Chez

Chez in French
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French preposition

The preposition chez is unlike anything in English – it carries more meaning than a simple preposition and has a number of different uses.

1) Location / Destination

a. Home    
  Je suis chez moi.   I’m at home.
  Je vais chez Philippe.   I’m going to Philippe’s house.

 Ever noticed how many French restaurants are named Chez Someone? It’s like an invitation to eat at chef Someone’s home.

b. Business/office/shop    
  Je suis chez le marchand des fruits et légumes.   I’m at the greengrocer’s shop.
  Je vais chez le dentiste.   I’m going to the dentist’s office.

2) Among / Of / In a group

  C’est un problème chez les Français.   That’s a problem among the French.
  Chez les enfants, on trouve beaucoup de créativité.   You find a lot of creativity in children.

3) In regard to an individual’s character

  C’est un problème chez Paul.   That’s a problem for Paul.
  Je n’ai jamais vu une telle chose chez mon chat.   I’ve never seen anything like that with my cat.

4) In someone’s work

  chez Picasso   in Picasso’s art
  chez Victor Hugo   in Victor Hugo’s writings

5) Expressions with chez

  avoir ses entrées auprès de quelqu’un   to have easy access to someone
  bien de chez nous   typically French
  Charbonnier est maître chez soi. (proverb)   A man’s home is his castle.
  un chez-soi   a home
  être partout chez soi   to feel at home anywhere
  Faites / Fais comme chez vous / toi.   Make yourself at home.
  mon chez-moi   my home
  noir comme chez le diable   pitch black
  nul de chez nul   completely useless/worthless/hopeless
  rentrer chez soi   to go home
  se sentir chez soi   to feel at home
  ton chez-toi   your home
  Va te faire voir chez les Grecs ! (familiar)   Go to hell!

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French preposition chez

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