Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Какой-никакой, а сабджект :)

  1. #1
    Увлечённый спикер
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Moscow
    Posts
    50
    Rep Power
    14

    Какой-никакой, а сабджект :)

    I am a native Russian speaker, and i clearly understand, what the expression "какой-никакой, а...." means. HOWEVER, I don't have a slightest idea as to HOW to express the same idea in English... I don't mean there should be some set phrase, it may be a different gramatical structure, but how would you translate, say, these two sentences:

    Я тут вчера на базаре "Рекорд" черно-белый у одного алкаша купил... Все же, какой-никакой, а телевизор...

    "Рекорд" is a name of some obsolete soviet tvsets...
    If you want me to explain, what this phrase means, ask me to...
    Будьте здоровы!

  2. #2
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    да всё там же!
    Posts
    178
    Rep Power
    14
    Я конечно не уверен, но думаю это "какой-никакой" можно выразить следующим образом Yesterday I bought a black and white TV "Rekord" from a dipso, pretty old but still a TV.

    Я думаю still передает значение "все же, какой-никакой".
    Подождем нейтивов, что они скажут
    Пораскинул мозгами, теперь собираюсь с мыслями.

  3. #3
    Увлечённый спикер
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Moscow
    Posts
    50
    Rep Power
    14
    What I came to think of was "it's not much of a TV(-set), but still....". Am i right or am i right?
    Будьте здоровы!

  4. #4
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    aequidistant
    Posts
    676
    Rep Power
    14
    I bought a "Rekord", black and white. No frills but still a TV set.
    Jonesboro, Arkansas. Mean, stupid, violent fat people, no jobs, nothing to do, hotter than a dog with 2 d--cks.

  5. #5
    Увлечённый спикер
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Moscow
    Posts
    50
    Rep Power
    14
    ABBYY Ligvo:
    Frills
    2) роскошь, излишества, ненужные украшения

    is this THE meaning you mean
    Будьте здоровы!

  6. #6
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    aequidistant
    Posts
    676
    Rep Power
    14
    Quote Originally Posted by ibolit
    ABBYY Ligvo:
    Frills
    2) роскошь, излишества, ненужные украшения

    is this THE meaning you mean
    "No frills but still" ~ "essential", "basic". Какой-никакой.
    Jonesboro, Arkansas. Mean, stupid, violent fat people, no jobs, nothing to do, hotter than a dog with 2 d--cks.

  7. #7
    Почётный участник
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Posts
    140
    Rep Power
    15
    Maybe I'm slow, but I'm not sure I understand. Какой никакой means that something is very basic, not fancy, and you use it like if you were saying "still..."?
    Yay! I broke 200 posts!

  8. #8
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    aequidistant
    Posts
    676
    Rep Power
    14
    Quote Originally Posted by emka71aln
    Maybe I'm slow, but I'm not sure I understand. Какой никакой means that something is very basic, not fancy, and you use it like if you were saying "still..."?
    Which message are you referring to? I said "No frills but still a TV set". Do you disagree that it means "The TV set is basic but functional"?
    Jonesboro, Arkansas. Mean, stupid, violent fat people, no jobs, nothing to do, hotter than a dog with 2 d--cks.

  9. #9
    Почётный участник
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Posts
    140
    Rep Power
    15
    No, I don't disagree at all, especially since I don't think I've ever heard it before. I just wanted to make sure that that was actually what it meant, so if I don't use it wrong and sound confusing. Какой-никакой = no frills. Got it. Thanks
    Yay! I broke 200 posts!

  10. #10
    Подающий надежды оратор
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    20
    Rep Power
    14
    In this case, it does (not to make it any more difficult ). The feeling is, пусть телевизор плохой (без прибамбасов), все равно - телевизор. In other contexts, maybe a homework assignment was poorly done, but, still, it was done i.e. quality varies.

Similar Threads

  1. какой бы то ни было
    By tohca in forum Daily Progress
    Replies: 25
    Last Post: March 8th, 2010, 12:21 PM
  2. по-моему, никакой разницы нет
    By Trzeci_Wymiar in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: January 17th, 2010, 10:10 AM
  3. какой падеж?
    By gunners in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: July 9th, 2008, 03:19 AM
  4. какой ещё?!..
    By Оля in forum Learn English - Грамматика, переводы, словарный запас
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: February 22nd, 2008, 04:57 PM
  5. Какой или Что
    By Mordan in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: February 26th, 2006, 12:31 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary