Signification
To be deeply affected by something.
Contexte culturel
Slovenians value 'skromnost' (modesty). If someone praises you, taking it 'k srcu' too much might be seen as arrogant, but taking criticism 'k srcu' is seen as a sign of a sensitive, good person. In many neighboring cultures (Austrian, Italian), the heart is the center of social ethics. Taking something to heart implies a moral obligation to improve. In the broader Balkan context, emotional expression is often more outward. However, the Slovenian 'vzeti si k srcu' often implies a more quiet, internal suffering. In modern business Slovenian, this phrase is used to soften the blow of 'constructive feedback' (konstruktivna kritika).
The 'Si' Secret
Always remember the 'si'. If you say 'vzeti k srcu', it sounds like you are physically moving an object toward a heart. 'Si' makes it personal.
Don't Overuse
If you say you take *everything* to heart, people might think you are too dramatic. Use it for things that actually matter.
Signification
To be deeply affected by something.
The 'Si' Secret
Always remember the 'si'. If you say 'vzeti k srcu', it sounds like you are physically moving an object toward a heart. 'Si' makes it personal.
Don't Overuse
If you say you take *everything* to heart, people might think you are too dramatic. Use it for things that actually matter.
Perfective vs Imperfective
Use 'vzeti' (perfective) for a specific event. Use 'jemati' (imperfective) when talking about a personality trait (e.g., 'He always takes things to heart').
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing reflexive pronoun and the noun in the correct case.
Ne vzemi ___ k ___ (srce).
The idiom requires 'si' and the dative case 'srcu'.
Which sentence means 'Don't take it personally'?
Izberi pravilen odgovor:
Option 'a' is the only grammatically correct version of the idiom.
Match the situation to the correct response.
Situation: Your friend is sad because someone called their painting ugly.
You use the negative form to comfort someone.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Moj šef je rekel, da sem počasen. B: On je vedno tečen. Nikar si tega ne ___ k srcu.
The imperative 'vzemi' is used for giving advice to a friend (ti).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesNe vzemi ___ k ___ (srce).
The idiom requires 'si' and the dative case 'srcu'.
Izberi pravilen odgovor:
Option 'a' is the only grammatically correct version of the idiom.
Situation: Your friend is sad because someone called their painting ugly.
You use the negative form to comfort someone.
A: Moj šef je rekel, da sem počasen. B: On je vedno tečen. Nikar si tega ne ___ k srcu.
The imperative 'vzemi' is used for giving advice to a friend (ti).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo. While it often refers to being hurt by criticism, it can also mean taking good advice very seriously.
Not really. We don't 'take positive news to heart' in the same way. For positive things, we might say 'to me je pogrelo srce' (that warmed my heart).
'Sekirati se' is more informal and means 'to worry/stress'. 'Vzeti si k srcu' is more about the emotional impact and the depth of the feeling.
The most natural translation is 'Ne vzemi si k srcu' or 'Ne vzemi tega osebno'.
Because the preposition 'k' always requires the dative case in Slovenian.
Yes, especially during performance reviews or when discussing company values.
No, that would be 'boli me pri srcu' or 'imam bolečine v prsnem košu'.
Younger people might say 'Ne se dajat na srce' or just 'Ne se bedirat'.
Often, yes. If you take advice to heart, the expectation is that you will act on it.
Yes, e.g., 'On si je to vzel k srcu' (He took that to heart).
Expressions liées
imeti na srcu
similarto have something on one's mind/heart that they want to say
iz dna srca
builds onfrom the bottom of the heart
imeti trdo kožo
contrastto have thick skin
gnati si k srcu
specialized formto worry excessively about something
