{"id":2622,"date":"2012-03-14T08:20:36","date_gmt":"2012-03-14T08:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=2622"},"modified":"2012-03-16T04:35:44","modified_gmt":"2012-03-16T04:35:44","slug":"household-chores-in-russian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/household-chores-in-russian\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinderellas Among Us – Household Chores in Russian"},"content":{"rendered":"

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=85Ww3-JigyY<\/a><\/p>\n

In the US there is a good saying \u201cwoman\u2019s work is never done\u201d. Or as Russian women might say \u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u043c <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u0443 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0446\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u044e <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e<\/strong> (lit. can\u2019t see the end to house work). So what is considered \u0436\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0430<\/strong> (woman\u2019s work) in Russian households? Let\u2019s find out and, since house chores have to be done no matter where in the world you live, let\u2019s learn some useful phrases along the way.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with \u0440\u0430\u0441\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u0438\u0445 <\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u043b<\/strong> (division of chores) or figuring out who does what in a household. In Russia, with its more traditional approach to gender roles, most routine chores are a woman\u2019s domain. As some women (and men) say \u0443 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0441 <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0441\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u043e\u0431\u044f<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0439 – <\/strong>\u043c\u0443\u0436 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0440\u0430\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0435\u0442, <\/strong>\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0437\u044f<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u044c\u0433\u0438 <\/strong>\u0442\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0442<\/strong> (our division of responsibilities is the husband earns and the wife keeps the house and spends).<\/p>\n

Grammar Note<\/span>: since chores are by their nature repetitive activities that never end (sigh), we use imperfective aspect a lot unless we are talking about our to-do list for a particular day:<\/p>\n

\u041c\u044b\u0442\u044c \u043f\u043e\u043b\u044b<\/span> \u0438 \u0441\u0442\u0438\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u0431\u0435\u043b\u044c\u0451<\/span> – \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u043e \u0436\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0430<\/strong> (To mop floors is woman\u2019s work)<\/p>\n

\u0421\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u044f \u043c\u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e \u043f\u043e\u043c\u044b<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u043f\u043e\u043b \u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (Today I must mop the floor and do laundry)<\/p>\n

Some of these housekeeping responsibilities include<\/p>\n

\u0423\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (n. cleaning) – some women prefer to have one day a week that they designate as \u0443\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (adj. cleaning) while others do \u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u0447\u0443\u0442\u044c-<\/strong>\u0447\u0443\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c<\/strong> (a little bit every day). Even though most husbands do not \u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0443\u0431\u0438\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (help to clean) for these \u0435\u0436\u0435\u0434\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (daily) or \u0435\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (weekly) chores, they do pitch in for \u0433\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0443\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (spring cleaning) since it involves some heavy work and even minor repairs.<\/p>\n

\u041c\u044b\u0442\u044c\u0451<\/span><\/strong> (n. washing) – whether it is \u043c\u044b\u0442\u044c\u0451<\/span> <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u044b<\/strong> (washing dishes), \u043c\u044b\u0442\u044c\u0451<\/span> <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432<\/strong> (mopping floors) or \u043c\u044b\u0442\u044c\u0451<\/span> <\/strong>\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043d<\/strong> (window washing) it is a typically woman\u2019s task. I still remember my mom standing bravely on the wide \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0438\u043a<\/strong> (window-sill) of our 5th<\/sup>-floor apartment, washing the outside of the windows.<\/p>\n

\u0413\u043e\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (n. cooking) – \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0433\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0432\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u0435\u0434\u044b<\/span><\/strong> (preparing meals) isn\u2019t always done by women. In fact, many men will boast of their excellent cooking skills, particularly when it comes to \u0448\u0430\u0448\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u043a<\/strong> (shish kebab), \u0436\u0430\u0440\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0435<\/strong> (pot roast) or any number of meat and fish dishes. Occasional, typically holiday or picnic, cooking is what many men do eagerly and proudly. Yet the daily duties of preparing \u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0442\u0440\u0430\u043a<\/strong> (breakfast), \u043e\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u0434<\/strong> (dinner) and \u0443<\/span><\/strong>\u0436\u0438\u043d<\/strong> (supper) are typically left entirely to women.<\/p>\n

\u0421\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (n. laundry) – ok, to be fair, in the \u201cgood\u201d old days of my Soviet childhood, way before my parents bought \u0441\u0442\u0438\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043c\u0430\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430<\/strong> (clothes washer), my father helped somewhat. Specifically, he helped my mother \u043e\u0442\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (to wring) large and heavy items, such as bedding. He was quite exceptional that way, the only man in our entire \u043f\u043e\u0434\u044a\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0434<\/strong> (block of apartments) to do so. I guess now that washing machines are no longer luxury items, men don\u2019t help much with this either.<\/p>\n

