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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

Soyez un peu

English translation:

Just be

Added to glossary by Michele Fauble
May 18, 2019 15:43
4 yrs ago
French term

Soyez *un peu*!

French to English Other Sports / Fitness / Recreation General Mindfulness Meditation
This phrasal command is said by a meditation teacher with nothing to follow. He simply says to his meditation students: Soyez un peu!

I would translate it as "Just be"; in others words, "Soyez tout simplement". But I am not sure sure; hence, the asking of this question.

We know that "un peu" can be translated in a non-literal way for trying a shirt on when said with a bit of impatience or enthusiasm as in the case of "Essaie-le un peu!; or the command "Fais-le un peu donc" when someone is egging you on to do something you don't want to do. "Un peu" can indeed imply impatience, enthusiasm, etc. in a command-like utterance, not all to be taken literally.

What say you? I would like some help from the experts.

Thank you so much in advance. Much appreciated.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 Just be
3 +1 At the same time, just try to get into it!
4 just go with the flow and be you/yourself
Change log

May 27, 2019 16:41: Michele Fauble Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Yvonne Gallagher

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Discussion

MatthewLaSon (asker) May 21, 2019:
Awarding points I will leave the question open for a while in case someone would still like to propose a translation or add something enlightening to the conversation. Until then, "Existez un peu".
MatthewLaSon (asker) May 21, 2019:
Sometimes... people use unclear language. We all know that. So there you have it: Be a *little* ... in the moment (I guess).
Ph_B (X) May 21, 2019:
Curiouser and curiouser! :-)
MatthewLaSon (asker) May 21, 2019:
Received Confirmation of Meaning:"Existez un peu!" Well, the meaning is indeed "Existez un peu", which means "Simply exist". You make no effort; you simply exist in the moment. Just sit and be. I have no idea why "Soyez un peu", but it is synonymous (I think that a comma should follow "Soyez" as in Soyez, un peu" so it would read better). To say "Be a little" sounds curious in English as well. But, again, in meditation speak, it brings on real meaning, I suppose.

By the way, my native friend did not put in the "donc" - I did! LOL. I ain't so bad at French after all, right? LOL.
Ph_B (X) May 20, 2019:
Thanks for letting us know your choice.<p>Your native speaker friend heard it and came to the conclusion you mention. As I said in my initial comment, “the meaning may also depend on the tone used when saying it." If I’d been asked to translate "Just be" into French, Soyez un peu wouldn’t have been an acceptable translation. Soyez un peu quoi, exactement ? <p>I also note that your native speaker friend felt the need to add donc, which is exactly how I would use un peu at the end of a sentence. I can almost imagine the way he said it ; in fact, I would have added suspension points when transcribing it, indicating a train of thought, a pause, whatever.<p>Any interpretation based only on reading an indifferent text (unless Soyez un peu is a recognised turn of phrase in meditation classes) or a transcription of average quality was going to be open to debate and may not make for a safe translation. You were certainly right to ask for a confirmation of what you thought initially after having heard it but checking with the client/author wouldn't harm. Anyway, I'll just be. Bon courage pour la suite !
Ph_B (X) May 20, 2019:
Thanks for letting us know your choice.<p>Your native speaker friend heard it and came to the conclusion you mention. As I said in my initial comment, “the meaning may also depend on the tone used when saying it." If I’d been asked to translate "Just be" into French, Soyez un peu wouldn’t have been an acceptable translation. Soyez un peu quoi, exactement ? <p>I also note that your native speaker friend felt the need to add donc, which is exactly how I would use un peu at the end of a sentence. I can almost imagine the way he said it ; in fact, I would have added suspension points when transcribing it, indicating a train of thought, a pause, whatever.<p>Any interpretation based only on reading an indifferent text (unless Soyez un peu is a recognised turn of phrase in meditation classes) or a transcription of average quality was going to be open to debate and may not make for a safe translation. You were certainly right to ask for a confirmation of what you thought initially after having heard it but checking with the client/author wouldn't harm. Anyway, I'll just be. Bon courage pour la suite !
MatthewLaSon (asker) May 20, 2019:
Final conclusions and comments: @ Michele: Thank you. "Just be" is most likely in the cards as the best translation.

@Ph_B: I appreciate your feedback. But, no, you don't ever "try" in meditation, even in the beginning. You learn to "let go" and "just be." "Trying" is the opposite of what you are supposed to be doing.

I do agree, however, that the French sounds incomplete but doubt it's a regional difference (Belgian French, Québecisme, etc.) I happened to ask a very educated native speaker of French (France) this question. He naturally understood it as "Just be". He said it sounds like "Essayez un peu" to him. Like you, though, he says it's sounds a bit awkward unless you hear the context. Upon hearing it, however, the meaning was crystal clear to him (but he's just 1 native speaker, of course) He has a lot of background in French grammar and says that the "un peu" is not to be taken literally. He compared it to saying "t'inquiète pas, fais-le un peu donc", where you're encouraging someone who is not overly enthused about running in this year's marathon.

@ Germaine: You understand well as there is "no" trying involved.

