs well at 40, or a scholar publishes a masterpiece at 90, the French media will inevitably use malgré l'âge to emphasize their exceptional vitality. It serves as a linguistic tribute to human spirit and biological resilience. Unlike the English "for their age," which can sometimes sound patronizing, malgré l'âge focuses on the triumph over the limitations that age usually imposes.
Ils s'aiment comme au premier jour, malgré l'âge et les épreuves.
- Register
- Neutral to Formal. It is perfectly acceptable in both polite conversation and formal writing.
Using malgré l'âge requires understanding the placement of the prepositional phrase. It usually appears at the end of a clause to provide additional context, or at the beginning for emphasis. Because 'malgré' is a preposition, it must be followed by a noun or a noun phrase. In this case, 'l'âge' (the age) is the noun phrase. You should never follow 'malgré' with 'que' unless you are using the more complex 'malgré le fait que'. Therefore, 'malgré l'âge' is a cleaner, more elegant way to express concession.
Malgré l'âge, il refuse de prendre sa retraite.
When discussing family bonds, the phrase often highlights the lack of distance between generations. For example, if a grandfather and grandson share a deep hobby, one might say their connection is strong 'malgré l'âge' (despite the age gap). Note that while 'âge' is singular, it refers to the general concept of being old or the specific years lived. It is also common to see it paired with 'poids' (weight) as in 'malgré le poids de l'âge', which adds a more literary, slightly more heavy connotation to the passing of time.
La complicité entre les deux frères reste intacte malgré l'âge.
- Syntactic Function
- Adverbial phrase of concession.
Elle garde un esprit vif malgré l'âge avancé.
You will hear malgré l'âge in various social and professional settings across the French-speaking world. In family reunions, it is a staple when elders are being praised. 'Regarde-le, il danse encore malgré l'âge !' (Look at him, he's still dancing despite his age!). It carries a sense of joyful surprise. In the workplace, particularly in traditional industries, it might be used to describe a veteran employee's continued relevance or their ability to adapt to new technologies. It is also a favorite of French news anchors when reporting on centenarians or historical figures who remain active in public life.
Le pianiste a donné un concert magistral malgré l'âge.
In literature and cinema, the phrase is often used to set a tone of nostalgia or stubborn persistence. A character might return to their childhood home and find their feelings for a sibling unchanged 'malgré l'âge'. This usage underscores the theme that certain human emotions are timeless. In health and wellness circles, you'll see it in headlines like 'Rester en forme malgré l'âge' (Staying fit despite age), reflecting the modern obsession with longevity. It is a phrase that bridges the gap between the biological reality of aging and the psychological experience of feeling young.
Leur amitié a survécu à tout, même malgré l'âge et la distance.
One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is trying to translate "despite the fact that" literally as "malgré que". In standard French, malgré que is generally considered incorrect or highly informal (except in the specific phrase 'malgré que j'en aie'). Instead, you should use 'malgré' followed by a noun, like malgré l'âge. If you must use a verb, use 'bien que' with the subjunctive. Another mistake is forgetting the definite article. English says "despite age," but French almost always requires "malgré l'âge" to sound natural.
- Incorrect
- Malgré il est vieux (Wrong grammar - 'malgré' cannot follow a pronoun/verb directly).
- Correct
- Malgré son âge / Malgré l'âge (Correct prepositional use).
Another nuance is the confusion between 'malgré' and 'en dépit de'. While they are synonyms, 'en dépit de' is slightly more formal and often used for more negative or abstract obstacles. Malgré l'âge is the more versatile and common choice for everyday admiration. Finally, ensure you don't confuse 'âge' with 'an' (year). You wouldn't say 'malgré les ans' in common speech, as that sounds very poetic and old-fashioned, whereas 'malgré l'âge' is contemporary and standard.
Ne dites pas: Malgré qu'il soit vieux. Dites: Malgré l'âge, il est vigoureux.