\u0413\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (n. ironing) – I once did a quick survey of how many of my friends\u2019 husbands knew where their wives kept \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span><\/strong> (ironing board) and \u0443\u0442\u044e<\/span>\u0433<\/strong> (iron). And let me tell you, there wasn\u2019t much difference between American and Russian men on this one.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s left now that cleaning, washing, cooking, laundry and ironing are done? How about \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u043f\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0432<\/strong> (grocery shopping)? It is not always solely a woman\u2019s responsibility though. Many husbands help, particularly with \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0435\u0437\u0442\u0438<\/span> <\/strong>\u0434\u043e <\/strong>\u043c\u0430\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430<\/strong> (driving to the store) and \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/span> <\/strong>\u0442\u044f\u0436\u0451<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u0443<\/span>\u043c\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (carrying heavy bags). After that, there are just such \u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0447\u0438<\/strong> (little things) like \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0446\u0432\u0435\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0432<\/strong> (watering flowers), \u0443\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0434 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0438 <\/strong>\u0436\u0438\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u044b\u043c\u0438<\/strong> (taking care of house pets), and \u0437\u0430\u043d\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u0442\u044c\u043c\u0438<\/span><\/strong> (here: taking care of children). Oh, and she shouldn\u2019t forget to \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0438 <\/strong>\u043c\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u0440<\/strong> (take out trash).<\/p>\n

Little wonder that at the end of the day women \u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044f\u0442\u0441\u044f <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u043d\u043e\u0433<\/strong> (dropping with fatigue). Oh, and most have full-time jobs as well. So you can frequently hear women using the following phrases to describe this situation of continuous \u0437\u0430\u0433\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (heavy workload):<\/p>\n

\u042f <\/strong>\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0447\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u044c, <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0441\u0435<\/span> <\/strong>\u0446\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c, <\/strong>\u0430 <\/strong>\u043e\u043d <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u0442 <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u044b <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0441\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u0443 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043c\u043f\u044c\u044e<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u0440 – <\/strong>\u0443\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043b, <\/strong>\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u0442\u0435 <\/strong>\u043b\u0438<\/strong> (I am spinning like a squirrel in a wheel all day and he comes from work and gets on his computer right away because he\u2019s tired)<\/p>\n

\u0412\u044b, <\/strong>\u041c\u0430\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430, <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u044f\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u044f – <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0412\u0430\u0441 <\/strong>\u0432\u0435\u0441\u044c <\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u043c <\/strong>\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0436\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (You, Marina, are a saint – the entire household rests on your shoulders)<\/p>\n

\u042f, \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0417\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0430, \u0432 \u0434\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u0435 \u0437\u0430 \u0432\u0441\u0435<\/span>\u043c\u0438 \u0443\u0431\u0438\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u044e<\/strong> (I am like Cinderella, cleaning after everyone in the house)<\/p>\n

\u041f\u0430\u0448\u0443<\/span>, <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u0430\u0434\u044c, <\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0435, <\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u0430<\/strong> (I work like a horse both at home and at work)<\/p>\n

\u0423 <\/strong>\u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f<\/span> <\/strong>\u043c\u0443\u0436 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0430<\/span><\/strong>\u043d\u0433\u0435\u043b – <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e <\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0437\u044f<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (Your husband is an angel what with helping you around the house and taking care of your daughter).<\/p>\n

\u042f <\/strong>\u0441\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u044e, <\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0443\u0431\u0438\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0441\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b\u0430<\/span> – <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u0443\u0436\u0441\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0435 <\/strong>\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043e<\/strong> (I believe that cleaning up after a meal is not a man\u2019s job)<\/p>\n

\u0412\u043e\u0442 \u0443 \u041d\u0430\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0438 \u0432 \u0434\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u0435 \u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> \u0447\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0438 \u0443\u044e<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u043e. \u041a\u0430\u043a \u043e\u043d\u0430<\/span> \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u0443\u0441\u043f\u0435\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442, \u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span> \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0443<\/span><\/strong> (Natasha\u2019s house is always clean and cozy. How she manages to get it all done, I have no idea)<\/p>\n

Now that you\u2019ve learned these new phrases, tell us what are your least favorite or most favorite chores? Do you like \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u0437\u043e<\/span>\u043d<\/strong> (mow the lawn), \u043c\u044b\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043c\u0430\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0443<\/strong> (wash the car), \u0432\u043e\u0437\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0434\u0435\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0439 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0444\u0443\u0442\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u043b<\/strong> (drive children to soccer practice)? What are some chores that you do that I haven\u2019t included in this post?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the US there is a good saying \u201cwoman\u2019s work is never done\u201d. Or as Russian women might say \u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430\u043c \u043f\u043e \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0443 \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0446\u0430 \u043a\u0440\u0430\u044e \u043d\u0435 \u0432\u0438\u0434\u043d\u043e (lit. can\u2019t see the end to house work). So what is considered \u0436\u0435\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0442\u0430 (woman\u2019s work) in Russian households? Let\u2019s find out and, since house chores have to be…<\/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":[8,7828,7827],"tags":[117500,117542,117541,117522,1248,111747],"class_list":["post-2622","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-language","category-russian-for-beginners","category-russian-life","tag-daily-russian","tag-household-russian","tag-housework-in-russian","tag-russian-family","tag-russian-language","tag-useful-russian-phrases"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622","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=2622"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2624,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622\/revisions\/2624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}