Bedeutung
Losing one's mind or patience.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The theme of 'going crazy' is central to Russian 19th-century literature. Characters like Raskolnikov or Hermann (The Queen of Spades) often 'сошли с ума' due to moral dilemmas or obsession. The phrase is a staple in Russian pop and rock. The band t.A.T.u. had a global hit 'Я сошла с ума' (All the things she said), which brought the idiom to international ears. Russians use 'С ума сойти!' as a filler of sorts to show they are listening and are engaged in your story. It's a sign of empathy and active listening. Russian parents often use this phrase to express the exhaustion of childcare, but usually in a semi-joking, affectionate way.
Use it as a reaction
If you don't know what to say to a shocking story, just say 'С ума сойти!' with a surprised face. It makes you sound very native.
Watch the Aspect
Use 'сходить' for 'I am currently losing it' and 'сойти' for 'I just lost it' or 'I will lose it'.
Bedeutung
Losing one's mind or patience.
Use it as a reaction
If you don't know what to say to a shocking story, just say 'С ума сойти!' with a surprised face. It makes you sound very native.
Watch the Aspect
Use 'сходить' for 'I am currently losing it' and 'сойти' for 'I just lost it' or 'I will lose it'.
Love vs. Madness
In Russian, being 'crazy about someone' (сходить по кому-то с ума) is a very common and positive way to express deep interest.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'сходить' or 'сойти'.
Я ___ с ума от этой громкой музыки! Выключи её!
The speaker is currently experiencing the stress, so the present tense imperfective 'схожу' is correct.
Which preposition is used to say you are crazy 'about' someone?
Он сходит с ума ___ ней.
'По' + Dative is the standard way to indicate the object of obsession.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You just found out your favorite band is coming to your city.
This is the perfect exclamation for shocking, happy news.
Complete the dialogue.
- Ты слышал? Билеты стоят 500 евро! - ___! Это слишком дорого.
Used here to express disbelief at a high price.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenЯ ___ с ума от этой громкой музыки! Выключи её!
The speaker is currently experiencing the stress, so the present tense imperfective 'схожу' is correct.
Он сходит с ума ___ ней.
'По' + Dative is the standard way to indicate the object of obsession.
Situation: You just found out your favorite band is coming to your city.
This is the perfect exclamation for shocking, happy news.
- Ты слышал? Билеты стоят 500 евро! - ___! Это слишком дорого.
Used here to express disbelief at a high price.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenGenerally, no. It's used figuratively. However, don't use it to describe someone with an actual mental illness, as that can be insensitive.
Only as an exclamation if the interviewer tells you something truly shocking, but it's better to use 'Это поразительно' (That's striking) to stay professional.
Use 'от' for the cause (from noise, from heat). Use 'по' for the object of your affection or obsession (about him, about football).
In slang, people just say 'С ума сойти!' or even just 'Очуметь!' (a related slang term).
'Я сумасшедший' means 'I am a crazy person' (a noun/adjective). 'Я схожу с ума' is the action of losing your mind.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Сводить с ума
specialized formTo drive someone crazy.
Выжить из ума
similarTo become senile.
Уму непостижимо
builds onInconceivable.
Поехать кукухой
synonymTo go nuts (slang).
