What do you mean vs What's that supposed to mean

Quand utiliser chacun en anglais, avec le sens, le registre et des exemples.

What do you mean

Top 2000 (courant)

What's that supposed to mean

FamilierTop 2000 (courant)
Le plus formel: What do you mean
 What do you meanWhat's that supposed to mean
Prononciation🇬🇧 //wɒt duː jʊ miːn//🇺🇸 //wɑt du jʊ min//🇬🇧 //wɒts ðæt səˈpəʊzd tuː miːn//🇺🇸 //wɑts ðæt səˈpoʊzd tə min//
SensQu'est-ce que tu veux dire ?What do you want to say?What does that mean?
ExempleI didn't catch that last part, what do you mean?When she said she was 'busy', I thought, 'What's that supposed to mean?'
RegistreNeutreFamilier
FréquenceTop 2000 (courant)Top 2000 (courant)
Collocationswhat do you mean by, ask what do you mean, explain what do you meanWhat do you mean?, I don't understand, Can you explain that?
AntonymesI don't understand, What do you not mean, What are you unclear about-
Erreurs fréquentesUsing it after every sentence, which can sound confusing., Incorrectly assuming it can replace 'what does this mean?', Not using it when genuinely confused.Using it in formal meetings, Confusing it with 'What does that mean?', Not using it when feeling confused
Notes d'usageUtilise ça quand tu as besoin de comprendre ce que quelqu'un a dit. Évite-le dans des situations très formelles ; utilise-le plutôt avec des amis ou dans des conversations décontractées.Use when you need clarification about someone's statement. Avoid in very formal contexts; use it with friends or in conversations.Use this phrase when you find something unclear or confusing. It's casual and best for conversations with friends, not formal situations.

Vois-le dans de vrais extraits

What do you mean
What's that supposed to mean

Questions fréquentes : What do you mean vs What's that supposed to mean

Quelle est la différence entre What do you mean et What's that supposed to mean ?

What do you mean: What do you want to say? What's that supposed to mean: What does that mean?

Lequel est le plus formel : What do you mean et What's that supposed to mean ?

What do you mean est le plus formel de tous.

Peux-tu montrer un exemple de chacun ?

What do you mean: I didn't catch that last part, what do you mean? What's that supposed to mean: When she said she was 'busy', I thought, 'What's that supposed to mean?'

Puis-je utiliser What do you mean et What's that supposed to mean de façon interchangeable ?

Pas toujours. What do you mean et What's that supposed to mean sont proches et se recoupent parfois, mais elles diffèrent par le registre, la fréquence et l'usage, donc remplacer l'une par l'autre peut changer le sens ou le ton. Regarde les différences ci-dessus avant de substituer.

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