Sometimes it seems that you can force people to do something, but real feelings cannot be forced. The famous Russian proverb “You will not be kind by force” has several possible translations into Ukrainian, depending on the context, writes WomanEL.
The first thing that comes to mind is the literal translation, which sounds like this: “You will not be kind by force.” This option preserves the general meaning of the saying. However, it may sound somewhat unnatural in Ukrainian due to differences in grammar and style.
You won't be forced to love… Source: pinterest.com
There are also equivalent phraseologisms and expressions that are more often used in the Ukrainian language to convey the same meaning. For example, “There is no force in loving” – this expression is more emotionally charged and corresponds to cultural traditions, because it contains the feeling that love cannot be forced, and this makes sense precisely in the context of interpersonal relationships.
Another option is “You won’t be cute by force,” which is very similar to the original, but has a smoother rhythm and sounds better in Ukrainian. This expression is usually used in situations where they are trying to force someone to a certain behavior or decision, without taking into account their wishes.
You can also find options related to folk wisdom: “You can’t dig a well by force, you can’t drink water.” This expression conveys the idea that you cannot achieve the desired result through violence or coercion.
Another folk expression is “The grandfather hoped for lunch, but went to bed without dinner” — also indicates that you cannot force everything to happen according to your own wishes if there are no natural conditions for this.
Thus, depending on the situation, you can choose one of these options to best convey the meaning of the expression. In any case, each of them carries a powerful message about the impossibility of forcibly achieving results, especially when it comes to relationships and emotions.
Also find out how the popular Russian expression “They are waiting for the promised one for 3 years” sounds in Ukrainian.
