сметь - to dare

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

I have been trying to say the following "Well, now I don't dare go anywhere" in Russian.

This is my attempt: Но, сейчас я не постею поехать никуда.

I am wondering if this is just not possible to say? I found the verb "сметь" in my dictionary for "to dare", but it doesn't look right... Or am I doing something else wrong here?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

[katushaap.livejournal.com]

Сейчас я не посмею никуда поехать

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

Спасибо!

[ex-ex-zhuzh.livejournal.com]

сметь is right. I don't dare = я не смею. But normal people usually say я боюсь.

Also, "well" is ну, not но.

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

Someone suggested that, but I always associate (in my English-language mind) бояться with fear (fear for one's life, etc.). So, now that you've suggested it, I'll consider it - thanks:)

[yarilla.livejournal.com]

Not really. When you answer a phone call and say smth like "I'm afraid Dad isn't here", you do not actually mean that you are afraid of being alone? ;)

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

I don't usually use that phrase, although I know people who do that in English.

It's strange - I have specific associations with certain words in Russian and sometimes I just stick with that one definition... So, for me (in my mind), although it is possible to say "I'm afraid Dad isn't here" in English, I hadn't thought about using the verb бояться in the same way.

I'm not even sure if Russians would say that that...

One thing I'm trying to be careful about is direct translations from English to Russian... I know that I do it far too often, but I'm trying to be a little more mindful of it.

[yarilla.livejournal.com]

As a Russian native speaker, I would assure you that we say "Боюсь, его нет дома. Ему что-нибудь передать?" for "I'm afraid he's not here. Do you want to leave a message for him?" :) although it's not very typical for common Russian people, only for well-educated ones :) the common people usually say "He's not here" and hang down the phone receiver ;)

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

yeah, I've only had Russians hang up on me when the person I'm looking for is not there...:) Good to know.

[yarilla.livejournal.com]

By the way, this link would probably be useful for other questions too ;)
http://spravka.gramota.ru/

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

Thanks... I've put a link to that page on my info page (I've got www.translit.ru there too), so it will be easier for me and others to access.

[colonelrabin.livejournal.com]

In this case, the verbs "рисковать, рискнуть" seem to be more suitable. "Сметь" can be used if one has preferrably to overcome some internal, personal barriers, the barriers in one's mind. If you're talking about external circumstances, "рискнуть" might be a more precise translation.

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

Thanks... I'm talking about an external barrier (a bad cold and sore throat). I didn't know that I could use рисковать, рискнуть in this context.

[crunge.livejournal.com]

сметь=осмеливаться
i think it would be better to use the verb "осмеливаться" instead of "сметь" - they've got the same meaning but it seems like "осмеливаться" is better here from the point of stylistics:
Сейчас я не осмеливаюсь куда-либо ехать.

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

Thanks - the form осмеливаться wasn't even on my radar:)

[cheytobot.livejournal.com]

сметь = осмеливаться = решаться = дерзать.
I think, better is "Ну, сейчас я не решусь поехать никуда"

[harmonoisit.livejournal.com]

I would say:
Ну, сейчас я бы не решилась куда-то поехать.

"Well" here would be best translated with "ну". "но" is "but".