{"id":7872,"date":"2015-05-21T07:29:41","date_gmt":"2015-05-21T07:29:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=7872"},"modified":"2018-08-15T16:02:30","modified_gmt":"2018-08-15T16:02:30","slug":"read-famous-opening-lines-in-russian-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/read-famous-opening-lines-in-russian-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Read Famous Opening Lines in Russian – Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m sure a few of our readers became interested in Russian thanks to their love of Russian literature. Whenever Russian literature comes up, people immediately respond with the name of their favo(u)rite Tolsotyesky \ud83d\ude09 book.<\/p>\n

At the same time, very few of these Russian lit buffs have read these\u00a0books in Russian. This is understandable —\u00a0fiction tends to use rarer vocabulary and more complex sentence structure, and some of the language may be antiquated. These are not things a conversational Russian class prepares you for.<\/p>\n

With that\u00a0in mind, I thought it may be nice to look at the beginnings of famous Russian books and break down some of the language used in them. I will also link to an English translation for each of them.<\/p>\n

\u0410\u0301\u043d\u043d\u0430 \u041a\u0430\u0440\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0438\u043d\u0430 (Anna Karenina)<\/h2>\n

Anna Karenina<\/em> is a well-known novel by Leo Tolstoy<\/a> (\u041b\u0435\u0432 \u0422\u043e\u043b\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0301\u0439) about a married woman who has an affair with a younger man. Please click on the audio player to listen to the pronunciation of this first part. The novel has inspired film and\u00a0ballet adaptations<\/a>. Several English translations<\/a> are available.<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2015\/05\/01_01_001kr.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

