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[maisondetranger.livejournal.com]

What are the possible translation or equivalents of "чур"?
I seem to understand the word in context, but can't find one translation that fits all meanings..
Thanks

Comments

[oryx_and_crake]

can't find one translation that fits all meanings
----
You will not find it for most of the words. So, you have to specify the particular context in which you want a translation. In most cases probably no word will correspond to "чур" directly. This is how translation works.

[oryx_and_crake]

Maybe this will help
http://www.multitran.ru/c/m.exe?a=phr&s=%F7%F3%F0&sc=0&L1=2&L2=1

[maisondetranger.livejournal.com]

good point)
what I heard yesterday was "я не это говорила чур" and when asked how "чур" would translate, I was given the example that when kids play hide-and-seek, they also use this word..

[oryx_and_crake]

"я не это говорила чур"

This does not sound very Russian to me. If I understand correctly what they meant, it should be something like "чур, я этого не говорила".

[maisondetranger.livejournal.com]

So what would "чур, я этого не говорила" mean?

[oryx_and_crake]

Something like "I did not say that, you have not heard that"

[maisondetranger.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[anatolium.livejournal.com]

when you put "чур" in the beginning
it sounds more russian than putting it at the end of the sentence (in this particular case)

nevertheless you may put it at the end. the meaning is the same

[yozhevich.livejournal.com]

None of those are remotely helpful to me. :) Perhaps they're translations into British English...

My good ol' Oxford 2000 gives me this definition:
чур: int. (coll.) keep away!, mind out!, чур меня! (in children's games, etc.) keep away from me!

From online.multilex.ru:
чур межд. разг.
mind!, keep away!; (в игре) keep away from me!
чур молчать! — keep mum about it!; mum's the word!

[oryx_and_crake]

Never heard it at the end of a sentence, or even in the middle.

The typical usage is

- Чур меня!
- Чур, моё!
- Чур, [не] я!
- Чур, не игра!

[oryx_and_crake]

That's more or less OK but your dictionary missed a whole lot of usage cases, all of which are covered by Multitran:

- Чур, моё!
- Чур, [не] я!
- Чур, не игра!

By the way, "Чур меня!" is NOT from children's games at all. It is an exclamation generally used by people when they were scared, especially with something supernatural. It means something like "Chur,[save] me!" and comes from the name of an ancient Slavonic god Chur (Shchur). In fact, when you say "Чур меня!" or "Чур, моё!" - you ask this god for protection or call him to witness that the thing in question (possibly found by you together with someone else) is rightfully yours. (This second usage is what Multitran translates as "Bags!" - short, I daresay, from "I bag it!")

[maisondetranger.livejournal.com]

It was used by someone who's as Russian as it gets. and just as educated too.

[oryx_and_crake]

Well, take it or leave it, as they say. I just gave you my opinion, for what it's worth.

[anatolium.livejournal.com]

I can imagine any variant.

-меня, чур, не трогать.

as for the end of a sentence I agree, but in some cases it may happen.

[oryx_and_crake]

Yes, this sounds OK.

As to the end of the sentence, I cannot think of any except for "Чур меня, чур!" which is actually a set phrase.

[maisondetranger.livejournal.com]

and thank you for your answer. I was just continuing the discussion..

[geish-a.livejournal.com]

Does "bags it!" sound familiar?

[arvi.livejournal.com]

"away" is the closest.

[oryx_and_crake]

Definitely not. How would you translate "Чур, моё" or "Чур, не я!" with "away"? It just does not make sense.

[taraslive.livejournal.com]

Chur is not a god!! Chur is shortage of prashur - ancestor.

[arvi.livejournal.com]

"Away, (its) mine!" and "Away, not me!" aren't exact translations. But makes some sence...

No other single word has closer meaning. And thats was the question.

[oryx_and_crake]

Gods and ancestors were practically the same thing then.

[oryx_and_crake]

For practically any Russian word, it is not possible to find a single English equivalent covering all its meanings. So, any attempt to do that is just a waste of time.

[arvi.livejournal.com]

> it is not possible to find a single English equivalent

Agree. But some people want this. Look at this cry for help "but can't find one translation that fits all meanings.."

And, usially, simple rules like дерево=tree, чай=tee helps newbie. But this wordplay doesn't obsolete dictionaries. ;-)

So, if you know the closest (closer then "away"), just tell us. Or don't flood.

[oryx_and_crake]

So what if they ask for it? It does not exist. Period. If I ask you for a philosopher's stone, will you find it for me? Probably not because it does not exist no matter how I cry for it.