Blesser

Question

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

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted 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 Wirt · Answer

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 Shillito · Answer

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 McKibbin · Answer

I have the same question.

Cécile Janty-Davies · Answer

Hi David, 
What same question?