хорошая попытка
khoroshaya popytka
The English phrase "nice try" is translated into Russian as хорошая попытка (khoroshaya popytka).
The phrase хорошая попытка is frequently used sarcastically to mock someone's failed attempt at something, like in English.
Meaning: Translations (intj)
Which one should you use?
неплохая попытка can be used as a slightly more understated alternative to хорошая попытка, meaning "not a bad try".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the feminine form of the adjective хорошая to agree with the feminine noun попытка.
How do you pronounce it?
khoroshaya popytka
Did you know?
- The root of the word попытка comes from the verb пытать, which can mean both 'to try' and 'to torture'.
- If you want to be even more dismissive than saying хорошая попытка, you could say ну, попытка засчитана, which literally translates to 'well, the attempt is counted'.
- In informal online gaming culture in Russia, players might use the English loanword 'nice' transliterated into Cyrillic rather than the Russian 'хорошая' to express the same sarcastic sentiment.
Examples in context
- Это была хорошая попытка.Eto byla khoroshaya popytka.That was a nice try.
- Хорошая попытка, но не в этот раз.Khoroshaya popytka, no ne v etot raz.Nice try, but not this time.
Example conversation
Dmitry tries to sneak a piece of cake when Maria is not looking.
- Дмитрий DmitryОй, я просто смотрел на торт.Oy, ya prosto smotrel na tort.Oh, I was just looking at the cake.
- Мария MariaХорошая попытка, Дмитрий, но я всё видела.Khoroshaya popytka, Dmitriy, no ya vsyo videla.Nice try, Dmitry, but I saw everything.
- Дмитрий DmitryЛадно, я сдаюсь.Ladno, ya sdayus'.Fine, I give up.
- Мария MariaПомой руки и тогда ешь.Pomoy ruki i togda yesh'.Wash your hands and then eat.
