#95 Leaving Your Luggage at the Hotel｜French Travel Phrases
Izumi French Garden
#143 Talking About New Year’s Resolutions｜French Daily Life Phrases
Izumi
As the New Year begins, conversations naturally turn to topics such as “What are your resolutions for this year?” or “What kind of year would you like to have?”
New Year’s resolutions vary greatly from person to person and may relate to work, health, studies, or lifestyle, among many other themes.
In this lesson, I explain useful French expressions for talking about New Year’s resolutions, along with dialogue examples and key grammatical points.
Contents
Dialogue
Bonne année ! Alors, as-tu pris des résolutions pour cette année ?
（Happy New Year! So, have you made any resolutions for this year?）
Bonne année ! Oui, j’aimerais surtout mieux organiser mon temps et être plus régulier dans mon travail.
（Happy New Year! Yes, I would especially like to manage my time better and be more consistent in my work.）
C’est une très bonne idée. Et as-tu un objectif précis ?
（That’s a very good idea. Do you have any specific goals?）
Oui, par exemple terminer chaque projet sans tout laisser à la dernière minute.
（Yes, for example, finishing each project without leaving everything until the last minute.）
Je vois. De mon côté, j’aimerais me remettre sérieusement au sport.
（I see. As for me, I would like to get back into exercising seriously.）
C’est motivant ! J’espère que nous arriverons à atteindre nos résolutions cette année.
（That’s motivating! I hope we can achieve our resolutions this year.）
1. Asking Someone About Their Resolutions
In New Year’s conversations, the following expression is commonly used to ask someone about their resolutions.
Example
- Alors, as-tu pris des résolutions pour cette année ?
（So, have you made any resolutions for this year?）
The phrase “prendre des résolutions” means “to make resolutions” and is a standard expression when talking about New Year’s goals.
Related Expression
- As-tu déjà réfléchi à tes objectifs pour cette année ?
（Have you already thought about your goals for this year?）
2. Talking About Your Own Resolutions
When describing your own resolutions, it is common to use a modest expression meaning “I would like to …”
Example
- J’aimerais mieux organiser mon temps.
（I would like to manage my time better.）
The structure “j’aimerais + verb” is used to express wishes or intentions.
It is particularly well suited to resolutions, which represent goals rather than accomplished actions.
Related Expressions
- J’aimerais me concentrer davantage sur ma santé.
（I would like to focus more on my health.） - Je voudrais progresser dans mon travail.
（I would like to improve in my work.）
After listening to the other person, adding your own resolution helps the conversation flow naturally.
Example
- De mon côté, j’aimerais me remettre sérieusement au sport.
（As for me, I would like to get back into exercising seriously.）
The phrase “de mon côté” means “as for me” or “on my part” and allows for a smooth transition in the conversation.
3. Describing Specific Actions or Goals
To make a resolution more concrete, it is effective to give an example of a specific action.
Example
- Par exemple, terminer chaque projet sans tout laisser à la dernière minute.
（For example, finishing each project without leaving everything until the last minute.）
The expression “par exemple” means “for example” and is useful when presenting a representative goal rather than an exhaustive list.
4. Wishing Each Other Success with Resolutions
When talking about New Year’s resolutions, ending the conversation with a hopeful remark helps bring it to a natural close.
Example
- J’espère que nous arriverons à atteindre nos résolutions cette année.
（I hope we can achieve our resolutions this year.）
The verb “atteindre” means “to achieve” or “to reach”, and “atteindre ses résolutions” refers specifically to achieving one’s goals.
Related Expressions
- tenir ses résolutions
（to stick to one’s resolutions） - réaliser ses résolutions
（to fulfill one’s resolutions）
Summary
Key French Phrases
- prendre des résolutions
→ A standard expression for making New Year’s resolutions. - j’aimerais / je voudrais + verb
→ Used to express resolutions or goals in a polite and modest way. - par exemple
→ Useful for giving concrete examples of goals. - de mon côté
→ A natural way to introduce your own resolution. - atteindre ses résolutions
→ A phrase meaning to achieve one’s resolutions.
