Блин!

[mister-mist.livejournal.com]

What is the exact meaning of the expression "блин!" that some people use to decorate their language? I suppose it is vulgar, but is it also offending? And what is the relation to the small delicious Russian food speciality with that name?

I hope that I can get a precise answer here. I have asked the question directly to a few Russian people, but they seem reluctant to answering and try to move the conversation away from the subject.

Спасибо всем! Thank you, everybody!
You have certainly given an elaborate explanation and improved my understanding.

Comments

[ceiteach.livejournal.com]

It's not offending but it's obsolete, at least formally is. The meaning is just the same as "ну вот!", "тьфу!" or "damn!" when the person is not happy with something. It is widely used.

[malim-praedari.livejournal.com]

Obsolete? Блин, my Russian is out of date!

[sombreadm.livejournal.com]

damn!

[pigmeich.livejournal.com]

Emmmm..

Hasn't 'damn' good meaning?

I'm not excellent in English nor Russian, of course.

[fiachasorcha.livejournal.com]

it's officially vulgar in one usage (i.e. damn! they ran out of muffins!) although it's on the low end

there is also the polite version (i.e. you've been damned to hell)

or as an emphatic (Damn! that's good coffee!)

but it isn't exactly something that should be used in a job interview

[shellesie.livejournal.com]

Блин! is an euphemism for the interjection БляДь! (some people write as Блять do distinguish it from a prostitute) or Бля! (short form), which is used like "Fuck!". Блин! is not such offensive like Бля! but it's a kind of slang.

[shellesie.livejournal.com]

... so Блин is used just because of first two letters, similar with Бля, and has no relation to food )

[crystal-cold.livejournal.com]

And also often it is used with adjective "горелый" (burn). So Блин Горелый is more expressive form then just Блин and has the relation with that food you've mentioned. Playing with words.

[archaicos.livejournal.com]

Well, there's this saying "первый блин комом" meaning that it's the normal deal to have the first pancake done wrong looking as a clod (because of lack of practice or the pan not being the right temperature/lubrication). Could be that 1st pancake.

[pigmeich.livejournal.com]

My dictionary don't contain an account for adjective 'burn'.

I'm not sure, again. I'm just couldn't translate 'горелый' as 'burn', only as 'burned'.

[crystal-cold.livejournal.com]

Yes, my mistake%) Was in a hurry when posted the last time:)
"Горелый" - overfried or burned to ashes.

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't agree. "Блин горелый"? That's some original research. I have never heard anyone use that.

[crystal-cold.livejournal.com]

Well, I won't debate, but I've heard it often:)

[pigmeich.livejournal.com]

Is it really?

I mean I never heard about Блин's etymology.

[shellesie.livejournal.com]

errr... why do you doubt? Блин or Бляха-муха instead of "other Бл", "Ёшкин кот" instead of "other Ё..." and so on.

[eloise-13.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's absolutely true. sort of a euphemism. my mum has always told me off for using "блин!" mainly because it's a substitute for an expletive.

[arashi-opera.livejournal.com]

It's just an emotional expression of annoyance, anger, etc. Close to English "damn!". It's an euphemism for a more obsolete word, but "блин" is not considered obsolete or offending. Also, it has no relation to "блин" as food.

[lucius-sergius.livejournal.com]

'Obsolete' means 'устаревший'. :) Are you confusing it with 'obscene' (непристойный)?

[arashi-opera.livejournal.com]

Yes. Mea culpa, must've been too much work. ^^'

[alka-zeltser.livejournal.com]

fuck or shit

[inoctiluci.livejournal.com]

I'd say more like "fudge" or "shucks" - it's a euphamism for an actual curse word, although used more widely than either one I mentioned is in English

[pigmeich.livejournal.com]

Блин isn't speciality! It's dish, not food! Esp with jam.

In general, you may substitute Блин with Err. It isn't precise, but very useful.

By the way,
please add "Blini s ikroi" to famous Russian symbols like matreshka and balalayka.

It's joke! Joke, don't hurt me!

[rodoss.livejournal.com]

"dammit!" is the best translation of "Блин!", I suppose.

[gera.livejournal.com]

"Блин!" is more socially acceptably substitute for the vulgar interjection "бля!".

Like "shoot!" for "shit!"

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

I'd say that "блин" is neither vulgar nor offending. It quite does not belong to formal and official language.
Some people might sorta look down on people who use "блин" as an expletive (parents could scold their children for the lack of culture), but it isn't an euphemism for "бля", if you ask me. It's the other way around. To say "бля" and act like you're all-out cool is a way of showing off, make oneself look mature, badass or something.
"Блин", when compared to "бля", seems to have lost much of its coolness either with country culture degradation or with myself growing up. :)

As other people pointed out, "shoot!" would be the closest translation.

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

"Блин", when compared to "бля", seems to have lost much of its coolness either with country culture degradation or with myself growing up. :)" — Disclaimer: I use neither of the words, but judge my surroundings :)

[ex-forest-l.livejournal.com]

Actually it's an euphemism for a word "блядь", which is an offensive form of 'bitch'. It was vulgar for the first five or six years, but now that a whole generation has grown up that doesn't immeadiately remember the Other word when people say "блин", it started meaning something like 'damn'.

[oryx_and_crake]

It was vulgar for the first five or six years
---
for the first five or six years of what?

[ex-forest-l.livejournal.com]

The first five or six years after the word was uttered on television. I think. At least it's not so impolite to say it these days. :)

[zveriozha.livejournal.com]

Expression "Блин!" is not too vulgar, it's similar to such ones as "Черт" or "елки-палки" (darn, damn). Usually shows moderate emotional reaction of the speaker to some events. It's not obsolete either - quite commonly used.

Sometimes it's used to make a sentence a bit more emotional or make it sound less formal.

Like - От, блин, какие интересные документы нам прислали! In such case the emotions don't have to be negative, the word "блин" can show interest or even admiration.

Блин, как тут красиво!