rendre fou
To be questioned
직역: To render crazy
Use it when you feel overwhelmed or pestered to the point of losing your cool.
15초 만에
- Used when someone's constant questioning or behavior is overwhelming you.
- Literally means 'to make crazy' but functions as 'to drive nuts'.
- Highly versatile for both annoying people and frustrating situations.
뜻
While it literally means 'to drive someone crazy,' in many contexts it describes being bombarded with questions or tasks until you feel overwhelmed. It is that feeling when someone won't stop pestering you for answers.
주요 예문
3 / 6Being asked too many questions at once
Arrête de me poser toutes ces questions, tu me rends fou !
Stop asking me all these questions, you're driving me crazy!
Dealing with a computer that won't work
Cet ordinateur va me rendre fou, il plante tout le temps.
This computer is going to drive me crazy, it crashes all the time.
A colleague asking for constant updates
Ses mails incessants me rendent fou au travail.
His constant emails are driving me crazy at work.
문화적 배경
The French love a bit of drama in their speech, and 'rendre fou' is the perfect example of linguistic hyperbole. It traces back to the idea that external pressures can physically alter one's state of mind, a common theme in French existentialist thought. Today, it's the universal cry of the overworked Parisian or the pestered parent.
Agreement is Key
Remember that 'fou' changes to 'folle' if the person being driven crazy is female. 'Elle me rend fou' (She drives me crazy) vs 'Il me rend folle' (He drives me crazy).
The 'Chèvre' Alternative
If you want to sound very French and slightly whimsical, say 'Tu me rends chèvre'. It's a classic idiom that means the exact same thing.
15초 만에
- Used when someone's constant questioning or behavior is overwhelming you.
- Literally means 'to make crazy' but functions as 'to drive nuts'.
- Highly versatile for both annoying people and frustrating situations.
What It Means
At its heart, rendre fou means to drive someone insane. However, it is rarely about actual medical madness. It is about that buzzing, high-pressure feeling in your brain. Imagine a toddler asking 'Why?' for the fiftieth time. Or a boss asking for five different reports at once. You are being pushed to your limit. In the context of being questioned, it implies the interrogation is relentless. It is the verbal equivalent of a flickering lightbulb you cannot turn off.
How To Use It
You use this phrase to express frustration or intensity. It is a transitive verb phrase, so you need an object. You can say tu me rends fou (you are driving me crazy). You can also use it for situations, like ce bruit me rend fou (this noise is driving me crazy). When you feel like you are being interrogated, this is your go-to expression. It highlights the emotional toll of the questioning. It is punchy, effective, and very common in daily French life.
When To Use It
Use it when you feel overwhelmed by people's demands. It is perfect for a busy day at the office. Use it when your friends are digging too deep into your private life. It works well when you are stuck in a bureaucratic loop. Use it when someone keeps changing their mind. It is great for texting a friend about a stressful date. It captures the 'I can't take this anymore' vibe perfectly.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this in very solemn or tragic situations. Do not say it to a doctor during a serious mental health check-up. It is too hyperbolic for formal legal proceedings. Avoid it if you want to sound calm and collected. If you use it with a superior, make sure you have a close relationship. Otherwise, it might sound like you are complaining too much. It is an emotional phrase, so keep it for emotional moments.
Cultural Background
French culture values intellectual debate and sharp questioning. However, there is a fine line between a 'débat' and being 'rendu fou'. This expression reflects the French tendency for hyperbole. Everything is either 'magnifique' or 'catastrophique'. Being 'driven crazy' by questions is a classic Gallic shrug moment. It shows that you value your peace of mind. It has been a staple of French pop songs and cinema for decades.
Common Variations
You might hear rendre chèvre which literally means 'to turn someone into a goat'. It means the exact same thing but feels a bit more old-school. There is also faire tourner en bourrique, which is like being driven like a donkey. If you want to be more vulgar, you might hear rendre dingue. Rendre fou remains the most versatile and widely understood version. It is the 'Little Black Dress' of French frustration expressions.
사용 참고사항
The phrase is neutral but leans toward informal in its usage. Always ensure the adjective 'fou' agrees in gender and number with the person being affected.
Agreement is Key
Remember that 'fou' changes to 'folle' if the person being driven crazy is female. 'Elle me rend fou' (She drives me crazy) vs 'Il me rend folle' (He drives me crazy).
The 'Chèvre' Alternative
If you want to sound very French and slightly whimsical, say 'Tu me rends chèvre'. It's a classic idiom that means the exact same thing.
Don't use 'Faire'
English speakers often try to say 'faire fou' because they translate 'to make crazy' literally. In French, you must use 'rendre'.
예시
6Arrête de me poser toutes ces questions, tu me rends fou !
Stop asking me all these questions, you're driving me crazy!
A direct way to tell someone to back off with the interrogation.
Cet ordinateur va me rendre fou, il plante tout le temps.
This computer is going to drive me crazy, it crashes all the time.
Applying the phrase to an object or situation rather than a person.
Ses mails incessants me rendent fou au travail.
His constant emails are driving me crazy at work.
Expressing professional frustration in a relatable way.
Il ne répond pas à mes messages, ça me rend folle !
He isn't answering my messages, it's driving me crazy!
Note the feminine agreement 'folle' for a female speaker.
Ce chien est adorable mais il me rend fou !
This dog is adorable but he's driving me crazy!
A lighthearted, affectionate use of the idiom.
Cet exercice de grammaire me rend fou.
This grammar exercise is driving me crazy.
Neutral enough for a classroom setting if the tone is light.
셀프 테스트
Choose the correct form to say 'You (singular/informal) are driving me crazy'.
Tu me ___ fou.
The verb 'rendre' is always used with 'fou' to mean 'to make' or 'to drive' someone into that state.
If a woman is saying she is being driven crazy, which form does she use?
Cette situation me rend ___.
The adjective must agree with the person being made 'crazy'. 'Folle' is the feminine form.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality of 'Rendre Fou'
Using 'Rendre dingue' with best friends.
Tu me rends dingue, mec !
Standard 'Rendre fou' in daily conversation.
Cette attente me rend fou.
Using 'Exaspérer' in a professional meeting.
Cette situation m'exaspère.
When to say 'Ça me rend fou'
Tech Issues
The Wi-Fi is down again.
Interrogation
Parents asking about your grades.
Traffic
Stuck in a Parisian jam.
Love
Waiting for a crush to text.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Not necessarily! It can mean you are frustrated, overwhelmed, or even 'crazy in love' depending on the tone.
Only if you have a very relaxed relationship. Otherwise, use c'est frustrant or c'est difficile.
The feminine form is folle. For example: Elle me rend folle.
No, it's neutral. It is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation, though not in formal writing.
You say ça me rend fou or cela me rend fou.
Yes! Tu me rends fou de joie means you are driving me crazy with joy.
Dingue is more informal/slangy. Fou is the standard term.
Yes, if you are driving multiple people crazy, it's rendre fous. Example: Ces bruits nous rendent fous.
It implies the *result* of being questioned excessively, rather than the act of questioning itself.
You could use the verb exaspérer or pousser à bout.
관련 표현
Rendre chèvre
Faire tourner en bourrique
Sortir de ses gonds
Perdre la tête
Être à bout
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