Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Bulgarian term or phrase:
не го бива
English translation:
he is no good for anything [anymore]
Added to glossary by
Pavel Tsvetkov
Jun 24, 2008 15:56
15 yrs ago
Bulgarian term
United States
Quality translations at reasonable rates
Native in: English 
Works in: Russian to English, Bulgarian to English
не го бива
Bulgarian to English
Medical
Psychology
This is from a questionnaire regarding a patient's condition. The full sentence is: "Казва, че не го/я бива." My working translation is "Says he/she isn't up to the mark" or maybe "doesn't feel well." But neither seems quite right.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | he/she is no good for anything anymore |
Pavel Tsvetkov
|
| 5 +1 | ... has not been feeling really well lately" |
Efrosina Perry
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Change log
Jun 25, 2008 04:52: Pavel Tsvetkov Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
2 hrs
Pavel Tsvetkov
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Native in Bulgarian
&
English
Works in field
Bulgaria
Good Gets Better
Native in: Bulgarian (Variant: Standard-Bulgaria) 
, English (Variants: US, UK)
Works in: English to Bulgarian, Bulgarian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
he/she is no good for anything anymore
When sb says "не ме бива" it is a more serious statement than the simple "I do not feel well".
It is usually used by old people who have problem standing up, walking, remembering the names of those closest to them, etc - and seeing that "they are half the people they used to be", they - as a result of this comparison (I can no longer do what used to be so easy), start to complain that "не ме бива вече".
It is a general expression of the existential despair of old age or grave illness.
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Note added at 12 hrs (2008-06-25 04:50:25 GMT) Post-grading
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Благодаря за избора!
It is usually used by old people who have problem standing up, walking, remembering the names of those closest to them, etc - and seeing that "they are half the people they used to be", they - as a result of this comparison (I can no longer do what used to be so easy), start to complain that "не ме бива вече".
It is a general expression of the existential despair of old age or grave illness.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2008-06-25 04:50:25 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Благодаря за избора!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
invguy
: Excellent explanation - and right on target!
22 mins
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Благодаря, оценявам!
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| agree |
Yavor Dimitrov
: Or 'He says he is fit for nothing anymore.'
36 mins
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Благодаря!
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| agree |
Denka Momkova
: определено е по-подходящо (or the variants provided)!
2 hrs
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Благодаря!
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| neutral |
Efrosina Perry
: would that be part of a medical documentation? it seems too coloquial.
3 hrs
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It would - to the same degree in which "Казва, че не го/я бива." can be used in a medical questionaire. I guess we wil have to take Mr McVay's word for it. :)
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Excellent explanation. Thanks! I was a little less colloquial in my translation: Says he/she is no good for anything.
BTW, this was from a back translation of a questionnaire for use by a nurse to evaluate a patient's state of mind."
+1
8 mins
Efrosina Perry
United States
United States
Native in Bulgarian
Works in field
United States
Experience, Quality & Reliability
Native in: Bulgarian
Works in: Bulgarian to English, English to Bulgarian
... has not been feeling really well lately"
That is what I'd say if I were doing the translation.
Discussion