не го бива

English translation: he is no good for anything [anymore]

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Bulgarian term or phrase:не го бива
English translation:he is no good for anything [anymore]
Entered by: Pavel Tsvetkov

15:56 Jun 24, 2008
Bulgarian to English translations [PRO]
Medical - Psychology
Bulgarian term or phrase: не го бива
This is from a questionnaire regarding a patient's condition. The full sentence is: "Казва, че не го/я бива." My working translation is "Says he/she isn't up to the mark" or maybe "doesn't feel well." But neither seems quite right.
James McVay
United States
Local time: 21:53
he/she is no good for anything anymore
Explanation:
When sb says "не ме бива" it is a more serious statement than the simple "I do not feel well".

It is usually used by old people who have problem standing up, walking, remembering the names of those closest to them, etc - and seeing that "they are half the people they used to be", they - as a result of this comparison (I can no longer do what used to be so easy), start to complain that "не ме бива вече".

It is a general expression of the existential despair of old age or grave illness.

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Note added at 12 hrs (2008-06-25 04:50:25 GMT) Post-grading
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Благодаря за избора!
Selected response from:

Pavel Tsvetkov
Bulgaria
Local time: 03:53
Grading comment
Excellent explanation. Thanks! I was a little less colloquial in my translation: Says he/she is no good for anything.
BTW, this was from a back translation of a questionnaire for use by a nurse to evaluate a patient's state of mind.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3he/she is no good for anything anymore
Pavel Tsvetkov
5 +1... has not been feeling really well lately"
Efrosina Perry


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
... has not been feeling really well lately"


Explanation:
That is what I'd say if I were doing the translation.

Efrosina Perry
United States
Local time: 19:53
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in BulgarianBulgarian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Denka Momkova: ...he/she's not feeling well
42 mins
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
he/she is no good for anything anymore


Language variant: is half the person he/she used to be / feels like a goner

Explanation:
When sb says "не ме бива" it is a more serious statement than the simple "I do not feel well".

It is usually used by old people who have problem standing up, walking, remembering the names of those closest to them, etc - and seeing that "they are half the people they used to be", they - as a result of this comparison (I can no longer do what used to be so easy), start to complain that "не ме бива вече".

It is a general expression of the existential despair of old age or grave illness.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2008-06-25 04:50:25 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Благодаря за избора!

Pavel Tsvetkov
Bulgaria
Local time: 03:53
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in BulgarianBulgarian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Excellent explanation. Thanks! I was a little less colloquial in my translation: Says he/she is no good for anything.
BTW, this was from a back translation of a questionnaire for use by a nurse to evaluate a patient's state of mind.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  invguy: Excellent explanation - and right on target!
22 mins
  -> Благодаря, оценявам!

agree  Yavor Dimitrov: Or 'He says he is fit for nothing anymore.'
36 mins
  -> Благодаря!

agree  Denka Momkova: определено е по-подходящо (or the variants provided)!
2 hrs
  -> Благодаря!

neutral  Efrosina Perry: would that be part of a medical documentation? it seems too coloquial.
3 hrs
  -> It would - to the same degree in which "Казва, че не го/я бива." can be used in a medical questionaire. I guess we wil have to take Mr McVay's word for it. :)
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