(link to audio<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\u0412<\/span>\u0441\u0435 \u0441\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043b\u0438\u0432\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0436\u0438 \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 \u043d\u0430 \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433\u0430, \u043a\u0430\u0436\u0434\u0430\u044f \u043d\u0435\u0441\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043b\u0438\u0432\u0430\u044f \u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u044f \u043d\u0435\u0441\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043b\u0438\u0432\u0430 \u043f\u043e-\u0441\u0432\u043e\u0435\u043c\u0443.
\n\u0412\u0441\u0435 \u0441\u043c\u0435\u0448\u0430\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c \u0432 \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0435 \u041e\u0431\u043b\u043e\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0445. \u0416\u0435\u043d\u0430 \u0443\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043b\u0430, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043c\u0443\u0436 \u0431\u044b\u043b \u0432 \u0441\u0432\u044f\u0437\u0438 \u0441 \u0431\u044b\u0432\u0448\u0435\u044e \u0432 \u0438\u0445 \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0435 \u0444\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0446\u0443\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e\u044e-\u0433\u0443\u0432\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0430\u043d\u0442\u043a\u043e\u0439, \u0438 \u043e\u0431\u044a\u044f\u0432\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u043c\u0443\u0436\u0443, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u043e\u0436\u0435\u0442 \u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0441 \u043d\u0438\u043c \u0432 \u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e\u043c \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0435. \u041f\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u044d\u0442\u043e \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0434\u043e\u043b\u0436\u0430\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c \u0443\u0436\u0435 \u0442\u0440\u0435\u0442\u0438\u0439 \u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0438 \u043c\u0443\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e \u0447\u0443\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c \u0438 \u0441\u0430\u043c\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u0441\u0443\u043f\u0440\u0443\u0433\u0430\u043c\u0438, \u0438 \u0432\u0441\u0435\u043c\u0438 \u0447\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u0438, \u0438 \u0434\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0447\u0430\u0434\u0446\u0430\u043c\u0438. \u0412\u0441\u0435 \u0447\u043b\u0435\u043d\u044b \u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u0438 \u0438 \u0434\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0447\u0430\u0434\u0446\u044b \u0447\u0443\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043b\u0438, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0435\u0442 \u0441\u043c\u044b\u0441\u043b\u0430 \u0432 \u0438\u0445 \u0441\u043e\u0436\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435 \u0438 \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0430 \u043a\u0430\u0436\u0434\u043e\u043c \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u043b\u043e\u043c \u0434\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0435 \u0441\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0430\u0439\u043d\u043e \u0441\u043e\u0448\u0435\u0434\u0448\u0438\u0435\u0441\u044f \u043b\u044e\u0434\u0438 \u0431\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0435 \u0441\u0432\u044f\u0437\u0430\u043d\u044b \u043c\u0435\u0436\u0434\u0443 \u0441\u043e\u0431\u043e\u0439, \u0447\u0435\u043c \u043e\u043d\u0438, \u0447\u043b\u0435\u043d\u044b \u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u0438 \u0438 \u0434\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0447\u0430\u0434\u0446\u044b \u041e\u0431\u043b\u043e\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0445. \u0416\u0435\u043d\u0430 \u043d\u0435 \u0432\u044b\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u0438\u0437 \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0438\u0445 \u043a\u043e\u043c\u043d\u0430\u0442, \u043c\u0443\u0436\u0430 \u0442\u0440\u0435\u0442\u0438\u0439 \u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043d\u0435 \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0430. \u0414\u0435\u0442\u0438 \u0431\u0435\u0433\u0430\u043b\u0438 \u043f\u043e \u0432\u0441\u0435\u043c\u0443 \u0434\u043e\u043c\u0443, \u043a\u0430\u043a \u043f\u043e\u0442\u0435\u0440\u044f\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435; \u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0447\u0430\u043d\u043a\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0441\u043e\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c \u0441 \u044d\u043a\u043e\u043d\u043e\u043c\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u0438 \u043d\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0441\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u0437\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0443 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0435, \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u044f \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0435\u0439 \u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0435 \u043c\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043e; \u043f\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0440 \u0443\u0448\u0435\u043b \u0435\u0449\u0435 \u0432\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0430 \u0441\u043e \u0434\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0430, \u0432\u043e \u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u044f \u043e\u0431\u0435\u0434\u0430; \u0447\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0430\u044f \u043a\u0443\u0445\u0430\u0440\u043a\u0430 \u0438 \u043a\u0443\u0447\u0435\u0440 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0438\u043b\u0438 \u0440\u0430\u0441\u0447\u0435\u0442\u0430.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u041f\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0301\u0436<\/strong> (-\u0430\/-\u0435\/-\u0438 for feminine, neuter, and plural) is the short form of \u043f\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0301\u0436\u0438\u0439<\/strong> (-\u0430\u044f\/-\u043e\u0435\/-\u0438\u0435), “similar.” \u041f\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0301\u0436<\/strong> is used to say something is similar to or looks like something else — in this example, all happy families are like each other. Note how the preposition \u043d\u0430 goes between the two parts of \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 \u043d\u0430 \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0433\u0430<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u0423\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u043b\u0430<\/strong> is a good illustration of the perfective voice — \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/strong> is, of course, to know; \u0443\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong> is “start knowing,” or find out, learn something. \u0421\u0432\u044f\u0437\u044c<\/strong> is a connection, liaison; here, an affair.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0second\u00a0sentence is often quoted\u00a0to describe a complete confusion or chaos. \u0421\u043c\u0435\u0448\u0430\u0301\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c<\/strong> is “got mixed up.” One of the meanings of \u043c\u0435\u0448\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong> is to mix, to blend. This is a perfective, reflexive form.<\/p>\n

\u0427\u0443\u0301\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/strong> is to feel; \u0447\u0443\u0301\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/strong> is to be felt — the reflexive suffix makes the verb passive here. \u041f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0301\u043b\u044b\u0439 \u0434\u0432\u043e\u0440<\/strong> is an inn; strangers at an inn would have felt closer to each other than people in the Oblonsky house.<\/p>\n

\u041c\u0435\u0301\u0441\u0442\u043e<\/strong> here is a situation, as in employment. The “Englishwoman” (\u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0447\u0430\u0301\u043d\u043a\u0430<\/strong>), presumably the governess (\u0433\u0443\u0432\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0430\u0301\u043d\u0442\u043a\u0430<\/strong>), has asked a friend to find her new employment (\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c \u0435\u0439 \u043d\u043e\u0301\u0432\u043e\u0435 \u043c\u0435\u0301\u0441\u0442\u043e<\/strong>). \u0427\u0451\u0440\u043d\u0430\u044f \u043a\u0443\u0445\u0430\u0301\u0440\u043a\u0430<\/strong> refers to the cook who made food for the servants and not for the masters of the house. Finally, \u0440\u0430\u0441\u0447\u0451\u0442<\/strong> refers to settling an account; here, it means that the coachman and the cook quit and asked to be paid for their work up to that moment.<\/p>\n

