ты мне очень нравишься
ty mne ochen' nravish'sya
The English phrase "I really like you" is translated into Russian as ты мне очень нравишься (ty mne ochen' nravish'sya).
This phrase is used to express romantic attraction or a strong fondness for another person.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "you to me very much are pleasing".
Which one should you use?
While this phrase can be used for friends, it is the standard way to express romantic interest or attraction.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this construction, the person being liked is the grammatical subject (nominative case), while the person feeling the liking is in the dative case (мне).
How do you pronounce it?
ty mne ochen' nravish'sya
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse "like" and "love" in this context. In Russian, ты мне нравишься is used for liking or attraction, whereas я тебя люблю is a much stronger declaration of love.
Did you know?
- The word ты (you) is a cognate of the English word 'thee', as both descend from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root.
- The word ты is a singular, informal pronoun. If you were expressing attraction to someone you do not know well or wish to show formal respect to, you would need to change the entire grammatical structure to use вы.
- Because the person being liked is the subject, the verb нравишься must change its ending to match the person you are talking to, rather than matching the person speaking.
Examples in context
- Я просто хочу, чтобы ты знал, что ты мне очень нравишься.I just want you to know that I really like you.This sentence is useful for showing how to express a desire to share one's feelings using ты мне очень нравишься.Tatoeba #7340552 by marafon, translation #2374070 by CK
- Ты мне очень нравишься.I really like you.This is a direct way to say "I really like you" using ты мне очень нравишься.Tatoeba #782759 by verter, translation #953585 by CK
- У меня к тебе теплые чувства.I have warm feelings for you.
- Знаешь, ты мне очень нравишься.Znaesh', ty mne ochen' nravish'sya.You know, I really like you.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Olga and Sergey are walking in a park during sunset.
- Ольга OlgaСергей, ты мне очень нравишься.Sergey, ty mne ochen' nravish'sya.Sergey, I really like you.
- Сергей SergeyОльга, это так приятно слышать!Ol'ga, eto tak priyatno slyshat'!Olga, that is so lovely to hear!
- Ольга OlgaЯ долго не решалась сказать.Ya dolgo ne reshalas' skazat'.I haven't dared to say it for a long time.
- Сергей SergeyТы мне тоже очень нравишься.Ty mne tozhe ochen' nravish'sya.I really like you too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries мне, очень, ты, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
