Please help me translate in Russian, "I can read books, and I can read music, but I can't read people to save my life."
The best I can translate this is, "Я могу прочитать книги, и могу прочитать музыку, но я не могу прочитать людей чтобы спасти мою жизн."
Help with grammar is appreciated.
Originally Posted by Sokolov
Your translation is generally correct although this phrase doesn't make any sense (in English too). You don't *read* music, you listen to it. And why should you 'read' people in order to save your life?
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On the contrary, it makes perfect sense in English (not in Russian though). To read music = "читать ноты".
"Can't do something to save my life" is an idiom, and sounds just fine in English. Типа, "не смог бы сделать этого даже если бы от этого зависела моя жизнь".
Sokolov, we don't say "читать людей" in Russian, so the pun will be lost in direct translation.
I heard this formula:
"even if my life depended on it."
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How about, “В литературе я разбираюсь, и в музыке я разбираюсь, но в людях я никак не разбираюсь.” It's not an exact equivalent, but I think it's pretty close.
“To read people” means “to understand their current emotions and intentions.”
How about, “В литературе я разбираюсь, и в музыке я разбираюсь, но в людях я никак не разбираюсь.” It's not an exact equivalent, but I think it's pretty close.
“To read people” means “to understand their current emotions and intentions.”
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I guess I forgot it was a pun. Puns don't translate well, do they?
One more thing: What does "разбираюсь" mean?
I've been studying Russian only for a few months, but I'm determined to learn.
Спасибо
"Разбираюсь" - первое лицо единственное число глагола "разбираться" - to grasp, to understand
Семь бед, один Reset
I wouldn't say that.
do you know what Linux is?
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