If you want to vary your vocabulary, there are several alternatives to malgré l'âge, depending on the tone you wish to convey. 'En dépit de l'âge' is the closest synonym but carries a slightly more literary or formal weight. It suggests a more active resistance to the effects of time. 'Nonobstant l'âge' is extremely formal, mostly found in legal or highly academic texts, and should be avoided in casual conversation. For a more poetic touch, one might use 'outre le poids des années', which emphasizes the burden of time rather than just the chronological number.
- En dépit de l'âge
- Formal synonym, implies a stronger sense of 'against all odds'.
- Bien qu'âgé
- A verbal alternative meaning 'although elderly'. Requires a subject.
When the focus is specifically on the continuity of a relationship, you might use 'par-delà les années' (beyond the years). This is particularly beautiful when describing family bonds or long-term friendships, as it suggests the bond exists in a space where time doesn't matter. Conversely, if you want to be more literal about someone's physical state, 'avec l'âge' (with age) is used for natural changes, whereas 'malgré l'âge' is used specifically for things that don't change or that resist the change.
Leur lien s'est renforcé par-delà les années.
How Formal Is It?
趣味小知识
The word 'gré' comes from the Latin 'gratum', which also gave us 'gratitude'. So 'malgré' is literally 'bad gratitude' or 'without thanks'.
发音指南
- Pronouncing the 's' in 'malgré' (there is no 's').
- Pronouncing 'âge' like the English 'age' (it should be 'ahzh').
- Forgetting to elide the 'l' with 'âge' (l'âge).
- Making the 'e' in 'malgré' silent.
- Nasalizing the 'a' in 'malgré' unnecessarily.
难度评级
Easy to recognize in texts once the preposition 'malgré' is known.
Requires avoiding the common 'malgré que' trap.
Requires good pronunciation of the 'r' and 'â' sounds.
Commonly heard in media and family settings.
接下来学什么
前置知识
接下来学习
高级
需要掌握的语法
Prepositional Concession
Malgré + Noun (Malgré la pluie, malgré l'âge).
Elision
Le + âge becomes l'âge.
Adverbial Placement
Can be at start or end of sentence.
Gender Agreement
Âge is masculine, but doesn't affect 'malgré'.
Avoiding 'Malgré que'
Use 'Bien que' + Subjunctive instead.
按水平分级的例句
Il court vite malgré l'âge.
He runs fast despite age.
Simple prepositional phrase.
Elle est belle malgré l'âge.
She is beautiful despite age.
Adjective + malgré phrase.
Mon chien joue malgré l'âge.
My dog plays despite age.
Subject + verb + malgré phrase.
Il rit beaucoup malgré l'âge.
He laughs a lot despite age.
Adverbial use.
Elle voyage malgré l'âge.
She travels despite age.
Action verb + phrase.
Ils sont heureux malgré l'âge.
They are happy despite age.
Plural subject.
Il étudie malgré l'âge.
He studies despite age.
Present tense.
Elle chante bien malgré l'âge.
She sings well despite age.
Verb + adverb + phrase.
Il continue de travailler malgré l'âge.
He continues to work despite age.
Verb 'continuer de' + infinitive.
Elle garde le sourire malgré l'âge.
She keeps smiling despite age.
Direct object 'le sourire'.
Leur amitié reste forte malgré l'âge.
Their friendship remains strong despite age.
Abstract subject 'amitié'.
Il a beaucoup d'énergie malgré l'âge.
He has a lot of energy despite age.
Expression of quantity 'beaucoup de'.
Elle fait du sport malgré l'âge.
She does sports despite age.
Partitive article 'du'.
Ils s'aiment toujours malgré l'âge.
They still love each other despite age.
Pronominal verb 's'aimer'.
Il apprend le piano malgré l'âge.
He is learning the piano despite age.
Learning context.
Elle est très active malgré l'âge.
She is very active despite age.
Intensifier 'très'.
Il est nécessaire de rester curieux malgré l'âge.
It is necessary to stay curious despite age.
Impersonal 'il est nécessaire de'.
Elle a gardé toute sa tête malgré l'âge.
She has kept all her wits despite age.
Idiomatic 'garder toute sa tête'.
Malgré l'âge, il ne perd pas espoir.
Despite age, he does not lose hope.
Phrase at the beginning for emphasis.
