environ douteux
environ douteux
字面意思: Doubtful surroundings
Use it to describe a 'shady vibe' when your intuition tells you to be cautious.
15秒了解
- Describes something sketchy, suspicious, or untrustworthy.
- Commonly used for neighborhoods, people, or business deals.
- Implies a gut feeling that something is 'off'.
意思
It describes a place, person, or situation that feels sketchy, suspicious, or untrustworthy. It’s that 'gut feeling' that something is off or potentially dangerous.
关键例句
3 / 6Walking through a dark neighborhood
Je ne veux pas rester ici, les environs sont un peu douteux.
I don't want to stay here, the surroundings are a bit sketchy.
Checking a weird website
Ce site de vente en ligne me semble très douteux.
This online shopping site seems very suspicious to me.
Talking about a strange person at a party
Fais attention à lui, il a un air douteux.
Watch out for him, he looks shady.
文化背景
The concept of 'douteux' is deeply rooted in the French sense of skepticism and critical thinking. In a culture that values debate and scrutiny, being 'douteux' is a common social label for anything that doesn't pass the 'sniff test.' It became particularly popular in 20th-century crime fiction (le polar) to describe the gritty urban outskirts.
The 'Louche' Alternative
If you want to sound even more casual, use the word `louche`. It means the exact same thing as `douteux` but is much more common in street French.
Watch the Agreement
Don't forget that `douteux` is the masculine form. If you're talking about a street (`une rue`) or an idea (`une idée`), use `douteuse`!
15秒了解
- Describes something sketchy, suspicious, or untrustworthy.
- Commonly used for neighborhoods, people, or business deals.
- Implies a gut feeling that something is 'off'.
What It Means
Imagine walking into a dimly lit alleyway or receiving an email from a prince asking for your bank details. That feeling in your stomach? That’s what environ douteux describes. It’s not just about being 'unsure.' It’s about something feeling inherently 'shady' or 'sketchy.' In French, when you call something douteux, you are questioning its integrity or safety. It’s the linguistic equivalent of narrowing your eyes and saying, 'I don’t like the look of this.'
How To Use It
You can use this phrase to describe a physical location, like a neighborhood that makes you want to lock your car doors. You can also use it for people who seem like they’re hiding something. It’s very flexible! You might say les environs sont douteux to describe the area around a train station at 3 AM. It functions as a warning to others. Just remember that douteux changes to douteuse if the noun it describes is feminine. But when talking about the general 'surroundings' (les environs), it stays masculine plural.
When To Use It
Use it when you want to express skepticism. It’s perfect for when a deal seems too good to be true. If a website looks like it was designed in 1995 and asks for your social security number, it’s douteux. If a friend invites you to a party in a basement of an abandoned factory, the environs are definitely douteux. It’s a great way to share your intuition with friends without sounding too dramatic.
When NOT To Use It
Don’t use this for things that are simply confusing. If you don’t understand a math problem, it’s not douteux; it’s just difficult. Also, avoid using it in very formal legal settings unless you have proof. Calling a business partner douteux in a board meeting is a heavy accusation. It’s more about a 'vibe' than a verified fact. Keep it for social warnings or casual descriptions.
Cultural Background
French culture places a high value on 'l’ambiance' (the atmosphere). Because of this, the French are very sensitive to when an atmosphere feels 'off.' There is a long tradition in French noir cinema and literature of the milieu douteux—the underworld of shady characters. Using this phrase makes you sound like a local who knows how to navigate the complexities of urban life. It shows you have a sharp eye for social cues.
Common Variations
You will often hear un type douteux (a shady guy) or une affaire douteuse (a shady business deal). If someone has bad taste, you might even hear un goût douteux. It’s a versatile adjective that covers everything from physical safety to moral character. My favorite is une hygiène douteuse, which is a polite way of saying someone really needs a shower.
使用说明
The phrase is neutral in formality. It is most commonly used as an adjective to modify nouns like 'quartier', 'individu', or 'affaire'. Ensure gender agreement: 'douteux' (m) / 'douteuse' (f).
The 'Louche' Alternative
If you want to sound even more casual, use the word `louche`. It means the exact same thing as `douteux` but is much more common in street French.
Watch the Agreement
Don't forget that `douteux` is the masculine form. If you're talking about a street (`une rue`) or an idea (`une idée`), use `douteuse`!
The French 'Pif'
French people often talk about their 'pif' (nose) when they sense something is `douteux`. If they say 'Je le sens pas,' it means their intuition is telling them it's sketchy.
例句
6Je ne veux pas rester ici, les environs sont un peu douteux.
I don't want to stay here, the surroundings are a bit sketchy.
Using 'un peu' softens the judgment but keeps the warning clear.
Ce site de vente en ligne me semble très douteux.
This online shopping site seems very suspicious to me.
Focuses on the lack of credibility of a digital space.
Fais attention à lui, il a un air douteux.
Watch out for him, he looks shady.
Describes a person's appearance or behavior.
Un iPhone à 50 euros ? C'est franchement douteux.
An iPhone for 50 euros? That's frankly suspicious.
Expresses disbelief and skepticism about a deal.
Le point de rendez-vous est dans un quartier assez douteux.
The meeting point is in a rather sketchy neighborhood.
A practical safety warning for a friend.
Toute cette histoire me paraît très douteuse.
This whole story seems very fishy to me.
Used when the facts of a situation don't add up.
自我测试
Choose the correct form to describe a suspicious situation (une situation).
Cette offre d'emploi est vraiment ___.
Since 'offre' is feminine, the adjective must agree and become 'douteuse'.
Complete the sentence to describe a sketchy area.
On devrait partir, les ___ sont douteux.
'Les environs' is the standard plural noun used to describe the surrounding area.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Douteux'
Talking to friends about a weird guy.
C'est un type louche.
Describing a neighborhood or a deal.
Les environs sont douteux.
Discussing a legal or professional concern.
Cette transaction présente un caractère douteux.
When to say something is 'Douteux'
A dark alleyway
Un quartier douteux
A spam email
Un mail douteux
Smelly seafood
Une odeur douteuse
A sketchy stranger
Un individu douteux
常见问题
10 个问题Not exactly. While it comes from the word for doubt, it almost always carries a negative connotation of being 'fishy' or 'sketchy' rather than just 'not sure.'
Absolutely! If the milk smells strange, you can say Le lait a une odeur douteuse. It implies you probably shouldn't drink it.
No, it's quite judgmental. It's better to use it behind their back or as a warning to a friend rather than saying it to their face.
For masculine nouns, it stays douteux (e.g., des individus douteux). For feminine nouns, it becomes douteuses (e.g., des preuves douteuses).
Usually, you would say les environs sont douteux (the surroundings are sketchy). Using environ as an adverb meaning 'about' with douteux is rare.
Yes, but be careful. Saying Cette proposition est douteuse is a very strong way of saying you don't trust the offer.
Suspect is more formal and often used by police. Douteux is more about your personal feeling or the 'vibe' of a situation.
It's pronounced /du.tø/. The 'x' is silent, and the 'ou' sounds like the 'oo' in 'boot.'
Yes! If a friend tells a very bad joke, you can say it's an humour douteux (questionable humor).
No, it's standard French. It's safe to use in almost any context, from a casual chat to a newspaper article.
相关表达
louche
suspect
pas net
loufoque
bizarre
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