I was asked to explain the difference between the French equivalents of to be bored and to miss (someone), using the verb s’ennuyer.
Je m’ennuie means I’m bored.
Je m’ennuie au travail. I’m bored at work.
Je m’ennuie avec elle. I’m bored (when I’m) with her.
If you put de after s’ennuyer, you get the expression to miss (someone).
Je m’ennuie de toi means I miss you.
Je m’ennuie de vous autres. I miss you guys.
Je m’ennuie de Québec. I miss Québec City.
I was also asked about the adjective plate in relation to all of this:
If something bores you, you can describe it as being plate in informal language.
T’es plate! You’re no fun! You’re boring!
C’est plate! This is boring!
C’est ben plate à soir! Things are so boring tonight! (Ben means very and sounds like the French word bain; it’s a contracted form of bien.)
J’ai une job plate de bureau. I’ve got a boring office job.
Note: plate means boring, not bored. So if you’re bored, don’t describe yourself as plate. It’s the thing that causes the boredom that’s plate.