Leur complicité est évidente malgré l'âge.
Their bond is evident despite age.
Focus on family bond.
Il conduit encore sa voiture malgré l'âge.
He still drives his car despite age.
Adverb 'encore'.
Elle s'occupe de son jardin malgré l'âge.
She takes care of her garden despite age.
Verb 's'occuper de'.
Il écrit ses mémoires malgré l'âge.
He is writing his memoirs despite age.
Possessive 'ses'.
Elle assiste à tous les concerts malgré l'âge.
She attends all the concerts despite age.
Verb 'assister à'.
La passion pour l'art demeure intacte malgré l'âge.
The passion for art remains intact despite age.
Formal verb 'demeurer'.
Malgré l'âge, elle refuse de se laisser aller.
Despite age, she refuses to let herself go.
Pronominal infinitive 'se laisser aller'.
Il fait preuve d'une grande sagesse malgré l'âge.
He demonstrates great wisdom despite age.
Expression 'faire preuve de'.
Le lien familial s'est resserré malgré l'âge.
The family bond has tightened despite age.
Past tense 's'est resserré'.
Elle conserve une excellente mémoire malgré l'âge.
She retains an excellent memory despite age.
Formal verb 'conserver'.
Il s'adapte aux nouvelles technologies malgré l'âge.
He adapts to new technologies despite age.
Modern context.
Malgré l'âge, son influence dans l'entreprise reste majeure.
Despite age, his influence in the company remains major.
Professional context.
Elle milite pour les droits de l'homme malgré l'âge.
She campaigns for human rights despite age.
Political context.
L'acuité de son esprit surprend, surtout malgré l'âge.
The sharpness of his mind surprises, especially despite age.
Noun 'acuité'.
Elle incarne la résilience malgré l'âge et la maladie.
She embodies resilience despite age and illness.
Coordinated nouns after 'malgré'.
Malgré l'âge, il n'a rien perdu de sa superbe.
Despite age, he has lost none of his grandeur.
Idiomatic 'perdre de sa superbe'.
La pérennité de leur amour étonne malgré l'âge.
The longevity of their love astonishes despite age.
Noun 'pérennité'.
Il continue de hanter les scènes malgré l'âge.
He continues to haunt the stages despite age.
Metaphorical 'hanter'.
Malgré l'âge, elle cultive une curiosité insatiable.
Despite age, she cultivates an insatiable curiosity.
Advanced adjective 'insatiable'.
Son autorité morale demeure incontestée malgré l'âge.
His moral authority remains undisputed despite age.
Passive participle 'incontestée'.
Elle défie les lois de la biologie malgré l'âge.
She defies the laws of biology despite age.
Scientific context.
L'œuvre gagne en profondeur malgré l'âge de l'auteur.
The work gains in depth despite the author's age.
Specific noun phrase 'l'âge de l'auteur'.
Malgré l'âge, il ne saurait être question de renoncement.
Despite age, there can be no question of giving up.
Formal 'ne saurait être question de'.
Elle porte en elle une jeunesse éternelle malgré l'âge.
She carries within her an eternal youth despite age.
Philosophical context.
Malgré l'âge, la flamme de la révolte ne s'est pas éteinte.
Despite age, the flame of revolt has not gone out.
Metaphorical 'flamme'.
Il s'inscrit dans la durée malgré l'âge et les modes.
He establishes himself for the long term despite age and fashions.
Expression 's'inscrire dans la durée'.
La lucidité de son analyse demeure intacte malgré l'âge.
The lucidity of her analysis remains intact despite age.
Precision of thought.
Malgré l'âge, il conserve ce grain de folie salvateur.
Despite age, he keeps that saving touch of madness.
Idiomatic 'grain de folie'.
L'harmonie familiale perdure malgré l'âge des patriarches.
Family harmony persists despite the age of the patriarchs.
Formal verb 'perdurer'.
常见搭配
常用短语
— To be in good health and alert despite being old.
Mon grand-père est toujours bon pied bon œil malgré l'âge.
— Still full of vitality and energy.
Il est toujours vert malgré l'âge, il fait du vélo tous les jours.
— To maintain all one's mental faculties.
