sous l' inconvénient
sous the disadvantage
حرفيًا: under the disadvantage
Use this phrase in formal settings to acknowledge a specific trade-off or drawback in a plan.
في 15 ثانية
- Accepting a situation along with its specific downside or catch.
- Best used in formal, professional, or legal contexts.
- Often followed by 'de' and a verb or noun.
المعنى
It refers to accepting a situation or a deal while acknowledging a specific drawback or 'catch' that comes with it. It is like saying you are doing something 'with the downside of' a particular condition.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Discussing a car purchase
J'achète cette voiture sous l'inconvénient de sa consommation élevée.
I am buying this car with the drawback of its high fuel consumption.
A professional project update
Le projet avance sous l'inconvénient d'un budget très limité.
The project is moving forward under the disadvantage of a very limited budget.
Accepting a job offer
Il a accepté le poste sous l'inconvénient de travailler le samedi.
He accepted the position with the disadvantage of working on Saturdays.
خلفية ثقافية
This phrase stems from a French intellectual tradition of 'esprit critique,' where one must always identify the limits of a situation. It is frequently found in 19th-century literature and legal texts to define the conditions of an agreement. Today, it remains a hallmark of formal, analytical French speech.
The 'De' Rule
Always remember to add `de` after the phrase. Without it, the sentence will feel unfinished to a native speaker.
Don't Overuse It
If you use this phrase for everything, you will sound like you are reading a textbook. Save it for moments that actually matter.
في 15 ثانية
- Accepting a situation along with its specific downside or catch.
- Best used in formal, professional, or legal contexts.
- Often followed by 'de' and a verb or noun.
What It Means
Imagine you find a dream apartment. It is cheap but far from the metro. You are living sous l'inconvénient of a long commute. It describes a situation with a built-in negative. It is not just a random problem. It is a specific condition you accept. It feels like a trade-off. You get something good, but you pay a small price. It is the 'fine print' of life.
How To Use It
You usually follow this phrase with the word de. For example, you might say sous l'inconvénient de devoir voyager. You are linking an action to its specific downside. It works well when comparing two options. Use it to show you see the whole picture. In legal contexts, it can mean 'under penalty of.' This adds a layer of serious consequence. It is a tool for precise communication. It shows you are being realistic about your choices.
When To Use It
Use this in professional emails or formal discussions. It sounds very precise and analytical. Use it when discussing contracts or project plans. It works when you want to sound serious. It shows you have weighed the risks carefully. It is great for business negotiations. You can also use it when making a big life decision. It helps you articulate why a choice is difficult. It is a very 'adult' way to speak.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this with your best friends. If you say it at a party, you will sound like a lawyer. Avoid it for small, silly problems. Don't say it if your ice cream melts. It is too heavy for casual daily life. If you are texting about a movie, use dommage instead. This phrase is too stiff for a relaxed vibe. It can make you sound a bit cold or robotic. Keep it for the boardroom, not the bar.
Cultural Background
The French love debating the 'pros and cons.' We call this le pour et le contre. This phrase reflects a very Cartesian way of thinking. Everything has a logic and a price. It is about being honest about the reality of a choice. French culture values critical thinking and skepticism. We rarely accept something as 100% perfect. This phrase allows us to name the 'flaw' in the plan. It is a very honest way of looking at the world.
Common Variations
You might hear malgré l'inconvénient more often. That means 'despite the disadvantage.' Another common one is avec l'inconvénient de. These are slightly more natural in modern speech. Sous l'inconvénient remains the most formal version. You might also hear le bémol for a small downside. If the downside is huge, we say le revers de la médaille. Each variation changes the weight of the problem.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This phrase belongs to the formal register. It is most frequently used in administrative, legal, or highly analytical contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless you want to sound particularly stiff or humorous.
The 'De' Rule
Always remember to add `de` after the phrase. Without it, the sentence will feel unfinished to a native speaker.
Don't Overuse It
If you use this phrase for everything, you will sound like you are reading a textbook. Save it for moments that actually matter.
The French 'But'
French people often start a sentence with a positive and end with an 'inconvénient.' It is a cultural sign of honesty and intelligence.
أمثلة
6J'achète cette voiture sous l'inconvénient de sa consommation élevée.
I am buying this car with the drawback of its high fuel consumption.
The speaker acknowledges the trade-off of the purchase.
Le projet avance sous l'inconvénient d'un budget très limité.
The project is moving forward under the disadvantage of a very limited budget.
Uses the phrase to highlight a constraint in a professional way.
Il a accepté le poste sous l'inconvénient de travailler le samedi.
He accepted the position with the disadvantage of working on Saturdays.
Describes a specific condition of employment.
Ok pour la plage, sous l'inconvénient du monde qu'il y aura !
Ok for the beach, despite the drawback of the crowds there will be!
A slightly more formal way to complain about crowds in a text.
Je t'aime, mais sous l'inconvénient de tes blagues nulles.
I love you, but with the drawback of your terrible jokes.
Uses formal language for a funny, personal contrast.
Ils restent ensemble, sous l'inconvénient d'une routine pesante.
They stay together, under the disadvantage of a heavy routine.
Expresses a somber reality in a relationship.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence to describe a trade-off.
Nous avons loué cette maison ___ de l'éloignement du centre-ville.
The context implies a negative aspect (distance from the center), so 'sous l'inconvénient' is the correct fit.
Choose the correct preposition to follow the phrase.
Il travaille de nuit sous l'inconvénient ___ ne jamais voir le soleil.
The phrase 'sous l'inconvénient' is almost always followed by the preposition 'de' before an infinitive.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality Level of 'Sous l'inconvénient'
Using 'C'est nul que...' or 'Le souci c'est...'
C'est nul qu'on doive marcher.
Using 'Avec le désavantage de...'
On y va avec le désavantage du froid.
Using 'Sous l'inconvénient de...'
L'accord est signé sous l'inconvénient d'un délai court.
Where to use 'Sous l'inconvénient'
Legal Contracts
Defining penalties or risks.
Business Strategy
Discussing project risks.
Real Estate
Acknowledging a noisy street.
Serious Debate
Analyzing a political choice.
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNo, it is quite formal. In daily life, people prefer avec l'inconvénient or simply le problème, c'est....
It is usually used for situations or choices. Using it for a person, like sous l'inconvénient de mon frère, sounds very strange and robotic.
They are very close. Inconvénient is more about a practical drawback, while désavantage is a general lack of advantage.
Not really. You wouldn't say sous l'avantage. You would say avec l'avantage de or grâce à.
Yes, it is often used to describe conditions or penalties, such as sous l'inconvénient de la nullité (under penalty of being void).
Only if you are being intentionally dramatic or ironic with a close friend. Otherwise, it is too formal.
It is much more common to use the definite article l'inconvénient because you are usually pointing to a specific, known drawback.
No, it can be followed by a noun, like sous l'inconvénient du bruit (under the disadvantage of the noise).
No, it is standard French used across all French-speaking countries, though primarily in formal writing.
Mostly yes. Malgré l'inconvénient means 'despite the disadvantage,' which is a very similar sentiment but slightly more common.
عبارات ذات صلة
le revers de la médaille
le bémol
un mal nécessaire
faire avec
à double tranchant
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