Translation of 'these days'

Rita L.C1Kwiziq community member

Translation of 'these days'

Why not ces temps-ci as well as ces jours-ci?

Asked 2 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

"These days" in English, when it means the immediate past including the present, is usually translated as ces jours-ci.

I don't sleep well these days. -- Je ne dors pas bien ces jours-ci.

Ces temps-ci doesn't work in French.

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Rita,

This point must surely depend on context?

Is it required to express or make reference to

 1. periods non-defined?

 or

 2. periods between sunrise and sunset?

Bonne journée

Jim

Andy _.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Nobody reading this should think that ces temps-ci does not exist just because a Kwiziq super contributor says it does not.

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/ces%20temps-ci

https://www.linguee.com/english-french/search?source=french&query=ces%20temps-ci

https://dictionnaire.reverso.net/francais-anglais/ces+temps-ci

Here is a very long list of real world examples: https://context.reverso.net/translation/english-french/these+days#ces+temps-ci

The impression I have is that ces temps-ci tends to refer to a larger span of time, weeks or months vs literal days, and refers more to a more general overall condition or situation than specific things that have been happening. Ces temps-ci could also be used in Chris's example, and is often used thusly.

Translation of 'these days'

Why not ces temps-ci as well as ces jours-ci?

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