\u041c\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0440 \u0438 \u041c\u0430\u0440\u0433\u0430\u0440\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0430 (The Master and Margarita)<\/h2>\n

The Master and Margarita\u00a0<\/em>is a novel by Mikhail Bulgakov<\/a>\u00a0(\u041c\u0438\u0445\u0430\u0438\u0301\u043b \u0411\u0443\u043b\u0433\u0430\u0301\u043a\u043e\u0432<\/strong>) that was not published until after the author’s death. This book touches upon the themes of love, art, Soviet society of the 1930s, and religion, among others. An English, or other, translation<\/a> is likely available at your local library.<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2015\/05\/bulg.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

(link to audio<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\u041e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0430\u0436\u0434\u044b \u0432\u0435\u0441\u043d\u043e\u044e, \u0432 \u0447\u0430\u0441 \u043d\u0435\u0431\u044b\u0432\u0430\u043b\u043e \u0436\u0430\u0440\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0437\u0430\u043a\u0430\u0442\u0430, \u0432 \u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0432\u0435, \u043d\u0430 \u041f\u0430\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0430\u0440\u0448\u0438\u0445 \u043f\u0440\u0443\u0434\u0430\u0445, \u043f\u043e\u044f\u0432\u0438\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c \u0434\u0432\u0430 \u0433\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0434\u0430\u043d\u0438\u043d\u0430. \u041f\u0435\u0440\u0432\u044b\u0439 \u0438\u0437 \u043d\u0438\u0445, \u043e\u0434\u0435\u0442\u044b\u0439 \u0432 \u043b\u0435\u0442\u043d\u044e\u044e \u0441\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c\u043a\u0443\u044e \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0443, \u0431\u044b\u043b \u043c\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043d\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430, \u0443\u043f\u0438\u0442\u0430\u043d, \u043b\u044b\u0441, \u0441\u0432\u043e\u044e \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0438\u0447\u043d\u0443\u044e \u0448\u043b\u044f\u043f\u0443 \u043f\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0436\u043a\u043e\u043c \u043d\u0435\u0441 \u0432 \u0440\u0443\u043a\u0435, \u0430 \u043d\u0430 \u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e \u0432\u044b\u0431\u0440\u0438\u0442\u043e\u043c \u043b\u0438\u0446\u0435 \u0435\u0433\u043e \u043f\u043e\u043c\u0435\u0449\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c \u0441\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0445\u044a\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u043c\u0435\u0440\u043e\u0432 \u043e\u0447\u043a\u0438 \u0432 \u0447\u0435\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0440\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0439\u00a0\u043e\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0435. \u0412\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0439 \u2014 \u043f\u043b\u0435\u0447\u0438\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0439, \u0440\u044b\u0436\u0435\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044b\u0439, \u0432\u0438\u0445\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0439 \u043c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u043e\u0439 \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043a \u0432 \u0437\u0430\u043b\u043e\u043c\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u043d\u0430 \u0437\u0430\u0442\u044b\u043b\u043e\u043a \u043a\u043b\u0435\u0442\u0447\u0430\u0442\u043e\u0439 \u043a\u0435\u043f\u043a\u0435 \u2014 \u0431\u044b\u043b \u0432 \u043a\u043e\u0432\u0431\u043e\u0439\u043a\u0435, \u0436\u0435\u0432\u0430\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0431\u0435\u043b\u044b\u0445 \u0431\u0440\u044e\u043a\u0430\u0445 \u0438 \u0432 \u0447\u0435\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0442\u0430\u043f\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430\u0445.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u0412\u0435\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0301\u044e<\/strong> is “in spring.” We can use the instrumental case to talk about other seasons, too — \u0437\u0438\u043c\u043e\u0301\u0439<\/strong> (in winter), \u043b\u0435\u0301\u0442\u043e\u043c<\/strong> (in summer), and \u043e\u0301\u0441\u0435\u043d\u044c\u044e<\/strong> (in autumn). The ending -\u043e\u044e is the more antiquated, poetic variant of -\u043e\u0439.<\/p>\n

