je ne suis pas forcément que dans l’esprit de compétition

English translation: but I'm not just about the competition.

15:37 Jul 3, 2019
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Sports / Fitness / Recreation / Bureaucratic forms
French term or phrase: je ne suis pas forcément que dans l’esprit de compétition
Hi. Could anyone explain the nuance of this phrase please? Is it something like 'I don't necessarily have a competitive spirit'? I'm a bit confused by the construction of ne, pas, que.
The preceding phrase is: moi j’aime beaucoup pratiquer le sport...
Thank you.
Christine Birch
United Kingdom
English translation:but I'm not just about the competition.
Explanation:
Depending on how formal the text is - it's quite common in French to use a double negative e.g. 'pas que' for emphasis. I think keeping 'esprit' as 'spirit' is a little clunky, so you'd be better off with something like the above or:

I don't just enjoy it for the competition.
I'm not just a competitive person.
etc.
Selected response from:

Verity Roat
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:47
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7but I'm not just about the competition.
Verity Roat
4I am not necessarily only in a competitive spirit
Nicolas Gambardella


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
I am not necessarily only in a competitive spirit


Explanation:
The French sentence is a fairly common one. This is a generally a defensive statement. "While I like to win, I am not necessarily only in a competitive spirit"

Nicolas Gambardella
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:47
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  B D Finch: That sounds more Franglais than English.
36 mins
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29 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
but I'm not just about the competition.


Explanation:
Depending on how formal the text is - it's quite common in French to use a double negative e.g. 'pas que' for emphasis. I think keeping 'esprit' as 'spirit' is a little clunky, so you'd be better off with something like the above or:

I don't just enjoy it for the competition.
I'm not just a competitive person.
etc.

Verity Roat
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:47
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, very helpful!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  B D Finch
23 mins

agree  Charles Davis
45 mins

agree  Michele Fauble
1 hr

agree  Ph_B (X): I would also include Nicolas's "not necessarily" (= pas forcément)
2 hrs

agree  Yvonne Gallagher: no need to repeat "I" ...and it's not just/only about the competitive aspect
16 hrs

agree  Verginia Ophof
1 day 5 hrs

agree  Robert Brown
1 day 17 hrs
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