не лезь не в своё дело
ne lez' ne v svoyo delo
The English phrase "mind your own business" is translated into Russian as не лезь не в своё дело (ne lez' ne v svoyo delo).
This phrase is used as a sharp command to tell someone to stop interfering in matters that do not concern them.
Which one should you use?
While не лезь не в своё дело is a sharp command, you may also use Не вмешивайся в мои дела, which is an informal and forceful way to tell someone not to meddle in your affairs.
How do you pronounce it?
ne lez' ne v svoyo delo
Did you know?
- The verb лезть used in the phrase literally means 'to climb' or 'to crawl'. When you tell someone не лезь, you are figuratively telling them to stop climbing into places where they do not belong.
- Russian speakers may use a shorter, more vulgar version of this sentiment that replaces дело with slang for 'nose'.
- The word дело in this phrase shares a common ancestor with the English words 'do', 'deed', and 'doom', all stemming from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to put' or 'to place'.
Examples in context
- Не лезь не в своё дело.Mind your own business!This example shows the direct command не лезь не в своё дело.Tatoeba #3030703 by marafon, translation #16996 by CK
- "Да я просто спросил". – "Не лезь не в своё дело"."I was just asking a question." "Mind your own business."This example shows how to respond to someone claiming they were just asking a question by using не лезь не в своё дело.Tatoeba #4068027 by marafon, translation #3301010 by Hybrid
- Не вмешивайся в мои делаDon't meddle in my affairs.
Example conversation
Andrey asks Maria about her private finances.
- Мария MariaСколько ты зарабатываешь в месяц?Skol'ko ty zarabatyvaesh' v mesyats?How much do you earn per month?
- Андрей AndreyАндрей, не лезь не в своё дело!Andrey, ne lez' ne v svoyo delo!Andrey, mind your own business!
- Мария MariaЯ просто хотел помочь с бюджетом.Ya prosto khotel pomoch' s byudzhetom.I just wanted to help with the budget.
- Андрей AndreyЭто мои личные дела.Eto moi lichnye dela.These are my private matters.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries в, дело, не, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
