In German we don’t ask “What’s the matter ?” or “What’s on your mind ?” when we are casually talking to somone who is in a bad mood, we say “Wo drückt der Schuh ? [voː dʀʏkt deːɐ̯ ˈʃuː]” which roughly translates to “Where does the shoe pinch ?” and I think that’s beautiful.
But essentially you’re asking the ‘same’ question, both questions “What’s on your mind” and “What’s your pain” serve the same purpose - asking someone about their feelings when they are in a bad mood. It doesn’t matter whether or not I ask people the one or the other question because their answers would be the same.
In German we don’t say “killing time”, we say “Zeit totschlagen ” which literally means “beating the time up to death” and I think that’s beautiful
I didn’t tell you the whole truth: The verb “totschlagen” belongs to the noun “Totschlag”. “Totschlag” and “Mord” (murder) are two types of crime where someone committed homicide. “Mord” on the one hand was a mostly planned or at least intendet murder yand is more severe than “Totschlag” - killing someone in the heat of the moment, out of a sudden urge or emotion.
“umgangssprachlich; Der Begriff ”Zeitvertreib" ist erst eine Erfindung des 18. Jahrhunderts, aber den Reichen und Adligen war Sport, Spiel und Unterhaltung auch vorher natürlich nicht unbekannt. Das redensartliche Bild meint, dass man die "Person Zeit“ vertreiben oder gar töten kann, damit sie einen nicht länger durch ihre Anwesenheit belästigt.”
“colloquial; The term “Zeitvertreib” has only been invented in the 18th century, although prior, sports, games and entertainment (as a pastime) weren’t unfamiliar to the rich and nobles. The idiomatic picture indicates that one dispels or even ‘murders’ (see above explanation) the personified “time” so it would no longer disturb oneself through its presence.“
![IN [LANGUAGE] WE DON'T SAY ...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/avatar_84ac7e4b41dc_30.png){kind=avatar}