It has been an interesting conversation. Thanks to all
Michele Fauble May 19, 2019:
In any case, I think ‘just be’, (“soyez tout simplement”) as the asker indicated he would translate it, works in the context.
Ph_B (X) May 19, 2019:
Michele, You may be right about softening the imperative, but regarding mal, while it's perfectly normal in German, un peu sits awkwardly here in French, unless it's a French variant, a bit like Belgians using "une fois". I'd ask the client.
Ph_B (X) May 19, 2019:
Matthew, "you don't "try" *to be* in Eastern meditation - OK, but the students haven't got there yet, otherwise they wouldn't need a teacher. And they have to start somewhere, so have to try.
Michele Fauble May 19, 2019:
Avoid overinterpretation here - ‘un peu’ “softens” the imperative. Compare German ‘mal’ used with the imperative (for those who know German). Many languages use little words/expressions to make an imperative less “brusque”.
MatthewLaSon (asker) May 19, 2019:
I deleted a Private Message about "Soyez un peu!" I deleted, I believe, a private message from someone on ProZ by accident (always in a hurry, I am). Of course you don't need to identify yourself - just resend it, please. Sorry about that!
MatthewLaSon (asker) May 19, 2019:
Hi everyone! I really appreciate everyone's responses - so nice of you all.

I agree Adrian MM. in that it is just best to visualize ourselves being told this during a meditation session. More context isn't going to do much. I am certain that nothing follows "un peu" other than "c'est tout". Literally, we all know what it means: Be a little! Sure, it sounds a little awkward in French because meditation speak is not common vernacular. Even "Just be" in English sounds slightly incomplete, even if not really awkward-sounding. Wee don't use it in everyday language unless you're a "zen/yogi" person.

@Ph_B: I think you are right about the "trying to" implication, which is what Adrian is saying. BUT: one more problem: you don't "try" *to be* in Eastern meditation - you just be! So I wouldn't want a "trying" word.
Ph_B (X) May 19, 2019:
Unless this un peu has a specialist meaning in this context (meditation), it does sound odd as used here, almost as if sthg got cut off. If not, because it's spoken (as opposed to written), the meaning may also depend on the tone used when saying it (incidentally, I wouldn't put too much trust in a meditation teacher showing impatience!). I've no idea what the teacher means by “be", but whatever that means, could the sentence mean that he knows that this “state” is difficult to achieve straight away and so asks his students to (try to?) "be" a little bit (un peu) to start with, as a child would take just one or two steps and then a few more. Matthew's "egging-on" approach could be right. Essayez un peu ! Unless a translator specialising in meditation knows what this Soyez un peu refers to and the specialist term to be used here (if any), would using a literal translation here be too simplistic? Or is this another case where only the author knows what s-he means?
Adrian MM. May 19, 2019:
Imaginative approach It might be a good idea to stop making the 'more context' excuse and project ourselves into the meditation (or pretentious Pilates etc.) group and visualise how we, even as non-French or part-French natives, would interpret the throw-away line and what we would make of the command.
SafeTex May 19, 2019:
@all Hello
I think Lara is right here. There is no way of knowing what is really meant without more context.
Germaine May 19, 2019:
To me, it sounds like "I ask you to "be", just be. Now, be humbly." (Humble yourself). On the other hand, this might suggest otherwise (Listen to the first minute):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FByEVH6Imnw

Sounds like "Don’t be "that much".
MatthewLaSon (asker) May 18, 2019:
Hi there! Absolutely, for sure. Here goes:

Donc nous allons commencer. Alors, inspirez doucement et expirez de même. Maintenant je vous demande "d'être" tout simplement. Du coup, soyez un peu....c'est tout.

Thank you!
Lara Barnett May 18, 2019:
@ Matthew Can you give more context about what precedes or follows this? Or whether he says anything related to it?

Proposed translations

+2
2 hrs
Selected

Just be

Based on the preceding context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2019-05-18 17:54:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just saw that you had already come up with ‘Just be’ yourself.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Michele. I appreciate your input.
I was just looking for confirmation, by the way. Perhaps I was missing something - you never know. Have a nice day.
Peer comment(s):
agree Philippa Smith
46 mins
thanks
agree Yvonne Gallagher : yes, that's all it is
17 hrs
thanks - agree with your comment
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, Michele, for your confirmation. Your bit about "un peu" softening the imperative seems to be the intention here, even if it does not make for a "standard" translation for "Just be" in French ("Soyez un peu", not naturally said for "Just be", or so it seems.). But in the case of meditation, it seems to do the trick, or so it seems. So then, "Traduisez un peu donc ce qu'il faut traduire!.... et voilà!""
+1
17 hrs
French term (edited): Du coup, soyez *un peu* (là) !

At the same time, just try to get into it!

In BrE: just try a tad to get into (the swing of it).
Example sentence:

être un peu là > .....être bien présent (ironique : être mal placé pour)

Reference:

http://www.languefrancaise.net/Bob/18553

Note from asker:
Thank you so much for your help. It is much appreciated.
Peer comment(s):
agree Ph_B (X) : Not for me to say anything about the actual translation, but I agree with your idea of "trying to get into it". See discussion.
2 hrs
Merci and thanks! Actually, the first thing I thought of was a teacher - at my school in the South of England - who used to charge into our class (of teenagers) proclaiming;' Now settle down, kiddies, and loosen up a bit!'.
neutral Germaine : Je pense qu’en disant "soyez un peu", on suggère de réduire la cavalcade de ses pensées, de faire le vide. Pas "d’essayer". + "Du coup" connote "Une fois là".
12 hrs
Yes. That's a good idea. So it's something like: 'Once (of clear mind) in there, hang in a bit' - as opposed to 'hang on a bit' = wait a while). 'Just be' doesn't strike me as making much sense, but neither does the French,
Something went wrong...
1 day 12 hrs

just go with the flow and be you/yourself

in meditation speak would be ok

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 12 hrs (2019-05-20 03:46:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

om
Note from asker:
Thank you for your help. Much appreciated.
"Just be yourself" - you in your most nature state - is the idea.
Something went wrong...
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