{"id":15165,"date":"2022-05-18T14:16:30","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T14:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=15165"},"modified":"2022-05-18T14:16:30","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T14:16:30","slug":"monasteries-eyeliner-and-poverty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/monasteries-eyeliner-and-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"Monasteries, eyeliner, and poverty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is a deep dive into one Russian verb. Recently one of my students and I were casually talking about ways to express in English that you \u201c<\/strong><\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0451\u043b<\/span> \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e<\/span>–<\/span>\u0442\u043e<\/span><\/strong>\u201d<\/strong> (as in \u2018to let someone down\u2019) when it dawned on me that I don\u2019t know why we use \u201c<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/span><\/b>\u201d in that sense in Russian. What I thought would be a simple google search ended up being a very exhilarating trip into the world of idioms and language history.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"eyeliner\"

\u0424\u043e\u0442\u043e \u0430\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0430 Eugene Liashchevskyi: Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n

Let\u2019s start with the basics. Here are some <\/span>definitions<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span> of the verb \u2018<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b>\u2019<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>First and foremost, <\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b> means to lead someone close to a certain place with you. What’s the difference between \u043f\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/strong> and \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/strong> then? \u041f\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/strong> is just to lead someone while \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/strong> has an added element of bringing the person really close to something. \u0421ompare:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u041e\u043d\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043b\u0430 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0437\u0430 \u0441\u043e\u0431\u043e\u0439 \u0432 \u0431\u0438\u0431\u043b\u0438\u043e\u0442\u0435\u043a\u0443. She took me to the library with her.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u041e\u043d \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0451\u043b \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u043a \u0437\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0440\u0443 \u0438 \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u043b \u0433\u0434\u0435 \u0441\u043e\u0431\u0430\u043a\u0430 \u0432\u044b\u0440\u044b\u043b\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0434.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

He led me to the fence and showed where the dog dug a way out.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>\u041f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438 \u0441\u0447\u0435\u0442\u0430 \u0438\u043b\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438 \u0438\u0442\u043e\u0433\u0438 \u2013 <\/span>to<\/span> sum<\/span> up<\/span> or<\/span> to<\/span> recap<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0414\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0439\u0442\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043c \u0438\u0442\u043e\u0433\u0438 \u0441\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0434\u043d\u044f\u0448\u043d\u0435\u0433\u043e \u0443\u0440\u043e\u043a\u0430. <\/span><\/i>Let\u2019s recap today\u2019s lesson. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>\u041f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0437\u0430 \u043a\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0430\u0448\u043e\u043c \u2013 <\/span>to<\/span> use<\/span> eyeliner<\/span><\/p>\n

\u041a\u0430\u043a \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0438\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0437\u0430 \u043a\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0430\u0448\u043e\u043c? <\/span><\/i>How to apply eyeliner?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Moreover, we even have a derivative noun \u201c<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u043e\u0434\u043a\u0430<\/b>\u201d which simply means \u201ceyeliner\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u041a\u0430\u043a<\/span><\/i> \u0432\u044b\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/span><\/i> \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u043e\u0434\u043a\u0443<\/span><\/i> \u0434\u043b\u044f<\/span><\/i> \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0437<\/span><\/i>? How to choose eyeliner?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Now onto the figurative meaning: <\/span><\/h4>\n

\u041f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/span><\/b> \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e<\/span><\/b>–<\/span>\u0442\u043e<\/span><\/b> is a pretty standard way to say \u2018to let someone down\u2019. It does not mean <\/span>\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/span><\/b>, which is \u2018to betray\u2019. Other ways to think of this verb is in a sense \u201cto drop the ball\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u042f \u043e\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0451\u043b \u0441\u0432\u043e\u044e \u0433\u0440\u0443\u043f\u043f\u0443 \u0441 \u044d\u0442\u0438\u043c \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0435\u043a\u0442\u043e\u043c.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

I really dropped the ball on this project or I really let my team down with this project.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The official definition is \u201c<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u043e\u0436\u0438\u0434\u0430\u043d\u043d\u043e<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0432\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/span> \u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e<\/span>–<\/span>\u0442\u043e<\/span> \u0432<\/span> \u0437\u0430\u0442\u0440\u0443\u0434\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435<\/span>, <\/span>\u043d\u0435\u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0435<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435<\/span> \u043a\u0430\u043a\u0438\u043c\u0438<\/span>–<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0431\u0443\u0434\u044c<\/span> \u0434\u0435\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u044f\u043c\u0438<\/span>\u201d (when your actions put someone in a difficult and uncomfortable situation).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u041e\u043d \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u043e\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u043b: \u043e\u0431\u0435\u0449\u0430\u043b \u0438 \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0448\u0435\u043b.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