\u041f\u0430\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0430\u0440\u0448\u0438\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0443\u0434\u044b<\/strong> are literally Patriarch’s Ponds; there is a physical pond<\/a> in that location, but the name also refers to the entire neighborhood. The author is describing what the two men are wearing. \u041e\u0434\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044b\u0439 (\u043e\u0434\u0435\u0301\u0442\u0430\u044f\/\u043e\u0434\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044b\u0435)<\/strong> means “dressed in something,” or “wearing something.” You may also encounter the short form — \u043e\u0434\u0435\u0301\u0442, \u043e\u0434\u0435\u0301\u0442\u0430, \u043e\u0434\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044b<\/strong>. This adjective (technically, participle) is followed by \u0432 + the name of the item in the accusative case.\u00a0\u041f\u0430\u0301\u0440\u0430<\/strong> refers to his suit.\u00a0We also learn that the first man is \u0443\u043f\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0430\u043d(\u043d\u044b\u0439)<\/strong> — portly, \u043b\u044b\u0301\u0441(\u044b\u0439)<\/strong> — bald, and \u043c\u0430\u0301\u043b\u0435\u043d\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0440\u043e\u0301\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/strong> (short; literally “of little height”).<\/p>\n

The second man is \u043f\u043b\u0435\u0447\u0438\u0301\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (broad-shouldered), \u0440\u044b\u0436\u0435\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (has off-red hair), and \u0432\u0438\u0445\u0440\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (shock-headed). His description is an adjective suffix paradise. -\u0438\u0441\u0442- is used to say “looks like something” (\u0441\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0431\u0440\u0438\u0301\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0439<\/strong>, silver-colo(u)red), “having a lot of something” — this is the case here, \u043f\u043b\u0435\u0301\u0447\u0438<\/strong> being shoulders;\u00a0or\u00a0“quick\u00a0to start something” like “\u043f\u043e\u0440\u044b\u0301\u0432\u0438\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0439<\/strong>” (impetuous). -\u0435\u0432\u0430\u0442\/\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442- means “slightly,” so \u0440\u044b\u0301\u0436\u0438\u0439<\/strong> is red-haired, and \u0440\u044b\u0436\u0435\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044b\u0439<\/strong> is “with a red tint.” Finally, -\u0430\u0441\u0442- is used to describe a person in terms of their appearance (\u0441\u043a\u0443\u043b\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0439<\/strong> – having pronounced \u0441\u043a\u0443\u0301\u043b\u044b<\/strong>, cheekbones; \u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0439<\/strong> – bespectacled; \u0432\u0438\u0445\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0442\u044b\u0439<\/strong> — having many tufts of hair, \u0432\u0438\u0445\u0440\u044b\u0301<\/strong>).\u00a0The second man is wearing a checkered shirt (\u043a\u043e\u0432\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0439\u043a\u0430<\/strong>, also \u043a\u043b\u0435\u0301\u0442\u0447\u0430\u0442\u0430\u044f \u0440\u0443\u0431\u0430\u0301\u0448\u043a\u0430<\/strong>), wrinkled white pants (\u0436\u0451\u0432\u0430\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0431\u0435\u0301\u043b\u044b\u0435 \u0431\u0440\u044e\u0301\u043a\u0438<\/strong>; \u0436\u0451\u0432\u0430\u043d\u044b\u0439 is literally “chewed up”), and black slippers (\u0447\u0451\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0442\u0430\u0301\u043f\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0438<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Let us continue this discussion next time<\/a>. What other books have you been meaning to read? Please let me know if you have a hard time listening to the audio.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’m sure a few of our readers became interested in Russian thanks to their love of Russian literature. Whenever Russian literature comes up, people immediately respond with the name of their favo(u)rite Tolsotyesky \ud83d\ude09 book. At the same time, very few of these Russian lit buffs have read these\u00a0books in Russian. This is understandable —\u00a0fiction…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[9432,1250],"class_list":["post-7872","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-reading-in-russian","tag-russian-literature"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7872","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\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7872"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11040,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7872\/revisions\/11040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}