Meaning
To touch someone's emotions.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'душевность' (soulfulness) is central to Russian identity. It implies warmth, sincerity, and emotional openness. 'Взять за душу' is the verbal expression of this value. The emphasis on the 'soul' in Russian idioms is partly due to the deep historical influence of Orthodox Christianity, where the soul is the most important part of a human. Classic writers like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy often explored themes that 'take the soul,' focusing on moral struggles and deep empathy. On Russian social media, the phrase is often used with emojis like ❤️ or 😭 to show that a post was genuinely moving, distinguishing it from 'clickbait' content.
Use with Art
If you want to sound like a sophisticated Russian speaker, use this phrase instead of just saying 'мне понравилось' (I liked it) when talking about art.
Don't overdo it
Because it's a strong phrase, don't use it for every little thing. Save it for things that are truly moving.
Meaning
To touch someone's emotions.
Use with Art
If you want to sound like a sophisticated Russian speaker, use this phrase instead of just saying 'мне понравилось' (I liked it) when talking about art.
Don't overdo it
Because it's a strong phrase, don't use it for every little thing. Save it for things that are truly moving.
The 'Soul' connection
Remember that Russians talk about the 'soul' much more often than English speakers talk about the 'heart' in daily life.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb (брать or взять).
Эта старая песня всегда ______ меня за душу.
We use the imperfective 'берёт' because 'всегда' (always) indicates a repeated action or general quality.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the right idiom usage:
The idiom is 'взять за душу' (Accusative case).
Complete the dialogue.
— Тебе понравился концерт? — Да, скрипач играл так искренне, что это просто ______.
The context of sincere music points to the idiom 'взяло за душу'.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You just watched a very sad and beautiful documentary about orphans.
'Взять за душу' is the most appropriate for a mix of sadness and beauty.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Soul vs Heart
Practice Bank
4 exercisesЭта старая песня всегда ______ меня за душу.
We use the imperfective 'берёт' because 'всегда' (always) indicates a repeated action or general quality.
Choose the right idiom usage:
The idiom is 'взять за душу' (Accusative case).
— Тебе понравился концерт? — Да, скрипач играл так искренне, что это просто ______.
The context of sincere music points to the idiom 'взяло за душу'.
You just watched a very sad and beautiful documentary about orphans.
'Взять за душу' is the most appropriate for a mix of sadness and beauty.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is usually positive in the sense that it describes a beautiful or sincere emotion, but the emotion itself can be sad (like a sad movie).
No, unless the food is so nostalgic it reminds you of your late grandmother's cooking. Usually, it's for art and stories.
'Брать' is for general statements (This music always moves me), 'взять' is for a specific moment (That movie moved me yesterday).
It's neutral. You can use it with friends, teachers, or in a blog post.
It's better to avoid it. While understandable, it's not the standard idiom and sounds like a literal translation from English.
Not necessarily, but it implies you were close to it or felt a deep 'lump in your throat.'
Yes, if their personality or actions are very sincere and moving.
You can say 'Это меня не зацепило' or 'Это не взяло меня за душу'.
Yes, in this idiom it is always Accusative singular.
Extremely! Many Russian lyrics use this or similar 'soul' imagery.
Related Phrases
Задеть за живое
similarTo touch a raw nerve.
Тронуть до глубины души
builds onTo touch to the depths of the soul.
Душа в душу
relatedSoul to soul (in perfect harmony).
От всей души
relatedFrom the bottom of one's heart.
Лечь на душу
similarTo lie on the soul (to be pleasing).
