{"id":1493,"date":"2010-10-08T10:00:01","date_gmt":"2010-10-08T10:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=1493"},"modified":"2010-10-07T03:04:02","modified_gmt":"2010-10-07T03:04:02","slug":"how-to-procrastinate-in-russian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/how-to-procrastinate-in-russian\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Procrastinate in Russian"},"content":{"rendered":"

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oXbALs4f7cA<\/a><\/p>\n

We all procrastinate from time to time. Some (and I’m pointing a finger at myself right now) do it more than others. If you love Russian and happen to procrastinate even ocassionally, then why not do it in Russian? That’s what total immersion is all about, isn’t it? But let me not delay this post any longer…<\/em><\/p>\n

How to \u00a0\u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [procrastinate] Russian-style? \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u043e\u0442 <\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0441 <\/strong>\u044f <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0434\u0430\u043b\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u0441\u0435\u0431\u0435<\/span> <\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [That\u2019s the question I asked myself recently]. Typically, if I have a \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0443<\/span>\u0449\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u00bb<\/strong> [burning question], I turn to Facebook. But this time, I was in a car, away from my trusty \u00ab<\/strong>\u043b\u0430\u043f\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043f\u0447\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [laptop, but notice the diminutive form, lit.: little laptop]. And since I am a bit of a Luddite when it comes to \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043c\u0430\u0440\u0442\u0444\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [smartphones], I can\u2019t browse Internet or even send SMS from my \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [mobile phone].<\/p>\n

So there I was, thinking things through on this issue\u2026 \u00ab<\/strong>\u0421 <\/strong>\u043b\u0438\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0438 <\/strong>\u0437\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [From the literary standpoint], the answer seems to be rather obvious. On one hand, there\u2019s an example of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0418\u043b\u044c\u044f<\/span> <\/strong>\u041c\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u043c\u0435\u0446\u00bb<\/strong> [Ilya Murometz]. One of the main heroes of the Russian folk tales who, apparently, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043f\u043b\u043e\u0449\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [personifies] the ideal Russian warrior, Ilia spent the first 33 years of his life sitting on his behind, not moving much.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s \u00ab<\/strong>\u0418\u043b\u044c\u044f<\/span> <\/strong>\u041e\u0431\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u043e\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [Ilia Oblomov] from \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0438\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0440\u043e\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [novel of the same name]. He famously spent most of the book lying down on a couch, dreaming of a different life.<\/p>\n

I can also get inspired by various \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0441\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u0446\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [proverbs], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [adages], and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u044b\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [catch phrases] that deal with work or, rather, avoidance of it.<\/p>\n

To begin with, the word \u201cprocrastinate\u201d itself has several translations. I already mentioned \u00ab\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to linger]:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041d\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043e \u0431\u044b \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0443 \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c, \u0430 \u044f \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430\u044e, \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u043d\u0430\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u044e\u0441\u044c \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0438\u0433\u0440\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u043b\u043e\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u044e.\u00bb<\/strong> [It\u2019s time to look for a job, but I keep lingering, hoping to win a lottery.]<\/p>\n

In other words, I can say that \u00ab<\/strong>\u044f <\/strong>\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043b\u044e <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0438\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043c <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [I am moving slowly with my job search], using the verb \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043b\u0438\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to go slow, to drag out]. The opposite of that would be to do something \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u043c\u0435\u0434\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [without delay] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u00bb <\/strong>[immediately].<\/p>\n

When a boss tells you \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u043a\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u0433\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u044f<\/span><\/strong>\u0449\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [to not file it for later] or when your significant other begs you to \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0442\u044f\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0440\u0435\u0437\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> [to not drag feet], you know that \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u043c\u0435\u0434\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 – <\/strong>\u0441\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0442\u0438 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u043d\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [procrastination is tantamount to death], or at least to getting fired or ending up sleeping on a couch in the living room.<\/p>\n

If you are brave or foolish or looking to conduct hands-on cultural research, try replying to the request for immediate action with \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0430 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043b\u043a, <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043b\u0435\u0441 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0443\u0431\u0435\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [lit: work is not a wolf, it won\u2019t run away] or even some self-help advice \u00ab<\/strong>\u0435\u0441\u043b\u0438 <\/strong>\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0448\u044c <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c, <\/strong>\u043b\u044f\u0433, <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0441\u043f\u0438<\/span> <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0451 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0439\u0434\u0451<\/span>\u0442\u00bb <\/strong>[if you\u2019d like to do some work, take a nap and it will pass]. Let me know how it goes.<\/p>\n

And yet, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u0441\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [postponement] happens all the time and doesn\u2019t always mean a bad thing. For example, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u044f <\/strong>\u0431\u044b\u043b <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0434, <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0438<\/span>\u043b <\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u0441\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0443 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u0431\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [Vasya was happy when his mandatory military service obligation was postponed.] Another type of \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u0441\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> that can feel like a life line is \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u0441\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> [deferment of debt obligations] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u0441\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u0443\u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e\u0432\u00bb<\/strong> [tax deferment].<\/p>\n

Ok, remember how I said that one of the ways you can procrastinate in Russian is by \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u044f\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0440\u0435\u0437\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0443\u00bb<\/strong>? [lit. pull rubber]. Well, you can also \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u044f\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to stall, lit. to pull thin golden thread]. If you speak Spanish or French, you doubtlessly recognized the word \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [spun gold] (ca\u00f1atillo<\/em> in Spanish and cannetille<\/em> in French).<\/p>\n

While \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u044f\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> or \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> means to stall, to procrastinate, the word \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> itself means \u201chumdrum\u201d, but a rather busy humdrum. For example, \u00ab<\/strong>\u044f <\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0430 <\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043a\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0433\u0443, <\/strong>\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043e<\/span><\/strong>\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0438 <\/strong>\u0443 <\/strong>\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u044b <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [I wanted to buy a book, but didn\u2019t care to waste time in line for the register]. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0449\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> (masculine) and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0449\u0438\u0446\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [feminine] are procrastinators.<\/p>\n

In addition to rubber and spun gold you can also \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u044f\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> [take one\u2019s sweet time]. \u00ab<\/strong>\u0412\u043e\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> means bagpipes and if you ever heard one, then I bet you understand the expression on a whole different level. Someone who \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u044f<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> is said to be \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u043d\u0449\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [procrastinator], just as someone who \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u044f<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0440\u0435\u0437\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> is \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0435\u0437\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0449\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

How do you prefer to procrastinate? Are you procrastinating right now? I know I am.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all procrastinate from time to time. Some (and I’m pointing a finger at myself right now) do it more than others. If you love Russian and happen to procrastinate even ocassionally, then why not do it in Russian? That’s what total immersion is all about, isn’t it? But let me not delay this post…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8,7828],"tags":[1227,11743,1248,1268],"class_list":["post-1493","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-language","category-russian-for-beginners","tag-russian-culture","tag-russian-immersion","tag-russian-language","tag-russian-proverbs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t