Reporting Work Troubles｜French Business Conversation

In the workplace, problems such as delays in tasks or system malfunctions can occur. In such situations, it is reassuring to know expressions that allow you to report the situation accurately and discuss possible solutions.

In this lesson, we will learn useful French phrases and grammar points for reporting work-related troubles.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour, j’aimerais signaler un problème.
(Hello, I would like to report a problem.)

B

Oui, de quoi s’agit-il ?
(Yes, what kind of problem is it?)

A

Le système ne fonctionne pas depuis ce matin.
(The system has not been working since this morning.)

B

Je comprends. Est-ce que vous avez déjà redémarré l’ordinateur ?
(I see. Have you already restarted the computer?)

A

Oui, mais le problème persiste.
(Yes, but the problem still persists.)

B

D’accord, je vais contacter le service technique.
(All right, I will contact the technical department.)

Grammar and Expression Points

1. Basic Expression for Reporting a Problem

When you first want to state that there is a problem, use:

This phrase is polite and suitable for business contexts.

For a more direct expression, especially in urgent situations:

2. Asking “What is the problem?”

To confirm the nature of the problem, the common fixed expression is:

The verb “s’agir de” means “to be about / to concern” and is only used in this construction. It is a frequent set phrase in business French when asking for clarification.

3. Describing the Situation

Depending on the type of issue, you can use:

Adding depuis specifies when the problem started:

4. Discussing Solutions

When checking possible causes or asking about prior actions:

To indicate that the issue continues:

The verb persister means “to continue / to last,” and is used when an issue is ongoing rather than temporary.

5. Requesting Assistance

When referring the problem to a specialized department, use:

When making a request:

Summary

泉（Izumi）

Author

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