I need some help with these 2 expressions: We had no such luck in finding this item for you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any more questions. Thanks in advance!
I'll try it. Neměli jsme při hledání této položky takové štěstí. Prosím, neváhej a obrať se na mě, pokud budeš mít ještě nějaké další otázky. Hope I've helped you. 8)
Yes, Majkl's translation is correct but the second phrase is informal and only for one addressee. This version is formal towards one addresee and universal (=formal and also informal) for plural: Prosím, neváhejte a obraťte se na mne, pokud budete mít ještě nějaké další otázky.
That's right. I promise I'll be more detailed. I was just wondering about the first sentence.. Though I translated it literally, I'm not sure of its sense - neither in English nor in Czech.. :hm
Yes, I'm not sure too. I think in English the phrase "We had no such luck..." is formal and polite but in Czech the reference to luck is a little alibistic :wink:.
If so, then I'd say easily: Nepodařilo se nám pro vás tuto položku najít. I admit this translation is very free, but the sentence keeps on holding its original heart of idea. Finally, the collocation 'for you' is possible to be included. 8)
No such luck is the same as no luck, but as a response to a question: "Were you able to find the book?" "No such luck." I don't think this expression really marks register, so it could be used perfectly well in a formal or informal setting. But now that you mention it, wer, it does sound like the speaker is trying to shift responsibility to "luck" when saying this. Ahh, set phrases. That said, I wouldn't try to translate it literally, unless a similar expression exists in Czech.
2 Ceit> Thank you for your explanation.. Reflecting on what Ceit wrote here, I think the Czech equivalent meaning to the English phrase "No such luck" might be "Ani náhodou".. And then the translation may sound: Ani náhodou se nám nepodařilo tuto položku pro vás najít. It's practically the same when I try to freely translate the short conversation at the very beginning of Ceit's contribution: "Were you able to find the book?" - Dokázal jsi najít tu knihu? "No such luck." - Ani náhodou.
Do you think it's really Czech?? You're native, right? Would you say it? I don't think so. The sentence Ani náhodou se nám.... doesn't make sence in Czech, it's just the way you would never say it.
I disagree, it is meaningful but it is not equivalent to "No such luck". "Ani náhodou..." is something as "No way/chance...". My best idea: "No such luck" ~ "Ale bohužel" (word for word - "but unfortunately")
2 Wer> Maybe it's something between 'ale bohužel' and 'ani náhodou' :arrow: look at the short dialogue Ceit wrote and I translated later.. I fear we'll have to put up with a fact that 'no such luck' has no equivalent set phrase in Czech and must be translated variously within context.
I think the word luck in this context does not mean "favour of Fortune", but success or hit. It is usual in the cases when the result can have two values: hit or miss, success or failure. Typical example: searching databases. "No luck" could mean bez úspěchu (= no hit/no success).
What about something like this: --------------------------------------- Vážený pane XXX, (Dear Mr. XXX,) POLOžKA: blah blah (ITEM: blah blah) Bohužel Vás musím informovat, že se nám tuto položku pro Vás nepodařilo opatřit (or "nepodařilo nalézt"). (/Unfortunately/ I should inform you, that we did not succeed in finding this item for you.) V případě dalších otázek mne prosím neváhejte kontaktovat. (In case of further question, please do not hesitate to contact me) S přátelským pozdravem Yours sincerely Please note: opatřit/obstarat= get/procure nalézt = find ( you did some searching/seeking and you ..)
