passer inaperçu
To be brave
字面意思: To pass unperceived
Use this when you want to describe someone or something blending in and avoiding any public attention.
15秒了解
- Means to go unnoticed or blend into the background.
- Requires adjective agreement (inaperçu, inaperçue, inaperçus).
- Used for people, objects, or even small mistakes.
意思
It means to go unnoticed or to blend into the background. It's when you do something without anyone seeing or paying attention to you.
关键例句
3 / 7Arriving late to a meeting
J'ai essayé de passer inaperçu en arrivant en retard.
I tried to go unnoticed while arriving late.
Wearing a loud outfit
Avec cette veste rouge, tu ne vas pas passer inaperçue !
With that red jacket, you aren't going to go unnoticed!
Texting about a social event
Je déteste les fêtes, je vais essayer de passer inaperçu.
I hate parties, I'm going to try to blend into the background.
文化背景
The phrase highlights the French value of 'discrétion.' Historically, in high-society circles like Versailles, the ability to observe without being noticed was a survival skill. Today, it reflects a modern aesthetic of 'effortless' style where looking like you aren't trying too hard is the goal.
Agreement is Key
Don't forget that 'inaperçu' acts like an adjective. If you are a woman, always add that extra 'e' in writing!
The 'Chic' Factor
In France, 'passer inaperçu' is often a compliment for style. It implies a sophisticated, subtle look rather than being 'flashy' (bling-bling).
15秒了解
- Means to go unnoticed or blend into the background.
- Requires adjective agreement (inaperçu, inaperçue, inaperçus).
- Used for people, objects, or even small mistakes.
What It Means
Imagine you are at a party where you don't know anyone. You slip in, grab a drink, and stand in the corner. If nobody notices you, you have managed to passer inaperçu. It literally means to pass through a situation without being perceived by others. It is about being invisible, whether on purpose or by accident. It is the art of the social ninja.
How To Use It
You use this phrase just like a regular verb. The word inaperçu is an adjective, so it needs to agree with the subject. If a woman says it, she adds an 'e': je suis passée inaperçue. If it's a group of people, add an 's'. You can use it with verbs like vouloir (to want) or essayer de (to try to). It’s very flexible in sentences.
When To Use It
Use it when you are feeling shy and want to hide. Use it when you are wearing a boring outfit to avoid compliments. It is perfect for describing a spy in a movie. You can also use it for objects. Maybe a stain on your shirt is small enough to passer inaperçu. It works well in professional settings too when a small mistake goes unnoticed.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this if you are trying to say you are 'brave' (despite what some old mistranslations suggest). It has nothing to do with courage. Also, don't use it if someone is actively ignoring you on purpose. That is ignorer. Passer inaperçu implies they didn't even see you in the first place. If you are screaming in the street, you definitely won't passer inaperçu!
Cultural Background
French culture often values discretion and 'la pudeur' (modesty/reserve). While some cultures celebrate being loud and bold, there is a certain elegance in France to being understated. The phrase reflects this appreciation for subtlety. It’s not always a bad thing to be invisible. Sometimes, it is a tactical choice to observe others without being the center of attention.
Common Variations
If you want to be more emphatic, you can say passer totalement inaperçu. If you failed to hide, you would say je n'ai pas pu passer inaperçu. A more informal way to say you are hiding is faire le mort (playing dead), but that’s much more extreme. Stick to passer inaperçu for general 'invisibility' vibes.
使用说明
The phrase is neutral and widely used. The main difficulty for learners is remembering the grammatical agreement of 'inaperçu' with the subject.
Agreement is Key
Don't forget that 'inaperçu' acts like an adjective. If you are a woman, always add that extra 'e' in writing!
The 'Chic' Factor
In France, 'passer inaperçu' is often a compliment for style. It implies a sophisticated, subtle look rather than being 'flashy' (bling-bling).
Not about Courage
Some old dictionaries mistakenly link this to bravery. Ignore that! It's strictly about being seen or not seen.
例句
7J'ai essayé de passer inaperçu en arrivant en retard.
I tried to go unnoticed while arriving late.
The speaker is trying to slip in without the boss seeing.
Avec cette veste rouge, tu ne vas pas passer inaperçue !
With that red jacket, you aren't going to go unnoticed!
A friendly tease about a bold fashion choice.
Je déteste les fêtes, je vais essayer de passer inaperçu.
I hate parties, I'm going to try to blend into the background.
Expressing social anxiety or a desire for privacy.
Heureusement, la petite erreur est passée inaperçue.
Fortunately, the small error went unnoticed.
Referring to an object/thing rather than a person.
Il portait des lunettes noires pour passer inaperçu.
He wore dark glasses to go unnoticed.
The classic 'incognito' scenario.
Difficile de passer inaperçu avec un chien qui aboie tout le temps !
Hard to go unnoticed with a dog that barks all the time!
Humorous observation of a failed attempt at stealth.
Elle avait l'impression de passer inaperçue toute la soirée.
She felt like she was invisible all evening.
Used here to express a feeling of being overlooked.
自我测试
Choose the correct form for a group of women.
Elles sont ___ dans la foule.
Because the subject is feminine plural ('Elles'), both the verb 'passer' and the adjective 'inaperçu' must agree.
Complete the sentence to mean 'I want to go unnoticed'.
Je veux ___.
'Passer inaperçu' is the standard infinitive form used after 'vouloir'.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Passer inaperçu'
Used with friends about social stealth.
Je me faufile pour passer inaperçu.
Standard usage in any situation.
L'erreur est passée inaperçue.
Used in literature or formal reports.
Le diplomate souhaitait passer inaperçu.
When to use 'Passer inaperçu'
At a party
Hiding in the kitchen.
At work
Hiding a small typo.
In the street
Avoiding an ex-boyfriend.
In a store
Browsing without help.
常见问题
10 个问题Not necessarily! While it can mean being sneaky, it often just means being discreet or blending in naturally, like le décor passe inaperçu (the decor is subtle).
Yes, it's very common. You can say mon erreur est passée inaperçue to mean nobody noticed your blunder.
It can be. If you tell someone tu passes inaperçu, it might imply they are boring or invisible. Use it carefully when describing people.
The opposite would be se faire remarquer (to get noticed) or sortir du lot (to stand out from the crowd).
No, it is perfectly standard French. You can use it with your boss, your grandma, or your best friend.
It is passées inaperçues. For example: Elles sont passées inaperçues.
Yes! A quiet sound or a faint smell can passer inaperçu if people don't notice it.
No, it's just a regular verb phrase. You use it in the indicative, like je passe or je suis passé.
Not really. It's the most common and natural way to express this specific idea in French.
You can say être invisible, but passer inaperçu sounds more like an action or a result of a specific situation.
相关表达
Se faire discret
To keep a low profile
Ni vu ni connu
Without anyone noticing (lit: neither seen nor known)
Fondre dans la masse
To blend into the crowd
Raser les murs
To keep a very low profile (lit: to shave the walls)
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