Χάρις Αλεξίου - Φτάνει φτάνει

Could someone please explain what does δεν με φτάνει means in this context?

Φτάνει-φτάνει ( Η ζωή μου κύκλους κάνει )
Στίχοι: Μιχάλης Φακίνος
Μουσική: Παραδοσιακό
Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Χαρούλα Αλεξίου

Φτάνει, φτάνει, φτάνει
μακριά μου να 'σαι, φτάνει,
παράπονο πικρό πάλι με πιάνει.
Φτάνει, φτάνει, φτάνει
ένα γράμμα μου δε φτάνει
να πω πως σ' αγαπώ, αχ, δε με φτάνει.

Φτάνει, φτάνει, φτάνει
η ζωή μου κύκλους κάνει
σαν το μικρό πουλί
μα δε σε φτάνει, φτάνει
αχ, φτάνει.

Το τραγούδι μου
λόγια που 'χουν μέσα δάκρυ μόνο γνώρισε.

Φτάνει, φτάνει, φτάνει
μια ζωή χωρίς λιμάνι
σαν δέντρο που ο βοριάς όλο το πιάνει.

hello and welcome to the commentators corner.....

It's really interesting, I was thinking too about the meaning.
Probably we would correlate ,,δε με φτάνει" with ,,η ζωή μου δε σε φτάνει" (my life doesn't reach you).
Also there's an antithesis between two verbs. On the one hand the verb ,,φτάνω" , wich is used in a negative sense (den me ftanei , den se ftanei) for the good things , the wishes, the yearnings - they are not reached. On the other hand the verb ,,πιάνω" and the imperative ,,φτάνει!" (it's enough!) are talking about the reality of the bad things (facts).
Actually I was featuring ,,να πω πως σ' αγαπώ, αχ, δε με φτάνει" as ,,to tell you that I love you - it doesn't reach me/ I don't have the opportunity to tell you ,,live", ,,face to face" that I love you; but this is only in my mind... it can be only a speculation.
I'm waiting too for a clarification on this issue.

Originally Posted by geomac

It's really interesting, I was thinking too about the meaning.
Probably we would correlate ,,δε με φτάνει" with ,,η ζωή μου δε σε φτάνει" (my life doesn't reach you).
Also there's an antithesis between two verbs. On the one hand the verb ,,φτάνω" , wich is used in a negative sense (den me ftanei , den se ftanei) for the good things , the wishes, the yearnings - they are not reached. On the other hand the verb ,,πιάνω" and the imperative ,,φτάνει!" (it's enough!) are talking about the reality of the bad things (facts).
Actually I was featuring ,,να πω πως σ' αγαπώ, αχ, δε με φτάνει" as ,,to tell you that I love you - it doesn't reach me/ I don't have the opportunity to tell you ,,live", ,,face to face" that I love you; but this is only in my mind... it can be only a speculation.
I'm waiting too for a clarification on this issue.

Thank you very much, Geomac! In fact I was thinking about "doesn't reach" me too.

Ι'm still not sure about the translation.

I'm very confused concerning the differences in meaning between ,,δε με φτάνει" and "δε μου φτάνει", for example.

I know that "δε μου φτάνει" = "it's not enough for me"

But may ,,δε με φτάνει" mean also "it's not enough for me" , besides the meaning of "it doesn't reach me" ???????

A quick search on the internet may suggest that ,,δε με φτάνει" might mean also "it's not enough for me"

I've only said that in this context of the song, to me , the meaning would be "it doesn't reach me".

Anyway, to be honest, finally I found a translation on the internet wich is different,in part, from my own interpretation:
,,δε με φτάνει" = it's not enough for me (and not ,,it doesn't reach me" as I said)
,,δε σε φτάνει" = it doesn't reach you (as we both said)


Here: http://alexiou-forum.gr/html/index.php?topic=129.0

Ftanei (I zoi mou kyklous kanei)

Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
makria mou na sai ftanei
being away from me, enough
parapono pikro pali me pianei
a bitter complaint gets on me
Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
ena gramma mou de ftanei
one of my letters is not enough
na pw to s' agapw
to say "I love you"
ax de me ftanei
ax, is not enough


Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
i zoi mou kykolus kanei
my life is full of circles
san to mikro pouli
like the little bird
ma de se ftanei
but doesn't reach you
ftanei ax, ftanei
enough, ah, enough

Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
makria mou na sai ftanei
being away from me, enough
parapono pikro pali me pianei
a bitter complaint gets on me
Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
i zoi mou kyklous kanei
my life is full of circles
san to mikro pouli
like the little bird
ma de se ftanei
but doesn't reach you
ftanei ax, ftanei
enough, ah, enough

To tragoudi sou
your song
logia exei san to kyma
has in it words like a billow
poy mas xwrise
that separated us

To tragoudi mou
my song
logia pou xoun mesa dakry
has words with tears
mono gnwrise
the only ever knew

Telali vgazw sta vouna
a big wail i shout in the mountains
gia na fonaksei ston ntounia
to show to the world
ton pono pou xw mesa stin kardia, vathia
the pain i got in my heart, deeply

Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
makria mou na sai ftanei
being away from me, enough
parapono pikro pali me pianei
a bitter complaint gets on me
Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
i zoi mou kykolus kanei
my life is full of circles
san to mikro pouli
like the little bird
ma de se ftanei
but doesn't reach you
ftanei ax, ftanei
enough, ah, enough


Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
mia zoi xwris limani
a life without a dock
san dentro pou o vorias olo to pianei
like a tree which gets hit by the north wind

Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
to myalo mou san alani
my mind like a corner boy
gyrizei sta palia
goes back on the old memories
ki olo se xanei
and keeps losing you
ftanei ax, ftanei
enough, ah, enough

Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
makria mou na sai ftanei
being away from me, enough
parapono pikro pali me pianei
a bitter complaint gets on me
Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
ena gramma mou de ftanei
one of my letters is not enough
na pw to s' agapw
to say "I love you"
ax de me ftanei
ax, is not enough


Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
i zoi mou kyklous kanei
my life is full of circles
san to mikro pouli
like the little bird
ma de se ftanei
but doesn't reach you
ftanei ax, ftanei
enough, ah, enough

Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
makria mou na sai ftanei
being away from me, enough
parapono pikro pali me pianei
a bitter complaint gets on me
Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
i zoi mou kykolus kanei
my life is full of circles
san to mikro pouli
like the little bird
ma de se ftanei
but doesn't reach you
ftanei ax, ftanei
enough, ah, enough

To tragoudi sou
your song
logia exei san to kyma
has in it words like a billow
poy mas xwrise
that separated us

To tragoudi mou
my song
logia pou xoun mesa dakry
has words with tears
mono gnwrise
the only ever knew

Telali vgazw sta vouna
a big wail i shout in the mountains
gia na fonaksei ston ntounia
to show to the world
ton pono pou xw mesa stin kardia, vathia
the pain i got deeply in my heart

Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
makria mou na sai ftanei
being away from me, enough
parapono pikro pali me pianei
a bitter complaint gets on me
Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
i zoi mou kyklous kanei
my life is full of circles
san to mikro pouli
like the little bird
ma de se ftanei
but doesn't reach you
ftanei ax, ftanei
enough, ah, enough


Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
mia zoi xwris limani
a life without a dock
san dentro pou o vorias olo to pianei
like a tree which gets hit by the north wind

Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
to myalo mou san alani
my mind like a corner boy
gyrizei sta palia
goes back on the old memories
ki olo se xanei
and keeps losing you
Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
i zoi mou kyklous kanei
my life is full of circles
san to mikro pouli
like the little bird
ma de se ftanei
but doesn't reach you
ftanei ax, ftanei
enough, ah, enough

Ftanei , Ftanei , Ftanei
Enough, enough, enough
i zoi mou kyklous kanei
my life is full of circles
san to mikro pouli
like the little bird
ma de se ftanei
but doesn't reach you
ftanei ax, ftanei
enough, ah, enough

Now I would think that:

1. "δε μου φτάνει" = "it is not enough for me" in the sense of ,,something is not enough for me to do/make something"

2. ,,δε με φτάνει"

2.1. = "it doesn't gratify/satisfy me / my feelings / my needs / my desires"
2.2. = "it doesn't reach me"

So, it would be:

Φτάνει, φτάνει, φτάνει
Enough!, enough!, enough!
ένα γράμμα μου δε φτάνει
a letter of mine is not enough
να πω πως σ' αγαπώ, αχ, δε με φτάνει.
to tell that I love you , oh, it doesn't gratify me.

