(no subject)

[adelaide129.livejournal.com]

if you were attempting to translate the song "i'm a little teapot" into russian, would you use "Чайник"?

Comments

[mricon.livejournal.com]

yes, but it's worth noting that "чайник" is a popular term for a "beginner" or an "amateur." E.g. the popular series "Complete Idiot's guide to Something" is released under the title "Что-либо для чайников". So, if you get kids singing "Я малютка-чайник" you'll get lots of giggling from parents. :)

[adelaide129.livejournal.com]

haha i've heard it used as slang for begining drivers, but i wasn't sure. is there another word for teapot that doesn't have another meaning? like kettle, perhaps?

[halevi.livejournal.com]

No, I wouldn't use this word. I would prefer "Я --- маленький кофейник".

Really, "чайник" is the correct Russian for "teapot". And "кофейник" is "coffeepot".

BUT! Russian word "чайник" is also a figural for "beginner". For example: "Я в этом деле еще чайник."

[halevi.livejournal.com]

Furthermore.

"Я --- маленький чайник" is too similar to citation from very popular Russian play "Дракон" by Евгений Шварц (BTW, I reccomend it to your reading). The citation is: "Я чайник! Заварите меня!" (The hero refers to "teapot", not to "beginner").

So, I am almost sure, that the most correct translation is "Я --- маленький кофейник".

[oryx_and_crake]

You can use "чайничек" which has many advantages
a) it means the same "a little teapot", being shorter at the same time, and it's always a problem when translating from Russian into English or back because Russian words are normally much longer
b) "чайничек" does not have the same usage as "чайник", hence no one would think that you mean a beginner or a dummy

[verushka.livejournal.com]

In the cartoon (Beauty and Beast as far as I remember) it was translated as Чайник:
Я маленький чайник
Весёлый и толстый...

[idealforcolors.livejournal.com]

that's so cute!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_teemon_/]

Here is word-by-word translation (подстрочник):

Я маленький чайник, мелкий, но толстый.
А вот моя ручка, а это мой носик.
Я пищу, когда закипаю.
Наклоните меня, и вылейте из меня воду.

Я умный чайник, да, это так.
И вот, например, что я могу сделать.
Я поменяю местами ручку и носик.
Наклоните меня и вылейте из меня воду.

[gordin.livejournal.com]

Agree.
While it can be harder to catch the rythm "чайничек" replaces two words, doesn't have second meaning and unlike the кофейник is quite what it was in the song.
The only thing is that the word contains two ч, wich makes it a little bit funny to pronounce. :)

[adelaide129.livejournal.com]

isn't "ручка" the word for pen?

[schwarzer-tod.livejournal.com]

(http://rulezman.multik.org/)

[adelaide129.livejournal.com]

what does that say? "where is..."

[schwarzer-tod.livejournal.com]

"But where the deuce is the clitoris?" is the best translation with which I, a humble amateur, can provide you.

[astax.livejournal.com]

Yes, "ручка" is a word for pen but also for handle. Just two meanings.

[nadyezhda.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this play. It was great.

[yms.livejournal.com]

"Для чайников" = "for dummies", not "complete idiot's guide".