Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
кому война, а кому (и) мать родна
English translation:
To some war is hell, to others, a kindly mother
Added to glossary by
Clive Wilshin
Aug 18, 2010 16:24
14 yrs ago
7 viewers *
Russian term
Translations that read like originals
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, French to English
кому война, а кому (и) мать родна
Russian to English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
I can find lots of examples of this phrase, but no clear explanation of the meaning. It appears to mean something like "one man's problem is another man's opportunity", but I never like guessing when someone might know the answer.
http://tinyurl.com/2b24ajm
http://tinyurl.com/2b24ajm
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Aug 26, 2010 14:03: Alexander Ryshow changed "Field" from "Other" to "Art/Literary" , "Field (specific)" from "Other" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters"
Proposed translations
8 mins
Alexander Ryshow
Belarus
Belarus
Native in Russian
Specializes in field
Belarus
Aus Liebe zur Sprache
Native in: Russian 
, Belarusian
Works in: German to Russian, German to Belarusian, Russian to Belarusian, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
60
Selected
См.
# Translation: For some people war is war, for others - dear mother.
# Moral: Some people suffer of war; some people make a fortune off it.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Russian_proverbs
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Note added at 9 мин (2010-08-18 16:33:41 GMT)
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такой перевод и объяснение предлагает Вики
# Moral: Some people suffer of war; some people make a fortune off it.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Russian_proverbs
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Note added at 9 мин (2010-08-18 16:33:41 GMT)
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такой перевод и объяснение предлагает Вики
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I chose this answer mainly on the basis of the useful reference."
+2
4 mins
war kills some but benefits others
That's the most general meaning. War lets certain people fulfil their agendas, making some rich and others powerful.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
dennis_bg
54 mins
|
| agree |
Dorene Cornwell
: Sticking close to the text, For some people war is hell, for others, it's their mother's milk
11 hrs
|
+1
18 mins
war is death and wealth
It's a Cossack proverb.
Кому война, а кому мать родна (кому погибель, а кому - нажива на войне)
— http://pmr-kazaki.ucoz.ru/publ/3-1-0-25
"one man's problem is another man's opportunity" is a generalization.
Кому война, а кому мать родна (кому погибель, а кому - нажива на войне)
— http://pmr-kazaki.ucoz.ru/publ/3-1-0-25
"one man's problem is another man's opportunity" is a generalization.
15 hrs
Michael Korovkin
Italy
Italy
Native in Russian
&
English
Works in field
Italy
Native in: English , Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, Italian to Russian, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
128
one man's war is another man's good fortune
...
2 days 21 hrs
War to some, boon to others
That might do
Discussion