But here:

Φτάνει, φτάνει, φτάνει
That's enough!, enough!, enough!
η ζωή μου κύκλους κάνει
my life make circles
σαν το μικρό πουλί
like the little bird
μα δε σε φτάνει
but it doesn't reach you

for gods sakes.. thats enough, enough, enough stop dwelling on it.. pffff

,δε με φτάνει" = it isn't enough for me / it doesn't satisfy me

δε σε φτάνει = it doesn't reach you (in this particular context of this song)


you don't have to be so sure , neslihan ; after all, this is a forum and we like to discuss each other and not to say .... pfffff

you don't have to be upset / displeased because of our thoughts ; we are just trying to learn greek language better and better... and you'd rather come with some explanation than to say ....pfffff for God's sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good luck to you, anyway...

pffffffff

Originally Posted by geomac

,δε με φτάνει" = it isn't enough for me / it doesn't satisfy me

δε σε φτάνει = it doesn't reach you (in this particular context of this song)


you don't have to be so sure , neslihan ; after all, this is a forum and we like to discuss each other and not to say .... pfffff

you don't have to be upset / displeased because of our thoughts ; we are just trying to learn greek language better and better... and you'd rather come with some explanation than to say ....pfffff for God's sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good luck to you, anyway...

Thank you very much, Geomac! Well, I've just left it "it's not enough". Anyway, I'm translating these songs for a site visited mostly by children and I doubt that someone will take notice of any mistake I make. True, the main purpose of it all is learning Greek, but perhaps Amethystos is right that translating songs is not the best way to learn Greek.

Originally Posted by feishtica

Thank you very much, Geomac! Well, I've just left it "it's not enough".

And you've done the right thing!
In North Greece there are places that people use "σε" instead of "με" or "σου".

So if you hear someone asking you
"Να σε κάνω καφέ" Doesn't mean the actual translation which would be
"Will I transform you into coffee?"
But "Will I offer you a (cup of) coffee"

Anyway this is something that's not happen in FORMAL Greek,
so you should NOT make a rule out of it!

Once again Bravo Geomac!

Originally Posted by feishtica

Anyway, I'm translating these songs for a site visited mostly by children

That's wonderfull!

Originally Posted by feishtica

and I doubt that someone will take notice of any mistake I make.

Ok... but it'll still worth the try if you avoid mistakes.

Originally Posted by feishtica

True, the main purpose of it all is learning Greek, but perhaps Amethystos is right that translating songs is not the best way to learn Greek.

I've never said that!
I only said that "You should NOT try to learn Greek by translating Nikolakopoulou's Lyrics"

Translating songs is propably the 2nd or 3rd BEST way to learn Greek!

Ps: I've got some pms but I simply can't read them now cause of a mistake
of the site..... says something about
"The Lyrics Forum database has encountered a problem"

So please forgive me for not answering any question in these messages!

Σε used instead of σου... Exactly the same thing happens in spoken Italian.
So which is the first best way of learning Greek?

Originally Posted by Amethystos

And you've done the right thing!
In North Greece there are places that people use "σε" instead of "με" or "σου".

So if you hear someone asking you
"Να σε κάνω καφέ" Doesn't mean the actual translation which would be
"Will I transform you into coffee?"
But "Will I offer you a (cup of) coffee"

Anyway this is something that's not happen in FORMAL Greek,
so you should NOT make a rule out of it!

Once again Bravo Geomac!



That's wonderfull!



Ok... but it'll still worth the try if you avoid mistakes.



I've never said that!
I only said that "You should NOT try to learn Greek by translating Nikolakopoulou's Lyrics"

Translating songs is propably the 2nd or 3rd BEST way to learn Greek!

Ps: I've got some pms but I simply can't read them now cause of a mistake
of the site..... says something about
"The Lyrics Forum database has encountered a problem"

So please forgive me for not answering any question in these messages!