Elle a cent ans et garde toute sa tête malgré l'âge.
— Having wisdom that persists or grows with time.
Il a gardé sa sagesse malgré l'âge.
— Romance that doesn't fade with getting older.
C'est une belle histoire d'amour malgré l'âge.
— Physical or mental strength that remains.
Il a une force incroyable malgré l'âge.
— Having a youthful mindset despite being chronologically old.
Il a un esprit jeune malgré l'âge.
— Continuing to be passionate about something.
Il peint avec passion malgré l'âge.
— The ability to recover from difficulties in old age.
Sa résilience malgré l'âge est admirable.
容易混淆的词
Often used by natives but grammatically incorrect in most contexts; use 'malgré' + noun.
Indicates a negative reason, whereas 'malgré' indicates a triumph over age.
Means 'according to age' (e.g., dosage of medicine).
习语与表达
— It's never too late to do the right thing, often used with 'malgré l'âge'.
Il a commencé le bénévolat à 80 ans; on n'est jamais trop vieux pour bien faire.
Proverbial— Old people can still fall in love or get passionate.
Il s'est remarié à 90 ans, vieux bois prend feu malgré l'âge !
Informal/Poetic— Age doesn't define one's abilities (calque from English but used).
Elle court des marathons; pour elle, l'âge n'est qu'un chiffre.
Common— To look younger than one is.
Il porte bien son âge malgré les épreuves.
Standard— The burden of getting older.
Il ne sent pas le poids des ans malgré l'âge.
Literary— In the prime of life (ironically used with 'malgré').
Il se croit encore dans la force de l'âge malgré l'âge réel.
Standard— An old-timer or veteran.
C'est un vieux de la vieille qui travaille encore malgré l'âge.
Informal— To gain experience/age (like wine).
Il a pris de la bouteille mais reste efficace malgré l'âge.
Informal— Old methods or old people are often the best.
Il cuisine toujours mieux que les jeunes; c'est dans les vieux pots...
Proverbial容易混淆
Both relate to being old.
'Vieillesse' is the state of being old (noun), while 'âge' is the chronological number.
La vieillesse est un naufrage vs Malgré l'âge, il est jeune.
Both measure time.
'An' is a unit of time; 'âge' is the total accumulation of years.
Il a 80 ans vs Malgré l'âge...
Relates to time passing.
'Durée' is the length of an event.
La durée du film vs Malgré l'âge de l'acteur.
Relates to time periods.
'Époque' is an era.
À cette époque vs Malgré l'âge.
Relates to being old in a job.
'Ancienneté' is seniority at work.
Il a de l'ancienneté vs Malgré l'âge.
句型
S + V + malgré l'âge
Il court malgré l'âge.
S + V + Adj + malgré l'âge
Elle est forte malgré l'âge.
Malgré l'âge, S + V
Malgré l'âge, il voyage encore.
Il est [Adj] de + Inf + malgré l'âge
Il est possible de danser malgré l'âge.
S + V + Adv + malgré l'âge
Il travaille efficacement malgré l'âge.
L'idée de + Inf + malgré l'âge
L'idée de skier malgré l'âge est audacieuse.
Nom + V + intact(e) malgré l'âge
Sa mémoire reste intacte malgré l'âge.
Phrase complexe + malgré l'âge
Bien qu'il soit fatigué, il persiste dans son labeur, et ce, malgré l'âge.
词族
名词
动词
形容词
相关
如何使用
High in journalism and family talk.
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of 'MAL' (bad) and 'GRÉ' (agree). You don't 'agree' with the 'bad' effects of 'AGE'.
视觉联想
Imagine an old man lifting a heavy barbell with a smile. The barbell is labeled 'AGE'.
Word Web
挑战
Try to describe three things your grandparents do 'malgré l'âge' using only French sentences.
词源
From the Old French 'mal' (bad) and 'gré' (will/pleasure), literally meaning 'against one's will'. Combined with 'âge' from Latin 'aetas'.
原始含义: In spite of the will of time.
Romance (Latin roots).文化背景
Generally very positive, but avoid using it if someone is sensitive about their age being mentioned at all.
