{"id":2486,"date":"2011-12-15T08:28:16","date_gmt":"2011-12-15T08:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=2486"},"modified":"2014-07-17T17:36:02","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T17:36:02","slug":"most-useful-russian-phrases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/most-useful-russian-phrases\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Useful Russian Phrases"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I once met a person who \u043a\u043e\u043b\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0446\u0438\u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043b<\/strong> (was collecting) words. Actually, he only collected one word, \u201chello\u201d, but in many different languages. He knew how to \u0437\u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (greet) in over 30 languages and was working hard on expanding his collection for a future \u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433\u043e\u0441\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u0443\u0442\u0435\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u0435<\/strong> (around-the-world trip).<\/p>\n

I think learning just one word or phrase is a bit minimalistic. However, what if you are planning on travelling to Russia, but you \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e-<\/strong>\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (don\u2019t speak Russian), don\u2019t have time to learn it, yet need some basic survival phrases.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, I asked our Facebook community<\/a> to come up with the most essential and useful Russian phrases. And then I sat back, enjoyed \u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0433\u043e\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e <\/strong>\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u044f<\/strong> (a cup of hot tea) and waited\u2026<\/p>\n

While waiting, I kept thinking about what kind of phrases would be \u043d\u0430\u0438\u0431\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0445\u043e\u0434\u044f<\/span>\u0449\u0438<\/strong> (most fitting). After all, they are going to constitute the entire Russian \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u0441<\/strong> (vocabulary) of the hypothetic tourist.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, our tourist will need some common courtesy phrases such as \u0437\u0434\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u0439\u0442\u0435<\/strong> (hello), \u0434\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (goodbye), \u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0431\u043e<\/strong> (thank you) and \u0438\u0437\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435<\/strong> (excuse me). Now, I know, \u0437\u0434\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u0439\u0442\u0435<\/strong> is a pain to memorize and pronounce, especially compared to \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0442<\/strong> (hi). But it\u2019s a must because nothing will brand you as \u043d\u0435\u0432\u043e\u0441\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u043a<\/strong> (a bad-mannered person) faster than \u043d\u0435\u0443\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0444\u0430\u043c\u0438\u043b\u044c\u044f<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (an out-of-place familiarity). Same goes for choosing \u0434\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong> over a more informal \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This immediately eliminated all the \u0433\u0434\u0435<\/strong>? (where?) questions. If you don\u2019t understand verbal instructions, these questions are pretty \u0431\u0435\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u043d\u044b\u0435<\/strong> (plural form of \u201cuseless\u201d).<\/p>\n

Imagine you need to find out \u0433\u0434\u0435 <\/strong>\u0442\u0443\u0430\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442<\/strong> (where is a restroom). You\u2019re lucky if it\u2019s in the line of sight so that you are told \u0432\u043e\u043d <\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u043c<\/strong> (over there) accompanied with a pointing gesture. More often than not you will not be so lucky. So how would you understand even simple directions such as \u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043a\u0440\u0451<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043a\u0435 – <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u043e, <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043c <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0434, <\/strong>\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0439\u0434\u0435\u0442\u0435 – <\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u043c <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u0444\u0435<\/span> <\/strong>\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c, \u043d\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043c \u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u0434\u043b\u044f \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0443\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0439<\/strong> (turn left at the intersection, then go through the underground crossing, at the exit there\u2019s a caf\u00e9, but they only let customers use their restrooms).<\/p>\n

If you are in a situation like this – a Russian starts giving you an answer that you don\u2019t understand, the phrase \u044f <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u044e<\/strong> (I don\u2019t understand) will come really handy. Of course, you are running the risk of hearing \u0430 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0447\u0435<\/span>\u043c <\/strong>\u0436\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0435\u0448\u044c?<\/strong> (then why are you asking?) So right after you say \u044f <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u044e<\/strong>, flip out a pen and some paper and ask \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435, <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0443\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/strong> (show it, please) or \u043d\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435, <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0443\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/strong> (write it down, please).<\/p>\n

Of course, our tourist will probably be buying \u0441\u0443\u0432\u0435\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u044b<\/strong> (souvenirs). The single most helpful phrase in this case is \u0441\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e <\/strong>\u044d<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0438\u0442?<\/strong> (how much does it cost?) or simply \u0441\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e <\/strong>\u044d<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/strong>? (how much?). Again, \u043d\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435, <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0443\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/strong> (write it down, please) comes in handy here as well. The second most useful phrase for buying souvenirs is \u044d<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u043e\u043c <\/strong>\u043c\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e<\/strong> (it costs too much).<\/p>\n

