"My father is acquainted with plants."

Translation: Mon père connaît bien les plantes.

[ChrisJudge1]

Why `bien'? In English "my father knows plants" seems stronger than "my father is acquainted with plants". Doesn't bien mean well in this context?

[SquirlRat]

I am wondering if 'bien' is serving as a de-intensifier here like it does with 'aime bien'.

[J.C.theBird]

When I hover over "acquainted" it comes back with "acquainted" again and won't give me the French.

[basm92]

Bonjour camarades, je pense que 'Mon père est familier avec les plantes' devrait être accepté. Je l'ai rapporté. Qu'en pensez-vous?

[TDionne01]

Also wondering about the distinction between "connaît" and "connaît bien".

[steventyp]

yeah i don't quite understand why 'connait bien' and not just connait. in any case i put down 'mon pere est familier avec les plantes' which IMO is close enough and in English could certainly be used interchangeably.