"I feel sorry for you."

[david-us.livejournal.com]

How would a Russian say, "I feel sorry for you," in a derisive context?

This phrase is often used when commenting to somebody who has behaved in a deplorable manner.  

I do not mean, "I feel sorry for you" in the context of, for instance, your grandmother just died.

I'm wondering if it would be, Мне жаль тебя.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Comments

[sandy-soul.livejournal.com]

You may say Сочувствую and show an irony by voice

[arashi-opera.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly, if you mean to say it in a slightly contemptuous manner.

[en-jamais-vu.livejournal.com]

Мне жаль тебя - will be correct. The only difference between this and literal meaning will be the intonation.
You can also say "Ты жалок". This will literally mean - "You are miserable"

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your contribution. Please note that the working language in this community is English. It is OK to occasionally post and/or comment in Russian, but you are expected to provide translation.

[sandy-soul.livejournal.com]

sorry)

[sandy-soul.livejournal.com]

"ты жалок" expresses just condemnation

[nowhere-person.livejournal.com]

Мне вас жаль (http://lurkmore.ru/%D0%9C%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%81_%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C)

[konstkaras.livejournal.com]

I guess, the closest expressions in Russian are rhetorical questions, such as "Ты что? Что ты натворил? Зачем ты это сделал? Ты что, с ума сошёл?" (or with any colloquial synonyms for craze).

[nowhere-person.livejournal.com]

These questions don't imply any irony, just condemnation.

[chaosmalefic.livejournal.com]

Ктулху фхтагн!

[konstkaras.livejournal.com]

Can you show me any Russian phrase, that couldn't be said with irony?:)

[nowhere-person.livejournal.com]

I hardly can imagine the latter 3 of your questions with ironic tinge. The first I can, but with other meaning, implying rather a bit of distrust.

[chaosmalefic.livejournal.com]

мне вас/тебя жаль

[chaosmalefic.livejournal.com]

why are you wondering, tovarish?

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

First warning. This is a no-fun community. Second warning means ban, effective forever, no reconsideration.

[karakal.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on the particular sentence/situation the phrase is taken from.
In addition to what has already been said, I could guess "И тебе не стыдно?" or other similar versions.
If no irony is implied, "Мне стыдно за тебя" can also be ok in certain situations.

[karakal.livejournal.com]

...or other similar versions are ok, I mean :)

[konstkaras.livejournal.com]

I guess, "тебе не стыдно?" seems to be a phrase of upbringiung context, and may be used by parents addressing children or such unequal persons. Any other use implies irony.

[karakal.livejournal.com]

Depends on intonation.

[seraph6.livejournal.com]

"Мне стыдно за тебя" - I second that.

[karakal.livejournal.com]

There are no single universal translations of phrases from one language into another. A translation can vary depending on the situation, context, intotantion, writing style etc.

[karakal.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry, my comment wasn't intended for you.

[zuka1.livejournal.com]

Тебя можно только пожалеть
Сочуствую
Мне тебя жаль
Тяжелый случай

[malim-praedari.livejournal.com]

"Сочувствую!" is the best option. (It literally means "I empathize".) The tone has to be appropriately acerbic.