Blesser

stephen w.C1Kwiziq community member

Blesser

When do you "blesser" instead of "faire du mal"
Asked 6 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Stephen,

The verb 'blesser' is just another way of saying to hurt/to harm  in French . Both 'blesser' and 'faire mal'  can both used to describe physical and emotional hurt.

Blesser has the advantage of having a noun - un blessé which would describe an injured person sometimes used with a number or a numerical expression to describe the casualties in an accident.

e.g. Il y a un grand nombre de blessés sur les routes tous les ans .There a large number of casualties on the roads every year.

Se blesser = se faire mal to hurt yourself

Je me suis blessé(e) = je me suis fait mal I hurt myself 

You can 'blesser quelqu'un' or 'faire (du) mal à quelqu'un'= which can be either physical or figurative hurt or harm.

Hope this helps!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Blesser can be used to connote physical as well as emotional hurt whereas "faire du mal" only works for emtional slights. You have the option, it's your choice. As I understand it, "blesser" stands for more serious injuries, in general. -- Chris (not a native speaker).
David S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
In view of that why was I marked wrong in answering "A chaque fois que tu ___, elle a des bleus sur les bras." with "blesses ta soeur" rather than "fais mal à ta sœur"? Is it because Kwiziq is insisting on the use of the œ character?
David M.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I have the same question.

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi David, 

What same question?

Blesser

When do you "blesser" instead of "faire du mal"

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