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Question about a phrase
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Posted by: mistermopar

Hey everyone,
I keep getting this phrase in many letters from differant ladies.

Чем Вы заняты?
Now it translates into "Than you are borrowed?"

What do they really mean by this,I have figured out alot of stuff in letters but this one has me stumped,maybe it is so easy I don't see it and I am looking into it to much?

Thanks,
Randy

Posted by: EasyTarget

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

Hey everyone,

Чем Вы заняты?
Now it translates into "Than you are borrowed?"

I think it is -- What are you?

Posted by: bingism

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

Hey everyone,
I keep getting this phrase in many letters from differant ladies.

Чем Вы заняты?
Now it translates into "Than you are borrowed?"

What do they really mean by this,I have figured out alot of stuff in letters but this one has me stumped,maybe it is so easy I don't see it and I am looking into it to much?

Thanks,
Randy

"What are you doing?"

directly more like "What are you busy with?"

Posted by: Ms.Smarty Pants

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

Thanks,
Randy

Hi Mistermopar! Could you write more context with this question. I think, that somebody wants to ask you about your job. Russians ask each other about job: "Чем занимаешься? Где работаешь?" "What are you doing for a living?"

"Чем Вы заняты?":
- What are you doing right now?
- Are you busy now?
This translation is good with onlain/phone connection.

Posted by: markgm

Nat uses this in some of her sentences when we are talking i have always thought of it as being

what are you busy with now

But ms smarty pants would know better than me and she is right would need more of the sentence.

Posted by: firemansam

When Anna uses this phrase, she is asking me about being busy with something or other. ie. Work, children, cooking etc

If she sends me an SMS whilst I am cooking, and I tell her that I am cooking, she will reply something like, I am sorry that I have interupted you while you were borrowed with cooking....

Posted by: mistermopar

Thank you to everyone that has replied to my question.

I now understand the meaning of this phrase.

They are asking what am I doing,what am I busy with.

Thanks again everyone for your help,this is what a great site like the RPM is knowen for,to help one another in a time of need.

Randy

Posted by: scotch

Hey Randy dude,

This is a good page that cites your phrase:

http://www.rubricon.com/ava_ann/..%...Cw%5Cw62148.asp

Looks like it is similar in meaning to:

"что вы делаете?"

and it's also a good site for looking up other stuff too.

have fun!

scotch.

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

Hey Randy dude,

This is a good page that cites your phrase:

http://www.rubricon.com/ava_ann/..%...Cw%5Cw62148.asp

Looks like it is similar in meaning to:

"что вы делаете?"

and it's also a good site for looking up other stuff too.

have fun!

scotch.

Thanks Scotch,very interesting site.I am going to have to look at it some more,could be very usefull.

Randy