Results 1 to 3 of 3
Like Tree2Likes
  • 1 Post By Alex80
  • 1 Post By maxmixiv

Thread: Line from Chekhov's Chameleon

  1. #1
    Подающий надежды оратор
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Posts
    16
    Rep Power
    4

    Line from Chekhov's Chameleon

    I apologize if there is not enough context here to allow someone to answer this question without looking the text up themself.

    "это не наша" -- продолжает Прохор -- "это генералова брата что намеднись приехал. наш не охотник до борзых"

    The line that has me stuck is "наш не охотник до борзых". The translations I've read translate it as "Our master does not care for hounds". The word "охотник" means "hunter" and "борзых" is hound, I guess "до борзых" is "with hounds, for hounds" (I know this based on the translation, that is, without the English translation I found online, I would have no idea how this phrase should be translated because in most instances I've come across the preposition, "до" means "until, to the point of, to the limit of, etc." I looked in my dictionary for a use of "до" that fit the situation in the story and have not found one that satisfied me). So how "до" is used here is one problem I can't solve. Another would be why the noun "охотник" is there as none of the translations have the word "hunter" in them. Does the sentence mean something literally like "Our master doesn't hunt with hounds" (ergo, has no need for them) or something like that? Of course, then my question would be why is the noun "hunter" used instead of the verb "to hunt". As you can see I am very much in the woods with this sentence. I hope the answer is not embarrassingly obvious. I would be very grateful to whoever could clear this up for me. Thanks.

  2. #2
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Russia, Siberia
    Posts
    749
    Rep Power
    23
    Russian word 'охотник (hunter)' is derived from verb 'хотеть (to wish/to desire)' and in it's core meant 'he who wishes to reach target'.
    So, second meaning is 'fan/lover'. It's a little outdated meaning, but still could be used in everyday speech in rare cases.
    'до' in this meaning ('of/for') is outdated old language style. In modern language it should be omitted.
    So overall meaning is "He is not fan of hounds".
    lenssideways8 likes this.

  3. #3
    Завсегдатай maxmixiv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Omsk, Russia
    Posts
    1,545
    Rep Power
    28
    If Chekhov lived now, he would probably write "не любитель борзых"
    lenssideways8 likes this.
    "Невозможно передать смысл иностранной фразы, не разрушив при этом её первоначальную структуру."

Similar Threads

  1. CHEKHOV and GONCHAROV
    By sperk in forum Dual-Language Books
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: April 25th, 2011, 03:30 AM
  2. Chekhov Bilingual
    By sperk in forum Dual-Language Books
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: April 24th, 2011, 12:01 PM
  3. A Chekhov quote
    By moreadventurous in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: September 11th, 2009, 03:07 PM
  4. Chekhov's quotation
    By 007 in forum Learn English - Грамматика, переводы, словарный запас
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: August 9th, 2006, 07:53 AM
  5. Chekhov: scenes from a life
    By jimita in forum Book Reviews
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: April 23rd, 2006, 03:22 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