What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "to me this is pleasing". The word мне is the dative form of "I" (я), meaning "to me". The verb нравится means "is pleasing" or "pleases".
Which one should you use?
мне это нравится is used for general liking or finding something agreeable. In contrast, if you want to express a much stronger, more passionate affection, you would use the phrase я это люблю (I love it).
How does it change in a sentence?
The construction uses the dative case because the thing being liked is actually the subject performing the action of "pleasing" the person. Therefore, the person is expressed as мне (to me). The verb нравится is in the third-person singular form because the subject of the sentence is это (it).
How do you pronounce it?
mne eto nravitsya
Did you know?
- While English uses 'like' for both objects and people, using нравится for a person often implies a physical attraction or a liking of their personality rather than deep love.
- The word мне descends from the Old East Slavic мънѣ, which originates from the Proto-Slavic root *mьně.
- In Russian, the object you like is actually the 'actor' of the sentence. When you say мне это нравится, you are grammatically stating that 'this' is performing the action of 'pleasing' you.
Examples in context
- Идёт снег, и мне это нравится.It's snowing and I like it.This sentence shows how to use мне это нравится to describe a reaction to weather.Tatoeba #12252857 by marafon, translation #12213506 by Miktsoanit
- Тони сказал: "Мне это нравится".Tony said, "I like it."This sentence uses мне это нравится within a reported speech context.Tatoeba #4522944 by Sweatled, translation #465010 by CN
- Сейчас мне это нравится больше, чем раньше.I like it better now that I'm used to it.This sentence demonstrates using мне это нравится to compare current feelings to the past.Tatoeba #5072125 by sharptoothed, translation #21034 by CK
- Мне это нравится немного.I like it a little bit.
- Я люблю кофе.I like coffee.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Sergey are looking at a painting in a gallery.
- Мария MariaПосмотри на эту картину, мне это нравится.Posmotri na etu kartinu, mne eto nravitsya.Look at this painting, I like it.
- Сергей SergeyДа, цвета очень красивые.Da, tsveta ochen krasivye.Yes, the colors are very beautiful.
- Мария MariaЯ хочу купить что-то похожее.Ya khochu kupit chto-to pokhozhye.I want to buy something similar.
- Сергей SergeyЭто отличная идея, Мария.Eto otlichnaya ideya, Mariya.That is a great idea, Maria.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries мне, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
