Thread: how do I say...

How do I emphatically - but elegantly - say MY ANSWER IS NO in Russian? For the thousandth time I will turn down an invitation for a Russian guy to go out. Any other useful and simple expressions for these occasions??

Originally Posted by Tropicalscent

How do I emphatically - but elegantly - say MY ANSWER IS NO in Russian? For the thousandth time I will turn down an invitation for a Russian guy to go out. Any other useful and simple expressions for these occasions??

I think the same way as in English. How do you say it in English?
By the way if you already did it 2136 times, he must be completely dumb not to understand that you don't want to go out with him. What's the point to elegantly turn down his invitations if he don't get it? Why don't just tell his straight NO?

"Нет" — значит "нет"!

@Tropicalscent: As I can see you are from Brazil (страны где много-много диких обезъян). Did he say, "я старый солдат и не знаю слов любви"?

How do I emphatically - but elegantly - say MY ANSWER IS NO in Russian? For the thousandth time I will turn down an invitation for a Russian guy to go out. Any other useful and simple expressions for these occasions??

simple HET!! (nee-yet)

Straight NOs simply did not work. Maybe because he does not understand Portuguese pretty well and his English is also poor. I never tried in Russian, I thought it would work better.
Dumb as he may be, he is an absolute expert in the field he works and I really admire that. He is never rude or pushy and with a nice smile in his face he asks me: What is your answer today?

Should I slap his face next time he asks?

Originally Posted by Propp

"Нет" — значит "нет"!

Thank you Propp, it was very kind you to teach me so straightforwardly. I will try this one next time.

Originally Posted by Pyccko

Originally Posted by Tropicalscent

How do I emphatically - but elegantly - say MY ANSWER IS NO in Russian? For the thousandth time I will turn down an invitation for a Russian guy to go out. Any other useful and simple expressions for these occasions??

simple HET!! (nee-yet)

Thank you, Pyccko, HET is certainly a more familiar word for him...

Originally Posted by BETEP

@Tropicalscent: As I can see you are from Brazil (страны где много-много диких обезъян). Did he say, "я старый солдат и не знаю слов любви"?

Dear BETEP, I can read Cyrillic, but I don

Originally Posted by Tropicalscent

Should I slap his face next time he asks?

да.
(just kidding)(probably)

[quote=Tropicalscent]Dear BETEP, I can read Cyrillic, but I don

Originally Posted by Tropicalscent

Straight NOs simply did not work. Maybe because he does not understand Portuguese pretty well and his English is also poor.

I can't believe his English is so pure that he can't understand NO.
Anyway I meant why din't you tell him "straight NO" in Russian. I thought you knew how to write it but you wanted "emphatically - but elegantly" NO.

...he asks me: What is your answer today?

According to your first post, he's been doing it for at least three years. He's very persistent and you're very patient :)

Should I slap his face next time he asks?

LOL It's totally up to you.

PS: Sorry if I was being mean.