English speakers often say 'for his/her age,' which can imply a lower standard. 'Malgré l'âge' is more about overcoming the standard.
在生活中练习
真实语境
Family Reunions
- Elle n'a pas changé malgré l'âge.
- Toujours le même humour malgré l'âge.
- Il reconnaît tout le monde malgré l'âge.
- Quelle énergie malgré l'âge !
Sports Commentary
- Un champion malgré l'âge.
- Il bat des records malgré l'âge.
- Sa technique reste parfaite malgré l'âge.
- Inoxydable malgré l'âge.
Health/Doctor
- Bonne santé malgré l'âge.
- Cœur solide malgré l'âge.
- Articulations souples malgré l'âge.
- Vigilance malgré l'âge.
Workplace
- Expertise intacte malgré l'âge.
- Toujours là malgré l'âge.
- Il encadre les jeunes malgré l'âge.
- Une mémoire de fer malgré l'âge.
Romantic/Literature
- Un amour pur malgré l'âge.
- Leur passion brûle malgré l'âge.
- Beauté intemporelle malgré l'âge.
- Main dans la main malgré l'âge.
对话开场白
"Trouvez-vous que les gens restent plus actifs aujourd'hui malgré l'âge ?"
"Connaissez-vous quelqu'un qui a commencé un nouveau hobby malgré l'âge ?"
"Est-il possible de changer de carrière malgré l'âge ?"
"Comment garder un esprit jeune malgré l'âge ?"
"Quel est le secret pour rester en forme malgré l'âge ?"
日记主题
Décrivez un membre de votre famille qui vous inspire par sa vitalité malgré l'âge.
Pensez-vous que la sagesse vient vraiment avec le temps, ou est-ce difficile à garder malgré l'âge ?
Écrivez sur une activité que vous espérez continuer à faire malgré l'âge.
Réfléchissez à la façon dont les amitiés évoluent ou restent les mêmes malgré l'âge.
Comment la société peut-elle mieux valoriser les personnes qui restent actives malgré l'âge ?
常见问题
10 个问题Yes, 'malgré mon âge' (despite my age) is very common when talking about yourself. 'Malgré l'âge' is more general.
Yes, in standard French, 'malgré' is a preposition and must be followed by a noun or a pronoun (e.g., malgré lui).
You can say 'malgré l'âge' or 'bien qu'étant âgé'. The first is simpler and more common.
Yes, it is generally respectful and used to highlight positive qualities in older people.
'En dépit de' is more formal and often used for more abstract or negative concepts. 'Malgré' is the standard choice.
Yes, you can use it for old wine, old buildings, or old books to say they are still in good condition.
It is masculine: 'un âge', 'l'âge'. This is why we use 'l'âge' and not 'la âge'.
No, 'malgré' is an invariable preposition. It never changes form.
No, that doesn't make sense. You use it for 'old' age. For a specific age, you just say 'à 20 ans'.
Because 'âge' starts with a vowel, so 'le' becomes 'l''.
Summary
The phrase 'malgré l'âge' is your go-to expression for acknowledging someone's vitality or a strong bond that hasn't faded over time. Example: 'Leur amour est resté jeune malgré l'âge.'
- Used to express that something remains true or effective even as a person gets older.
- Commonly used to praise the health, wit, or family bonds of elderly people in French culture.
- A more elegant and common alternative to 'bien que' when followed by a noun like 'âge'.
- Essential for discussing resilience, longevity, and the enduring nature of human relationships.
相关内容
更多family词汇
à charge
B2受抚养人;指经济上由他人供养的家庭成员。
à deux
A2两人一起;作为一对或搭档。
à domicile
A2在家
à jamais
A2Forever, for all time.
à la charge de
B2Dependent on; at the expense of.
à la mémoire de
B2为了纪念;用于纪念已故者的正式表达方式。
à la place de
B21. 我喝了咖啡,而不是我通常的茶。2. 老师给了我一个额外的练习,而不是考试。
à l'amiable
B2Amicably, by mutual agreement.
à l'égard de
A2With regard to; concerning.
à l'image de
B2效法;像……一样。