If a seller is pushing something you don\u2019t need, like yet another set of Russian leaders matreshkas, you can say\u043c\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e<\/strong> (I don\u2019t need this). Then remind about what you really need by pointing to the item and saying \u043c\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e (<\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e) <\/strong>\u044d<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/strong> (I need (only) this)<\/p>\n

Now, quite a few answers on the Facebook page were about vodka, including \u0433\u0434\u0435 <\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0443\u044e <\/strong>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0443<\/strong> (where to buy good vodka). Here we go again with the \u201cwhere\u201d question. I think a more useful question would be \u044d\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0430?<\/strong> (is this vodka good?) In this case, there are only a handful of possible answers – \u0434\u0430<\/strong> (yes), \u043d\u0435\u0442<\/strong> (no), \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043e\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e<\/strong> (not especially), \u043c\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f\/<\/strong>\u043c\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (I like it\/I don\u2019t like it).<\/p>\n

A bigger concern might be how not to get drunk on the trip. Russians can be tough when it comes to getting out of drinking to yet another \u0442\u043e\u0441\u0442<\/strong> (toast). (But please, do not assume that ALL Russians are big on drinking vodka) A simple \u044f <\/strong>\u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u044c\u044e<\/strong> (I\u2019m not going to drink any more) won\u2019t have much success and neither will \u044f – <\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u043f\u044c\u044e<\/span>\u0449\u0438\u0439<\/strong> (I don\u2019t drink). Instead, a determined-to-stay-sober-throughout-his-visit tourist should use \u043c\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0440 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043b<\/strong> (my doctor said I can\u2019t). Another option is \u043c\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u043b\u044c\u0437\u044f<\/span>, <\/strong>\u044f <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0432\u044f\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u043b<\/strong> (I can\u2019t because I\u2019m on the wagon (quit drinking)).<\/p>\n

A very useful word, suggested in the conversation on Facebook, is \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e? <\/strong>(may I?) as in \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (may I try?), \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c?<\/strong> (may I buy? Is it for sale?), \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0435<\/span>\u0445\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (may I drive through here?), \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043c?<\/strong> (maybe later?), \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e \u0434\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f?<\/strong> (\u0434\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f in this case is a euphemism for a bribe). Again, since our tourist\u2019s vocabulary is so restricted and there is an almost infinite number of phrases that use the word \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e<\/strong>, he can just accompany the word with gestures.<\/p>\n

Finally, there are quite a few words and phrases that should not be used on the first, second or even tenth trip to Russia – \u043c\u0430\u0442<\/strong> (swear words), \u0433\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0431\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span><\/strong> (rude words) such as \u043e\u0442\u0432\u0430\u043b\u0438<\/span><\/strong> (get lost) and \u043e\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u044c<\/strong> (give it a rest) and any phrases that build on the grotesque stereotypes of Russia as the land of drunks, easy women and bears roaming the streets. After all, as one of the fans pointed out, \u0432 <\/strong>\u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0434\u0438 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0440\u044b\u0435, <\/strong>\u0442\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0432\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0435<\/strong> (in Russia people are kind, sober and well-mannered).<\/p>\n

Got more must-know phrases that you used or wished you knew on your last trip to Russia? Please share in the comments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

I once met a person who \u043a\u043e\u043b\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0446\u0438\u043e\u043d\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043b (was collecting) words. Actually, he only collected one word, \u201chello\u201d, but in many different languages. He knew how to \u0437\u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f (greet) in over 30 languages and was working hard on expanding his collection for a future \u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433\u043e\u0441\u0432\u0435\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043f\u0443\u0442\u0435\u0448\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u0435 (around-the-world trip). I think learning just one word or phrase…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":2487,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,8,7828,7826],"tags":[35332,385640,1248,117480,117479],"class_list":["post-2486","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-language","category-russian-for-beginners","category-when-in-russia","tag-most-useful-russian-phrases","tag-russian-for-beginners","tag-russian-language","tag-simple-russian-phrases","tag-travelling-to-russia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2486"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6388,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2486\/revisions\/6388"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}