ça ne te regarde pas

verbal phrase neutral to informal

Created: Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:48

Updated: Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:40

Translations
  • it's none of your business
  • it doesn't concern you
  • mind your own business
Literal Translation

that doesn't look at you

Forms
ça ne te regarde pasce n'est pas tes affairesça ne vous regarde pas
Usage Notes

The expression can be modified to address different people: 'ça ne vous regarde pas' (formal/plural), 'ça ne le/la regarde pas' (it's none of his/her business). The negation is essential to the idiom.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 'regarder' (to look at), this expression evolved to mean 'to concern' in certain contexts. The phrase suggests that something is not within someone's field of view metaphorically, thus not their concern.

Cultural Context

This phrase is commonly used in French to establish boundaries in conversations. It's a direct way to tell someone they're intruding on private matters.

Commonality

90%

Guessability

30%

Component Words

regarder (In this expression, 'regarder' takes on the meaning of 'to concern' rather than its literal meaning)

to look at

ça (Informal contraction of 'cela')

that

Mnemonics

  • Think of 'regard' as 'concern' rather than just 'look' - if something doesn't 'look at you', it doesn't concern you.
  • Imagine someone pointing away from you saying 'your eyes shouldn't be looking here'

Actions