Another word that doesn't seem to work when translated literally, it seems to be quite informal and is used a lot in the article I'm reading. The dictionary definition doesn't really work either, perhaps it's a mordern phrase/word used more in conversational french? For example, the interviewee says (when describing an actress);
"Il y a des tristesses, des moments de gaiete dans son visage, un **vécu** qui m'intrigue."
Which I translated as, 'there are sorrows/sadness, moments of joy on her face. _____who/which intrigues me.
Can anyone help with this mysterious vécu??
thanks
2006-11-19 04:01:10 · 9 answers · asked by thatfreep 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
"Un vécu" means "a life history" or "a past"--stuff you've lived through. You've been, seen and done--and now you know.
Like they say, wrinkles are the footsteps time and events leave on your face.
You won't be able to translate this literally but I hope I've given you a feeling for it.
2006-11-19 04:32:36 · answer #1 · answered by anna 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
In this context, "vécu" is a noun, derived from the past participle of the verb "vivre." It refers to a person's life as they have lived it so far, the sum of events and experiences they have gone through.
You could translate the sentence this way: Her face reveals sorrows, times of joyfulness, an experience of life I find intriguing.
This sentence put me in mind of William Butler Yeats' beautiful poem, "When You Are Old," more specifically the second stanza:
"How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;"
2006-11-20 10:53:18 · answer #2 · answered by MamaFrog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really don't know if it's a modern phrase, but in a strict sense it is the past tense of "vivre" and looking in the dictionary, I think it has to do with your life experiences, with everything you have lived and experienced in your life.
2006-11-19 04:13:08 · answer #3 · answered by interpreters_are_hot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As it has been explained to you this is the past tense of, vivre, "to live" in the phrase you quote it would simply mean past referring to the experiences the person has lived through.
2006-11-19 22:07:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would translate "vécu" by "life expérience". It actually mean what this person has expérience (good and bad) thrue his/her
life.
Your phrase would be translate: There is moments of sadness and of joy in her face, a life experience that intrigue me...
2006-11-19 11:17:43 · answer #5 · answered by babarox1998 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lived, had a life.
.....moments of joy on her face. The life she lived in the past intrigues me.
2006-11-19 11:11:39 · answer #6 · answered by Nicolette 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Past participle of "vivre"(to live).Used like this is alludes to life experiences.
I would translate it as "Marks left by life " or "Marks of a past life" ....which intrigue me.
2006-11-19 05:01:21 · answer #7 · answered by WISE OWL 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its an adjective followed by intrigue its in the past tense so it could be she intigued me
vecu means real life but in the past tense so what ever noun is followed by vecu which is m'intigues
she could have had a interesteing life! past tense
2006-11-19 04:16:10 · answer #8 · answered by jules 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
????? I'm waiting to see what answer you get, too. vécu is the past tense of to live.... so my GUESS is that this refers to having lived through a lot, i.e, world weariness. but I am just speculating.
2006-11-19 04:10:32 · answer #9 · answered by domangelo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