Bien vs Bon – Well vs Good
In English, we distinguish well and good because they serve different functions: well typically modifies actions and good describes things or people. French makes a similar distinction between bien and bon, so choosing between them depends on whether you are modifying an action, a quality, or a noun.
Bien
Bien usually adjoins verbs to indicate that something is done in a satisfactory or skillful manner; it can also modify adjectives or other adverbs when you want to emphasize manner or degree. Think of bien as aligning with well in English.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☕ Le chef cuisine bien, la sauce est parfaite. | The chef cooks well, the sauce is perfect. | Skill with cooking |
| 🧼 Les mains sont bien lavées avant de cuisiner. | The hands are well washed before cooking. | Proper hygiene |
| ⏰ La pâte a bien reposé pendant une heure. | The dough rested well for an hour. | Successful process |
| 🔥 Le feu chauffe bien la casserole. | The fire heats the pan well. | Effective heat |
| 🥣 Les ingrédients se mélangent bien dans le bol. | The ingredients mix well in the bowl. | Good combination |
Sign In
Add an email to access exercises.
Bon
Bon is an adjective that describes the quality of a noun, so it must agree in gender and number with the thing it qualifies; use bon for masculine singular, bonne for feminine singular, and so on. Think of bon as translating to good when evaluating something.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🍰 Ce gâteau est très bon et léger. | This cake is very good and light. | Tasty result |
| ☕ Le café est bon ce matin. | The coffee is good this morning. | Pleasant flavor |
| 🧀 Le fromage est bon et crémeux. | The cheese is good and creamy. | Quality food |
| 🍞 Le pain est bon, croustillant dehors. | The bread is good, crispy outside. | Appealing texture |
| 🍓 Les fraises sont bonnes et sucrées. | The strawberries are good and sweet. | Fresh produce |
Sign In
Add an email to access exercises.
Other Expressions
French also has set expressions and related words that nuance praise or approval, such as mieux (better), bien meilleur (much better), and phrases like c'est bien versus c'est bon depending on context. These small distinctions matter in tasting, evaluating, or giving feedback.
Sign In
Add an email to access exercises.
Summary
Use bien to modify actions or to stress manner (aligning with well), and use bon to describe nouns and qualities (aligning with good); remember to make bon agree in gender and number when needed.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025