뜻
Finding it hard to speak the truth.
문화적 배경
The phrase is linked to the concept of 'Совесть' (Conscience), which is a central pillar of Russian philosophy and literature. To have your 'tongue not turn' is a sign that your conscience is active. In a culture where 'collective' opinion was often prioritized, using this phrase was a way to signal personal moral discomfort with a collective decision (like denouncing a colleague). Today, it's often used in consumer contexts to describe prices or quality that are so extreme they defy standard labels.
Use it as a 'Softener'
If you have to give negative feedback, start with 'У меня язык не поворачивается это говорить, но...' It immediately makes you seem more sympathetic.
Don't use with 'Я'
Remember to use 'У меня' (Dative/Genitive construction). Saying 'Я язык не поворачиваю' is a major grammatical error.
뜻
Finding it hard to speak the truth.
Use it as a 'Softener'
If you have to give negative feedback, start with 'У меня язык не поворачивается это говорить, но...' It immediately makes you seem more sympathetic.
Don't use with 'Я'
Remember to use 'У меня' (Dative/Genitive construction). Saying 'Я язык не поворачиваю' is a major grammatical error.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the correct form of the word 'язык'.
У меня просто ______ не поворачивается сказать ей правду.
In modern neutral Russian, the Nominative 'язык' is the standard subject for this phrase.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'язык не поворачивается'?
Выберите ситуацию:
This situation involves emotional/moral difficulty in speaking, which is the core meaning of the idiom.
Complete the dialogue with the correct perfective form.
— Он назвал своего начальника дураком прямо в лицо! — Ого! Как у него только ______ такое сказать?
The perfective 'повернулся' is used to express shock that someone *actually* said something outrageous.
🎉 점수: /3
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
3 연습 문제У меня просто ______ не поворачивается сказать ей правду.
In modern neutral Russian, the Nominative 'язык' is the standard subject for this phrase.
Выберите ситуацию:
This situation involves emotional/moral difficulty in speaking, which is the core meaning of the idiom.
— Он назвал своего начальника дураком прямо в лицо! — Ого! Как у него только ______ такое сказать?
The perfective 'повернулся' is used to express shock that someone *actually* said something outrageous.
🎉 점수: /3
자주 묻는 질문
2 질문Not really. For shyness, use 'стесняюсь сказать'. 'Язык не поворачивается' implies a deeper moral or emotional conflict.
No, it's a stylistic variant using the genitive of negation. It's more common in literature or very formal speech. Stick to 'язык' for daily life.
관련 표현
Рука не поднимается
similarTo be unable to do something due to emotional/moral reasons.
Вертится на языке
similarOn the tip of the tongue.
Держать язык за зубами
builds onTo keep a secret / stay quiet.
