солдатик [in this context]

English translation: my... toy soldiers

07:16 Sep 13, 2013

Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

Russian term or phrase: солдатик [in this context]

I know that this word means toy soldiers but I don't think that this is what the person means by this word in this context.

Here's the context:

- Если захочешь, покажу тебе своих солдатиков, - пытается обнять, опускает голову к моей шее. Все это на фоне блестящих брызг и тихо бурлящей серой толщи воды.
- Я не могу так скоро, - медленно отстраняюсь. – Пойдём, покажу кое-что интересное…

I would appreciate advice about what this actually means. Thanks!

Sarah McDowell KudoZ activity Questions: 121 (5 open) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 118 Canada
Local time: 09:49

English translation:my... toy soldiers

Explanation:
If the toy soldier detail is important in context to show the character's personality, as I assume it is from the discussion thread, you can use punctuation to show that characteristic pause before sexual innuendo. Because it's almost certainly that.

"If you like, I can show you my... Toy soldiers."

Selected response from:

Kateryna Zorya
Ukraine
Local time: 17:49

Grading comment

Although I appreciate everyone's answers, I chose this one for the translation.
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +4

toy soldier

Ekaterina Filatova

my butterfly collection [in this context :)]

Michael Korovkin

my... toy soldiers

Kateryna Zorya

My little soldiers

katerina turevich

firebugs

Andrew Vdovin

Discussion entries: 6

Sarah McDowell

Canada

ASKER

OK Simon

19:26 Sep 13, 2013

There was no mention of "toy soldiers" in the text prior to this. I will try asking the author.

Simon Geoghegan

United Kingdom

09:51 Sep 13, 2013

Hi Sarah!
If there is no mention of these "toy soldiers" or something related to them earlier in the text. Then this might be one of those instances where it's worth going back to the author for a bit of clarification. Assuming of course that you have this luxury.

Alternatively, is this possibly some sort of sexual euphemism like:
"Do you want to come back and see my etchings?"
I'm rather scrabbling about in the dark without the benefit of the preceding text/context.

Sarah McDowell

Canada

ASKER

I don't think this could possibly be the case

07:48 Sep 13, 2013

The characters in question are adults, although it does mention that the guy is "like a boy" so he is rather young for his age. See my comment to Katya's answer below. There is just no way that anyone would bring toy soldiers with them to a journalism conference in another country! Especially since he's only there for 3 days.

Sarah McDowell

Canada

ASKER

Спасибо Дмитрий!

07:41 Sep 13, 2013

Спаисибо, я знаю об этом корпусе, но сегодня пока не посмотрела в него. :) Буду использовать больше в будущем.

Dmitry Murzakov

Russian Federation

Могу лишь посоветовать ...

07:24 Sep 13, 2013

(не для данного слова, а в процессе текущей работы) использовать англо-русский корпус текстов художественных произведений. Его объем - 1 084 697 предложений, 15 842 627 слов. Ссылка - http://ruscorpora.ru/search-para-en.html

Alexandra Schneeuhr

Cyprus

07:23 Sep 13, 2013

Hi Sarah!
Based on the context provided I can't really think of any other option but the 'toy soldiers' you suggested, be it used literally or metaphorically...

Answers

7 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

toy soldier

Explanation:
I don't think any other meaning is possible here. Maybe that's a reference to "к мальчику", meaning he's a boy and supposedly invites her to show her his toy soldiers (seeking for a reason to bring her home).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2013-09-13 07:48:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

He didn't mean it literally, simple as that) Again, there is no room for any other meaning here.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 35 mins (2013-09-13 07:52:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I was referring to this phrase: И собиралась ехать к «мальчику».

Ekaterina Filatova
Netherlands
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Russian
PRO pts in category: 16

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks Katya, this was also my first thought but I thought about it a long time today and decided that it couldn't possibly be the right word. The character who said this is a grown man, not a young boy. The young woman he said it to is a journalist. Apparently they met at a conference, the guy is a foreigner and doesn't even live there. There is no way you would bring toy soldiers with you to a journalism conference in Russia. According to the story, he was only there for 3 days and they met and watched a play together. Then the comment about toy soldiers came up. I don't think the answer can possibly be this simple.

5 hrs confidence:

My little soldiers

Explanation:
like this it can refer both to whatever reader's imagination comes up with as an 'object', as well as convey a sexual connotation
the last one is important to cover in this bit, I understand. Just reading the situation "Я не могу так скоро".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2013-09-13 12:26:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

i mean, the whole phrase is "If you like I will show you my little soldier". He tries to hug me...

katerina turevich
Netherlands
Local time: 16:49
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 13

2 days 6 hrs confidence:

my butterfly collection [in this context :)]

Explanation:
Sometimes a standard cliché in one language is best rendered by resorting to a standard cliché in the other language that has exactly the same usage while employing completely different terms.

I.e. пуганная ворона куста боится / once scared- twice shy, etc.

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 16:49
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Russian
PRO pts in category: 174

2 days 9 hrs confidence:

my... toy soldiers

Kateryna Zorya
Ukraine
Local time: 17:49
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Russian
PRO pts in category: 6

Grading comment

Although I appreciate everyone's answers, I chose this one for the translation.

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks a lot! This is very helpful.

2 days 18 hrs confidence:

firebugs

Explanation:
There are also such insects called "солдатики", so if the character is an entomologist or something, then...

Andrew Vdovin
Local time: 21:49
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Russian
PRO pts in category: 88

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солдатик [in this context]

English translation: my... toy soldiers

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