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  3. Poetry & Literature

с лихом

English translation: harsh

22:11 Dec 12, 2007
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Russian term or phrase: с лихом
Я подолгу задумывался, почему у меня такая злая судьба, перемешанная с лихом?

Someone captured by the Germans in 1943 who fell under suspicion when he returned home.
Deborah Hoffman
Local time: 06:10
English translation:harsh
Explanation:
'why my fate is so wicked and harsh'

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Note added at 5 mins (2007-12-12 22:16:55 GMT)
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There's really no exact translation for 'лих' -- it means different things in different contexts.

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Note added at 6 mins (2007-12-12 22:17:50 GMT)
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Also consider 'cruel' or other such synonyms.
Selected response from:

Mark Berelekhis
United States
Local time: 06:10
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2harsh
Mark Berelekhis
4 +1so harsh and filled so heavily with calamities
Alexander Kondorsky
4 +1ill-fated
Andrew Vdovin
4(mixed) with trouble
koundelev
4with evil
daruuntje (X)
3bad luck, misfortune upon a misfortune
Tatiana N. (X)
3such a raw deal
A Word For I (X)


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
harsh


Explanation:
'why my fate is so wicked and harsh'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2007-12-12 22:16:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

There's really no exact translation for 'лих' -- it means different things in different contexts.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2007-12-12 22:17:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Also consider 'cruel' or other such synonyms.

Mark Berelekhis
United States
Local time: 06:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 666
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Faina Furman
1 day 18 hrs
  -> Thank you, Faina.
agree  IlyaI
8 days
  -> Thank you, Ilya.
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
bad luck, misfortune upon a misfortune


Explanation:
Basically, the meaning of the phrase is: "why do I have a misfortune upon a misfortune, why am I so unlucky"?

I think "лихо" in this context can be translated as "bad luck", "misfortunte":

Счастье (good luck) и несчастье, счастье и лихо (bad luck)





Tatiana N. (X)
Local time: 06:10
Native speaker of: Russian
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
(mixed) with trouble


Explanation:
Don't trouble trouble untol trouble troubles you

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-12-12 23:46:48 GMT)
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The Color Purple" shows us a sensual pulse of life mixed with trouble. ...
www.beyondchron.org/articles/The_Color_Purple_Provocative_S...


koundelev
Local time: 13:10
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 66
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
with evil


Explanation:
... why my fate was so hard and mingled with evil.

Or a bit more poetic: ... why my fate was so hard and flavoured with evil.

daruuntje (X)
Belgium
Local time: 12:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
so harsh and filled so heavily with calamities


Explanation:
I could not help pondering on my fate: Why was it so harsh and filled so heavily with calamities


Alexander Kondorsky
Russian Federation
Local time: 13:10
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 15

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Faina Furman: so harsh and calamitous?
1 day 8 hrs
  -> Thanks, Faina. I agree, your variant is better!
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
ill-fated


Explanation:
ill-fated destiny

They all suffer, victims of their individual ill-fated destiny. Amazingly fit for a man of 82, Ibrahim Ahmed regards his renewed celebrity with a wide smile ...
www.chris-kutschera.com/A/ibrahim_ahmed.htm

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Note added at 11 hrs (2007-12-13 09:45:00 GMT)
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ill-stricken fate

To you have I brought my ill-stricken fate Empty-handed of any deed befitting your House. This House of yours, which is your court of Love and Grace O Lord ...
www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16820

as they ponder over their ill stricken fate It's time for the pessimists to take charge to cry silently over the ignorance of their mate ...
xpressinmyselves.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html

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Note added at 11 hrs (2007-12-13 09:46:40 GMT)
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Or "ill-starred destiny", probably.

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Note added at 11 hrs (2007-12-13 09:47:34 GMT)
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To me, "лихо" here refers to "ill".

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Note added at 11 hrs (2007-12-13 09:51:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Probably even "ill-flavored".

Andrew Vdovin
Local time: 17:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 88

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Faina Furman:
1 day 6 hrs
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
such a raw deal


Explanation:
...why fate has given/dealt me such a raw deal.

That might work well for a soldier's manner of speaking - as it appears your protagonist is, since the unfortunate person was captured. Or at least for speech of a certain directness.

or perhaps, ... why the fates have dealt me such a raw deal - for a more poetic/literary slant.

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Note added at 20 hrs (2007-12-13 18:20:48 GMT)
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a small variation - dealt me such a bad hand in life /cut me such a raw deal.

Again for a lower register of speech.

A Word For I (X)
Local time: 03:10
Native speaker of: English
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