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émargeage
pratiqué

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

Là où il y a de la gêne il n'y a pas de plaisir.

English translation:

where there is discomfort, there is no pleasure

Added to glossary by Verginia Ophof
Apr 8, 2015 16:03
9 yrs ago
5 viewers *
French term

Là où il y a de la gêne il n'y a pas de plaisir.

French to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Littérature
http://www.1001-citations.com/citation-10252/
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 where there is discomfort, there is no pleasure
2 +2 there's no need to stand on ceremony
4 comfort comes first, there's no sense in being uncomfortabe
2 +1 Where there is embarrassment there can be no pleasure
4 -1 If it doesn't hurt, it won't do you you any good.
2 No point in being uncomfortable
2 disscomfort is where pleasure isn't
3 -1 No pain, no gain.
Change log

Apr 12, 2015 12:27: Verginia Ophof Created KOG entry

Discussion

Jeffrey Henson Apr 11, 2015:
@Yorick and BD
I agree as well. Just had a look at this person's Kudoz track record:
Total questions he's asked : 97
Total questions he's answered : 0
I'll say no more.
B D Finch Apr 10, 2015:
@Yorrick Agree!
YorickJenkins Apr 9, 2015:
Without the elementary politeness of a request for help and without the professionally necessary context I do not think proz com subscribers should even attempt to offer a Translation.
Germaine Apr 9, 2015:
Robert & Collins suggère une traduction...
writeaway Apr 8, 2015:
Another homework question? Since there is no input from Asker at all (as usual), can we assume this is a homework or test question?
Charles Davis Apr 8, 2015:
Google As a literal translation out of context, Google Translate's version is probably no worse than any other:

"where there is discomfort there is no fun"
Charles Davis Apr 8, 2015:
Another dictionary rendering from Oxford:
"it's a pity to spoil somebody's pleasure".

Quite different again.

This is really to support what Nikki has said. It's pretty clear that this saying is very context-sensitive, and unless you do it more or less literally, which produces something an English speaker is not likely to say in real life, a general-purpose translation that would actually be used in a given instance is more or less impossible to provide in the abstract.
Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 8, 2015:
What context do you have in which this expression is being used. Context is all and a number of solutions are possible, but stabs in the dark are less helpful to you. The more context, the merrier and the more liekly you are to get appropriate suggestions. ;-)
mill2 Apr 8, 2015:
What are you having trouble with? Do you want to run your attempts by us or is there a particular word that's giving you a hard time?

Proposed translations

+2
1 hr
Selected

where there is discomfort, there is no pleasure

suggestion
Peer comment(s):
agree Katarina Peters
1 hr
Thank you Katarina !!
agree Jean-Claude Gouin
1 day 57 mins
Thank you 1045 !!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Merci Cordialement"
+2
53 mins

there's no need to stand on ceremony

At least, that's Larousse's version...

http://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais-anglais/gêne/3...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 57 mins (2015-04-08 17:00:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I don't know if there is an exactly equivalent phrase, but maybe something like

"There's no fun if you feel awkward" would work.
Peer comment(s):
agree Victoria Britten : My French partner confirms it's another way of saying "mettez-vous à l'aise", and is very surprised that I don't remember ever having come across it in all my (nearly 25) years in France.
14 hrs
Thanks, Victoria and also to your partner!
agree writeaway
1 day 1 hr
Something went wrong...
1 hr

No point in being uncomfortable

It's just a suggestion (hence low confidence), the definitions provided by Le Robert and Larousse seem to be going far from the original meaning.

I think it could be said as simply as this, but it's just my opinion :)
Something went wrong...
47 mins

comfort comes first, there's no sense in being uncomfortabe

This is the translation provided by Le Robert. Trouble is their alternative is 'Some people only think of their own comfort' which is hardly the same.

The primary sense seems to be there's no sense is staying in an uncomfortable situation/with people you don't like.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-08 17:49:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Whilst this translation is perfectly accurate, useable even, I agree with Nikki and Charles that context is everything as it's a common expression that can turn its face to all occasions.
Something went wrong...
+1
2 hrs

Where there is embarrassment there can be no pleasure

keeping the ball rolling
Peer comment(s):
agree Jean-Claude Gouin
23 hrs
Something went wrong...
6 hrs

disscomfort is where pleasure isn't

discomfort does not reside where pleasure is
Something went wrong...
-1
8 hrs

If it doesn't hurt, it won't do you you any good.

Examples:
(father about to slap naughty son on the backside*):
If this doesn't hurt, you'll never learn anything worth knowing!

(paramedic about to stab a child in the arm to inject a vaccine):
It has to hurt if it's ever going to kill off those nasty little germs!

(doctor when prescribing unnecessary 'feel good' medication):
If it doesn't hurt your wallet, it'll never cure your [insert any ailment].

*This is of course a pre-21st century example!
Peer comment(s):
disagree Victoria Britten : This is the opposite of the meaning!
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
-1
13 hrs

No pain, no gain.

I give a non-literal translation as this is a common saying in English. It can be used in any context.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Victoria Britten : It's not only non-literal, it's the opposite of what is meant (which could be phrased as "where there's pain, there can't be gain", to stay with your chosen expression)
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
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