French Phrase
Respirer profondément, c'est un bon truc.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Breathing deeply is a good thing.’ The sentence is a casual way to say that taking deep breaths is a useful tip for relaxation, health, or stress relief.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give someone a simple health or wellness tip, especially in informal conversation about yoga, meditation, or coping with anxiety.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Respirerprofondément,c'estunbontruc.
Infinitive verb
Respirer is the infinitive form of the verb ‘to breathe’; infinitives can act as nouns or be used after prepositions.
Adverb placement
Profondément (deeply) follows the verb it modifies, a common position for adverbs of manner in French.
c' = ce
c' is the contracted form of the demonstrative pronoun ce before a vowel‑starting verb (est).
c’est + indefinite article
c’est is followed by an indefinite article (un/une) when introducing a new idea or thing.
Truc = thing/trick
Truc is informal; it can mean ‘thing’, ‘gimmick’ or ‘trick’, and is often used in spoken French.
🗨In Conversation
Respirer profondément, c'est un bon truc.
Breathing deeply is a good trick.
Oui, ça m'aide à me calmer quand je suis stressé(e).
Yes, it helps me calm down when I'm stressed.
✕Common Mistakes
Respirer le profond, c'est un bon truc.
‘Profond’ is an adjective; you need the adverb ‘profondément’ to describe how you breathe.
c’est une bon truc.
The article must agree with the masculine noun ‘truc’; use ‘un bon truc’. Also, ‘une’ is feminine.
c’est un bon truc de respirer profondément.
While understandable, the natural order is to place the infinitive first, then the comment, as in the original sentence.
↔Alternatives
Respirer à fond, c'est une bonne astuce.
Breathing fully is a good tip.
Prendre de grandes respirations, c'est utile.
Taking big breaths is useful.
Faire de longues inspirations, c'est bénéfique.
Doing long inhalations is beneficial.
Cultural Tip
In France, breathing exercises are often linked to ‘sophrologie’ and mindfulness practices that have become popular in schools and workplaces. While ‘truc’ is informal, it conveys a friendly, conversational tone—perfect for chatting with friends or classmates about wellness habits.