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Holly Dickson
Quelle est la traduction ou la sense de "je t'en prie"?
Aug 15, 2016 4:47 PM
Answers · 10
2
In addition to Phil's answer, it could also be used to invite people to enter a place or to go before you.
For instance you can hold the door and say :
- Hodor.
or
- Je vous en prie. [unsaid : allez-y, entrez !]
Finally, this expression is very similar to the japanese dôzo, to invite people to do something (enter, take a seat, start a speech, anything...)
August 15, 2016
2
That’s a great question. Context:
A: Merci.
B: Je t’en prie.
Pragmatically, it means the same thing as French “de rien” or English “you’re welcome” (response to “thank you”), or a bit more literally “don’t mention it.”
Literally, the translation is something like “I pray thee” or “I beg you” — as in I beg you not to thank me, or I ask you not to mention it. I suppose the English “don’t mention it” is similar.
Note that we use “t’ ” or “vous” as appropriate. From this point of view, it’s probably easier to say “de rien,” which, lacking a conjugated verb, is technically not even a full clause.
August 15, 2016
There is another use that comes to my mind which serves to more or less validate the action of the speaker:
"Je prends plus de beurre !"
"Je t'en prie ..."
August 17, 2016
Je t'en prie = De rien
August 15, 2016
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Holly Dickson
Language Skills
English, French, Spanish
Learning Language
French, Spanish
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