{"id":8413,"date":"2015-09-09T06:34:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-09T06:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=8413"},"modified":"2015-09-09T02:56:32","modified_gmt":"2015-09-09T02:56:32","slug":"translating-russian-%d1%87%d1%82%d0%be-what-when-and-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/translating-russian-%d1%87%d1%82%d0%be-what-when-and-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Translating Russian \u0427\u0442\u043e: What, When and Why"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\u0447\u0442\u043e\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The feeling of confusion about a particular word is undoubtedly familiar to any foreign language learner. Thanks to one of our readers, one of this pesky Russian words have been brought to my attention. What might that word be? Ironically, it is none other than the word \u201cwhat\u201d itself :-).<\/p>\n

Translation of the word \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> in Russian seems to puzzle foreigners because depending on the use case, it can be translated as what, that, random exclamation, or omitted all together<\/b><\/i><\/span>. In other words, \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> can be a pronoun, a conjunction, or a particle. So how do you determine the right translation? Let’s try to figure it out.<\/p>\n

1. If you are dealing with a question, \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> is most likely a pronoun meaning what.<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0427\u0442\u043e \u0441\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0438<\/u>\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c? – What happened?<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0427\u0442\u043e \u0442\u044b \u0434\u0435<\/u>\u043b\u0430\u0435\u0448\u044c \u0432 \u0441\u0443\u0431\u0431\u043e<\/u>\u0442\u0443? – What are you doing on Saturday? <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0427\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0435\u0431\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0430\u0440\u0438<\/u>\u0442\u044c? – What kind of gift would you like?\/ What can I get you as a gift?<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

2. If you are dealing with a complex sentence, <\/span>\u0447\u0442\u043e<\/i><\/span><\/b> is likely to be used in the subordinate clause either as a <\/span>pronoun <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/b>meaning <\/span>what <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/b>or a<\/span> conjunction <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/b>meaning<\/span> that.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of <\/span>\u0447\u0442\u043e<\/b><\/i><\/span> being used as a pronoun. In this case it always means <\/span>what <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span>and acts as an object in the subordinate clause. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u042f \u0432\u0441\u044e \u043d\u0435\u0434\u0435<\/u>\u043b\u044e \u0434\u0443<\/u>\u043c\u0430\u043b, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0435\u0431\u0435<\/u> \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0430\u0440\u0438<\/u>\u0442\u044c. – I spent all week thinking what to get you (as a gift). <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u042f \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u043e\u0433\u0443<\/u> \u043f\u043e\u043d\u044f<\/u>\u0442\u044c, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0435\u0433\u043e<\/u> \u0431\u0435\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/u>\u0438\u0442. – I cannot figure out what bothers him. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u0421\u043a\u0430\u0436\u0438<\/u>\u0442\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0436\u0430<\/u>\u043b\u0443\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0437\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/u>\u0432\u0438\u043b\u043e \u0412\u0430\u0441 \u0438\u0437\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0438<\/u>\u0442\u044c \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0439 \u0440\u043e\u0434 \u0434\u0435<\/u>\u044f\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438? – Could you tell me what made you change your occupation?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Below are a few examples of <\/span>\u0447\u0442\u043e being used as a conjunction. In this case <\/span>\u0447\u0442\u043e does not act as an object and can be easily omitted without sacrificing the meaning. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u042f <\/b>\u0442\u0430\u043a<\/b><\/span> \u0443\u0441\u0442<\/b>\u0430<\/b><\/u>\u043b\u0430, <\/b>\u0447\u0442\u043e<\/b><\/span> \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u043e\u0433<\/b>\u0443<\/b><\/u> \u0434<\/b>\u0430<\/b><\/u>\u0436\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0441<\/b>\u0443<\/b><\/u>\u0434\u0443 \u043f\u043e\u043c<\/b>\u044b<\/b><\/u>\u0442\u044c <\/b>or <\/b><\/span>\u042f \u0442\u0430\u043a \u0443\u0441\u0442<\/b>\u0430<\/b><\/u>\u043b\u0430, \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u043e\u0433<\/b>\u0443<\/b><\/u> \u0434<\/b>\u0430<\/b><\/u>\u0436\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0441<\/b>\u0443<\/b><\/u>\u0434\u0443 \u043f\u043e\u043c<\/b>\u044b<\/b><\/u>\u0442\u044c. – <\/b>I am so tired (that) I can’t even wash the dishes.<\/b><\/span> As you can see, \u201cthat\u201d in this case can be easily omitted and the meaning of the sentence will not change. In fact, the English translation might even sound better without \u201cthat.\u201d Also, the presence of the particle <\/span>\u0442\u0430\u043a in the principal clause is a good indicator that <\/span>\u0447\u0442\u043e is a conjunction in the subordinate clause <\/span>(<\/b>…<\/b><\/span>\u0442\u0430\u043a…., \u0447\u0442\u043e….).<\/b><\/p>\n

