Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: простой : easy and / or irrelevant

  1. #1
    Почётный участник
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    A place in La Mancha (Spain)
    Posts
    111
    Rep Power
    13

    простой : easy and / or irrelevant

    The word "simple" has at least two meanings in various languages. I would like to know if in Russian it is like this. The article in which is the phrase that I quote deals with relations between different wifes of a man in a polygamic/polygamous (?) family. The phrase is:
    Сотрудничество между жёнaми - не простая формальность.
    According with the translation: "Cooperation among wifes is not a simple formality (it is more that a formality)" or "... is not a formality simple (it is a difficult one)" the sense differs widely. Both translations are possible in Russian? According with what follows the meaning is the first ("it is more than a formality"), but in dictionaries a see for простой just the meaning of "easy, not difficult". Thank you
    En febrero, siete capas y un sombrero.

  2. #2
    Властелин
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    1,284
    Rep Power
    0
    Простой can be easy and simple.
    In your case it'll be "не простая формальность" and means it's more than just a formality. If you wanted to say it's difficult, you'd say: "это непростая формальность".

    pay attention to the space between не and простая.
    -- Да? Коту Ваське, бл##?
    -- Нет, Я кот Васька :-/

  3. #3
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    937
    Rep Power
    16

    Re: простой : easy and / or irrelevant

    Quote Originally Posted by Vladi
    The word "simple" has at least two meanings in various languages. I would like to know if in Russian it is like this. The article in which is the phrase that I quote deals with relations between different wifes of a man in a polygamic/polygamous (?) family. The phrase is:
    Сотрудничество между жёнaми - не простая формальность.
    According with the translation: "Cooperation among wifes is not a simple formality (it is more that a formality)" or "... is not a formality simple (it is a difficult one)" the sense differs widely. Both translations are possible in Russian? According with what follows the meaning is the first ("it is more than a formality"), but in dictionaries a see for простой just the meaning of "easy, not difficult". Thank you
    "простая формальность" = "просто (just, only, simply) формальность".
    Налево пойдёшь - коня потеряешь, направо пойдёшь - сам голову сложишь.
    Прямой путь не предлагать!

  4. #4
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    937
    Rep Power
    16
    Quote Originally Posted by Vincent Tailors
    Простой can be easy and simple.
    In your case it'll be "не простая формальность" and means it's more than just a formality. If you wanted to say it's difficult, you'd say: "это непростая формальность".

    pay attention to the space between не and простая.
    "Это связано с непростыми формальностями (plural)" would be better.
    Налево пойдёшь - коня потеряешь, направо пойдёшь - сам голову сложишь.
    Прямой путь не предлагать!

  5. #5
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Russland
    Posts
    9,874
    Rep Power
    22
    "Простая формальность" is an idiomatic expression that means "smth for show, for appearance, for bureaucracy, nothing more"
    In Russian, all nationalities and their corresponding languages start with a lower-case letter.

  6. #6
    Властелин charlestonian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Local bar
    Posts
    1,477
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: простой : easy and / or irrelevant

    Quote Originally Posted by Vladi
    The word "simple" has at least two meanings in various languages. I would like to know if in Russian it is like this. The article in which is the phrase that I quote deals with relations between different wifes of a man in a polygamic/polygamous (?) family. The phrase is:
    Сотрудничество между жёнaми - не простая формальность.
    According with the translation: "Cooperation among wifes is not a simple formality (it is more that a formality)" or "... is not a formality simple (it is a difficult one)" the sense differs widely. Both translations are possible in Russian? According with what follows the meaning is the first ("it is more than a formality"), but in dictionaries a see for простой just the meaning of "easy, not difficult". Thank you
    Wives, not wifes.
    Well, I don't know what to say. I want to say thanks to the Academy, to Mama, to Papa and to my dog. I love you all.

  7. #7
    Почётный участник
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    A place in La Mancha (Spain)
    Posts
    111
    Rep Power
    13

    Tks

    Thanks for ur help. As for "wifes" instead of "wives" I promise here in front of the world that as soon as I master Russian (it's only matter of 3 or 4 [years, quinquennial plans, or decades]) I will put myself down to improve my English.
    С новым годом!
    En febrero, siete capas y un sombrero.

  8. #8
    Властелин
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Invalid City!
    Posts
    1,347
    Rep Power
    16
    Just move to Scotland. "Wifes" is an acceptable plural there

  9. #9
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Seventh
    Posts
    4,113
    Rep Power
    18
    Quote Originally Posted by scotcher
    Just move to Scotland. "Wifes" is an acceptable plural there
    What about wifies?
    Ingenting kan stoppa mig
    In Post-Soviet Russia internet porn downloads YOU!

  10. #10
    Властелин
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Invalid City!
    Posts
    1,347
    Rep Power
    16
    Aye, them too.

Similar Threads

  1. простой вопрос для вас
    By Dagest in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: April 5th, 2009, 12:13 PM
  2. Replies: 13
    Last Post: February 1st, 2009, 02:56 AM
  3. простой вопрос
    By basurero in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: May 13th, 2006, 02:45 PM
  4. простой вопрос...
    By saibot in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: May 20th, 2005, 04:07 PM
  5. This ::should:: be easy.
    By TiaraNEug in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: November 3rd, 2004, 02:37 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