Adjectives
Bon is usually an adjective. It modifies a noun and means good, suitable, efficient, correct, useful, etc. Bien means good, moral, right, healthy, etc., and can only be used as an adjective with copular (state-of-being) verbs such as être.
| Il est bon étudiant. He is a good student. |
Il est bien comme étudiant. He is a good student. |
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| J'ai passé une bonne soirée. I had a nice evening. |
Ça serait bien ! That would be good! |
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| Il a bon cœur. He has a good/kind heart. |
Très bien ! Very good! |
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| Ce timbre n'est pas bon. This stamp is not valid. |
Je suis bien partout. I'm at ease anywhere. |
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| Luc est bon pour le service. Luc is fit for (military) service. |
Ce n'est pas bien de dire ça. It's not nice to say that. |
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| Je le trouve bien. I think it's nice. |
Adverbs of manner
Bien is usually an adverb. It means well or can be used to stress something. Bon, in the rare instances where it is used as an adverb (see adverbial adjectives), means good or pleasant.
| J'ai bien dormi. I slept well. |
Il fait bon ici. It's nice/pleasant here. |
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| Il se porte bien. He is in good health. |
Il fait bon vivre. It's good to be alive. |
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| Je vais bien, merci. I am well, thank you. |
Il fait bon étudier. It's good to study. |
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| La radio ne marche pas bien. The radio isn't working right. |
Ça sent bon ! That smells good! |
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| Je le vois bien souvent. I see him quite often. |
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| J'ai bien dit ça. I *did* say that. |
Nouns
Bon can refer to any sort of important or official piece of paper: form, bond, coupon, voucher, etc. Bien means good in the general sense, and biens means goods (as opposed to services).
| un bon à vue demand note |
le bien public public good |
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| un bon de caisse cash voucher |
le bien et le mal good and evil |
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| un bon de commande order form |
dire du bien de to speak well of |
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| un bon de livraison delivery slip |
faire du bien à quelqu'un to do someone good |
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| un bon de réduction coupon |
les biens d'un magasin a store's goods |
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| un bon du Trésor Treasury bond |
biens immobiliers real estate |
| En résumé | |||
| Bon | Bien | ||
| adjective | good | well | |
| adverb | nice | well | |
| noun | form, bond | good(s) | |
Quiz: Bon vs bien, mauvais vs mal