\u041c\u044b \u0442\u0430\u043a \u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043f\u0438<\/u>\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c \u0432 \u0430\u044d\u0440\u043e\u043f\u043e<\/u>\u0440\u0442, (\u0447\u0442\u043e) \u0437\u0430\u0431\u044b<\/u>\u043b\u0438 \u043f\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0442\u0430<\/u>. – We were in such a rush to get to the airport (that) we forgot our passports. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u041f\u043b\u0430<\/u>\u0442\u044c\u0435 \u0431\u044b<\/u>\u043b\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043e<\/u>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u0442\u0443\u0433\u043e<\/u>\u0435, (<\/span>\u0447\u0442\u043e)<\/span> \u0435\u0439 \u0431\u044b<\/u>\u043b\u043e \u0442\u044f\u0436\u0435\u043b\u043e<\/u> \u0434\u044b\u0448\u0430<\/u>\u0442\u044c. – The dress was so tight (that) it was hard for her to breathe. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

To summarize, if you are struggling to determine whether <\/span>\u0447\u0442\u043e<\/b><\/i> means <\/span>what <\/b><\/i><\/span>or <\/span>that<\/b><\/i><\/span>, try using the sentence without it. If you cannot skip it due to the loss of meaning, then it used as a <\/span>pronoun what<\/b><\/i><\/span>. If you can omit it and the meaning does not really change, then it is used as <\/span>conjunction that. <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

3. There are a series of expressions that you might come across in everyday Russian where <\/span>\u0447\u0442\u043e has yet another meaning (surprise, bewilderment, or another emotion depending on the context). In these cases the word <\/span>\u0447\u0442\u043e is used as a particle (in most cases). Below are a few of these examples.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u043d\u0438 \u0437\u0430 \u0447\u0442\u043e – <\/b><\/span>never; not in a million years\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0447\u0442\u043e \u043a\u0430\u0441\u0430\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f… <\/b>– <\/b><\/span>as far as I am concerned…<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0447\u0442\u043e \u0431\u044b \u043d\u0438 \u0441\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0438\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c<\/b>\u00a0– whatever happens<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0447\u0442\u043e \u0437\u0430…<\/b>\u00a0– what kind of…; what…!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0447\u0442\u043e \u043b\u0438<\/b>\u00a0– perhaps<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0447\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0438 (\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c)…<\/b>\u00a0– every (day)…<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0445\u043e\u0442\u044c \u0431\u044b \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/b>\u00a0– nothing, unaffected (someone by something)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0427\u0442\u043e \u0432\u044b!<\/b>\u00a0– You don’t say!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0417\u043d\u0430\u0442\u044c, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043a \u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443.<\/b>\u00a0– To know the how and why of things.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0427\u0442\u043e \u043f\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0437\u044b?<\/b>\u00a0– What’s the use?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0427\u0442\u043e \u0441 \u0432\u0430\u043c\u0438?<\/b>\u00a0– What is the matter with you?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

The feeling of confusion about a particular word is undoubtedly familiar to any foreign language learner. Thanks to one of our readers, one of this pesky Russian words have been brought to my attention. What might that word be? Ironically, it is none other than the word \u201cwhat\u201d itself :-). Translation of the word \u0447\u0442\u043e…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":8420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8,7828],"tags":[385640,385654,385652,385655,385653,385656],"class_list":["post-8413","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language","category-russian-for-beginners","tag-russian-for-beginners","tag-russian--in-english","tag-translate-","tag-uses-of-","tag-what-does--mean-in-english","tag-what-in-russian"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8413","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\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8413\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}