Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb chinoiser

Introduction to the verb chinoiser

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The English translation of the French verb “chinoiser” is “to imitate Chinese style or culture.” The infinitive form of “chinoiser” is pronounced as “sheen-wah-zay.”

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The word “chinoiser” originates from the French word “chinois” meaning “Chinese.” It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of imitating or adopting Chinese style, culture, or aesthetics.

Examples:

Elle aime chinoiser en portant des robes traditionnelles chinoises. (She enjoys imitating Chinese culture by wearing traditional Chinese dresses.)
Les décorations de la fête sont inspirées par l’art chinois, ils ont donc décidé de chinoiser la soirée. (The party decorations are inspired by Chinese art, so they decided to give the evening a Chinese touch.)
Il a chinoisé sa maison avec des meubles et des objets décoratifs chinois. (He decorated his house with Chinese furniture and decorative items.)

Chinoiser – About the French Present Tense

The French present tense, also known as “le présent,” is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for actions that are habitual, general truths, or that will occur in the near future. It’s the most basic and common tense in French.

To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Common Everyday Usage Patterns For Le Present

1. Describing Actions in the Present: The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or at the moment of speaking. For example: “Je parle avec mon ami” (I am talking to my friend).

2. Expressing Habits and Routines: The present tense is used to talk about habitual actions or routines. For example: “Je travaille tous les jours” (I work every day).

3. Stating General Truths: The present tense is used to express general truths or facts. For example: “La Terre tourne autour du soleil” (The Earth orbits around the sun).

4. Talking about Near Future: The present tense can be used to express future actions that are very imminent or part of a planned schedule. For example: “Je pars demain matin” (I am leaving tomorrow morning).

Interactions with Other Tenses

– Present vs. Future Tense: In some cases, the French present tense can be used to express the future when the context makes it clear that the action is imminent. However, for actions further in the future or less certain, the future tense is typically used.

– Present vs. Past Tenses: To describe actions that occurred in the past, you would use the past tenses like the passé composé (compound past) or the imparfait (imperfect). The choice between these past tenses depends on the specific aspect and circumstances of the past action.

– Present vs. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense is used to express actions that are dependent on a condition. If a condition is met, the action may happen. The present tense is used for actions in the present, while the conditional is used for hypothetical or future actions based on conditions.

– Present vs. Imperative: The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The present tense is used for general statements, and the imperative is used for direct orders or requests.

Understanding the French present tense and its interactions with other tenses is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, you cannot become proficient!

Table of the Present Tense Conjugation of chinoiser

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	chinoise	Je chinoise avec mes amis.	I imitate Chinese culture with my friends.
Tu	chinoises	Tu chinoises bien.	You imitate Chinese culture well.
Il	chinoise	Il chinoise souvent.	He imitates Chinese culture often.
Elle	chinoise	Elle chinoise passionnément.	She imitates Chinese culture passionately.
On	chinoise	On chinoise tous ensemble.	We all imitate Chinese culture together.
Nous	chinoisons	Nous chinoisons en classe.	We imitate Chinese culture in class.
Vous	chinoisez	Vous chinoisez facilement.	You imitate Chinese culture easily.
Ils	chinoisent	Ils chinoisent pour s’amuser.	They imitate Chinese culture for fun.
Elles	chinoisent	Elles chinoisent avec style.	They imitate Chinese culture with style.