Nov 11, 2017 22:55
6 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Russian term
Russian Federation
Legal & marketing language, blockchain
Native in: Russian (Variant: Standard-Russia)
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English
не мешай/ты мне мешаешь
Russian to English
Other
Advertising / Public Relations
Conversation
How would you as an English speaker say "не мешай!" or "ты мне мешаешь" to your child (cat/dog...), to your peer/boss/colleague (without offending), to your boy/girlfriend when you actually do want her/him stay and "мешать". What would you say in such situation when you need to do something and someone prevents you from doing it. Just what would you say in such situation?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | take a pick |
IrinaN
|
| 4 +1 | oh, stop it please |
Sergey Lev
|
| 3 | Not now |
Daniel Frisano
|
| 3 | If you don't mind, I'd like to/I need to/I have to etc. |
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
|
| 3 | I'm kind of busy |
Andrew Vdovin
|
Proposed translations
12 hrs
Selected
take a pick
buzz off; quit messing around; take a hike; baby, mommy is busy now; maybe I should finish this first?; I'm terribly sorry but you are on my way (dragging a vacuum cleaner down a narrow hallway); - места на сайте не хватит, распределение адресатов по ситуации.
Disclaimer: to a cat - none of the above is applicable. Drop everything, apologize for the delay and do as requested :-)
Disclaimer: to a cat - none of the above is applicable. Drop everything, apologize for the delay and do as requested :-)
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Irina, so much. You are so right about children and cats and vacuum cleaners! As a native Russian you know the difference) |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
1 hr
Daniel Frisano
Italy
Italy
Italy
100% human translation, always
Native in: Italian 
Works in: English to Italian, French to Italian, German to Italian, and 14 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Russian term (edited):
не мешай
Not now
"Not now!" (optional: "please") would be equivalent to "не мешай!", showing a definite desire not to be interfered with, but without being too direct or offensive. As for "ты мне мешаешь", it seems to imply a high level of familiarity with the other person, as well as some reproach. Or do Russians use it more liberally?
Note from asker:
| Thank, Daniel, this was really helpful. |
+1
2 hrs
Sergey Lev
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Native in Russian
Works in field
Russian Federation
The real thing is no bling.
Native in: Russian (Variant: Standard-Russia)
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Japanese to English, and 1 more.
oh, stop it please
Certain sorts of sources show that this is a common expression in situations of the latter kind. Moreover, it seems to work better than the other answers in every situation listed by the asker. YMMV, of course...
Note from asker:
| Thank you! |
2 hrs
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
On time, on target, on budget.
Native in: English 
, Polish
Works in: Polish to English, English to Polish, Russian to Polish, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
28
If you don't mind, I'd like to/I need to/I have to etc.
As requested, this is not a translation but a bit of politesse." You are bothering me," is a direct attack on the other person. It is more polite to direct the attention to oneself and one's own feelings: I need to finish a project, I am under time pressure, I have this important assignment to finish. Thank you.
"Thank you" preempts the other party from demurring.
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Dogs usually do not pick up on the nuance of such expressions and need a more direct approach: "Shoo. Go bother the cat!"
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"Thank you" preempts the other party from demurring.
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Dogs usually do not pick up on the nuance of such expressions and need a more direct approach: "Shoo. Go bother the cat!"
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Note from asker:
| Thank you, Frank, your note about please and thank you were really insightful. Russian speakers often forget about them. |
1 day 6 hrs
Andrew Vdovin
Native in Russian
DELVING into DETAIL
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian, Russian to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
I'm kind of busy
I'm kind of busy, you know.
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Andrew, this one will best fit in the fourth situation I did not mentioned) |
Discussion
Easy way to say is:
Please, don't bother me right now
you are forcing my attention, or I can't focus on right now,
you are distracting me
you are turning my attention away
...when you actually do want her/him stay and "мешать"...
Also, each of the three situations you describe (pet vs peer vs partner) would call for a different wording.