He really let me down. He promised to come but never did.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"to

\u0424\u043e\u0442\u043e \u0430\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0430 Thirdman: Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All the dictionaries online just stated that <\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b> was a figurative meaning \u201cto let someone down\u201d but no explanation as to why that is. I just felt like there was a piece of the puzzle missing because on its own <\/span><\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b> made little sense. I wanted to add a \u201clocation\u201d, as if the person is literally <\/i>lead to a place that will be uncomfortable and difficult, i.e. <\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b> \u043a\u0443\u0434\u0430<\/span><\/b>–<\/span>\u0442\u043e<\/span><\/b> \u0438\u043b\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b> \u043a<\/span><\/b> \u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

And I think my linguistic gut feeling was right because I found an idiom <\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b> \u043f\u043e\u0434<\/span><\/b> \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0440\u044c<\/span><\/b> <\/b>and this great in-depth paper that <\/span>\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0432\u0438\u043b\u0430<\/span> \u0432\u0441\u0451<\/span> \u043f\u043e<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430\u043c<\/span><\/strong> (put everything in its place). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u041f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0434 \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0440\u044c: origins<\/h4>\n

This wonderful person named Zhujkova M. V. wrote a lot about the <\/span>Dynamic Processes in the Idiomatic Systems of Eastern Slavic Languages<\/a><\/span><\/span> but you can read further about this one idiom on pages 130-146. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s <\/span>the actual link<\/a><\/span><\/span>. I just couldn\u2019t resist not <\/em>rickrolling you1<\/a><\/sup>\ud83d\ude42<\/span>. Anyway, here are the main takeaways from that chapter of Zhujkova\u2019s study.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"monastery\"

\u0424\u043e\u0442\u043e \u0430\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0430 Vincent Rivaud: Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n

The figurative meaning of the verb <\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b> has originated from Ukrainian. There are used to be a lot of phrases that talked about people having to beg for money and food under the walls of monasteries or churches because that’s what people used to do when they lost money or property. Zhujkova provides examples in Ukrainian that would translate to <\/span>\u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0434<\/span> \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0440\u0435\u043c<\/span>, <\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0442\u044c<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0434<\/span> \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0440\u0435\u043c<\/span>, <\/span>\u0443\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0434<\/span> \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0440\u044c<\/span>, etc<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> She also talks about how people used to say that something or somebody led them to live a life of poverty and therefore beg for money and food under the walls of monasteries<\/span>.<\/span> In other words, <\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0439\u0442\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0434<\/span> \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0440\u044c<\/span><\/strong> became associated with \u2018<\/span><\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/span> \u043d\u0438\u0449\u0438\u043c<\/span><\/strong>\u20192<\/a><\/sup>become poor<\/span>. Losing one\u2019s wealth or possessions would be a very devastating situation and therefore gave these phrases a very negative tone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although no longer a popular idiom, \u2018<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0434 \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0440\u044c\u2019<\/span><\/a><\/span> has essentially the same meaning as the verb <\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/b> on its own. Have you used this verb before or heard it being used? <\/span><\/span>There is a popular Ukrainian <\/span>song<\/a><\/span><\/span> that goes \u201c\u0422\u0438 \u0436 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0456\u0434\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0430, <\/span>\u0442\u0438<\/span> \u0436<\/span> \u043c\u0435\u043d\u0435<\/span> \u043f\u0456\u0434\u0432\u0435\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u201d?<\/span>3<\/a><\/sup>In Russian that would be \u201c<\/span>\u0422\u044b<\/span> \u0436<\/span> \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/span> \u043e\u0431\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0430<\/span>, <\/span>\u0422\u044b<\/span> \u0436<\/span> \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u201d (You lied to me, you let me down).<\/span><\/span> Perhaps next time you hear it you might just be thinking of the interesting origins of the verb <\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking for more deep dives into Russian verbs or nouns? See similar blogs here:<\/p>\n

Patience \u00e0 la russe<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n