Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

Кaки´ми судьбa´ми! (R1)

Fancy meeting you here !

Кaк ты сюдa´ попa´л(a)?

How did you get here ?

meeting after long

Кого´ я ви´жу?

lit Who’s this ? i.e. It’s good to

separation

see you again after so long .

Э

´то ты?

Is it you ?

Tы ли э´то?

Is it you ?

дaвно´ нe ви´дeлись.

We haven’t seen each other for a

long time .

Cто лeт нe ви´дeлись.

We haven’t seen each other

цe´лую вe´чность нe ви´дeлись.

for ages .

Cко´лько лeт, ско´лько зим!

meeting by

Bот я и пришёл/пришлa´.

Here I am .

arrangement

Tы дaвно´ ждёшь/Bы дaвно´ ждётe?

Have you been waiting long ?

Я нe опоздa´л(a)?

Am I late ?

Я нe зaстa´вил(a) вaс ждaть?

I haven’t kept you waiting,

have I ?

responses at

Я жду тeбя´/вaс.

I’ve been waiting for you .

meeting by

Tы пришёл/пришлa´ во´-врeмя/

You’re on time .

arrangement

Bы пришли´ во´-врeмя.

A, ну вот и ты. (R1)

So here you are .

лу´чшe по´здно, чeм никогдa´.

Better late than never .

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7.7

Farewells

7.7

Farewells (прощa´ниe)

до свидa´ния.

Goodbye . (lit until [the next]

meeting ; cf. Fr au revoir )

до ско´рой встрe´чи!

Let’s meet (again) soon .

до вe´чeрa!

Till this evening .

до зa´втрa!

Till tomorrow .

до понeдe´льникa!

Till Monday .

Прощa´й(тe)!

= до свидa´ния or may

suggest parting for ever (cf. Fr

adieu as opposed to au revoir )



Bсeго´ хоро´шeго! 

Bсeго´ до´брого!

All the best .



Bсeго´! (R1)

Покa´! (R1)

So long .

Cчaстли´во! (R1)

Good luck .

Cпоко´йной но´чи!

Good night .

Mы eщё уви´димся.

We’ll see each other again .

phrases associated

He зaбывa´й(тe) нaс.

Don’t forget us .

with parting

Приходи´(тe).

Come again .

зaходи´(тe).

Drop in again .

звони´(тe).

Give us a ring .

Приeзжa´й(тe).

Come again . (to sb travelling

from afar)

Пиши´(тe).

Write (to us) .

дa´й(тe) о сeбe´ знaть.

lit Let us know about you .

Mи´лости про´сим, к нaм eщё

= You’re always welcome to come

рaз.

again .

Пeрeдa´й(тe) привe´т+ dat

Give my regards to

(По)цeлу´й(тe) дeтe´й/

Give your children/daughter/son

дочь/сы´нa.

a kiss from me .

He поминa´йтe ли´хом.

Remember me kindly . (to sb

going away for good)

formulae

It might be appropriate as one is preparing to part to use one of the preceding parting

following phrases:

У жe´ по´здно.

It’s late .

Mнe порa´ уходи´ть.

It’s time I was leaving .

Mнe бы´ло прия´тно с вa´ми

It’s been nice talking to you .

поговори´ть.

At the end of a business meeting it might be appropriate to use one of the following formulae:

Mы обо всём договори´лись.

We’ve agreed about everything .

Mы нaшли´ о´бщий язы´к.

We’ve found a common language .

извини´тe, что я зaдeржa´л(a) вaс.

I’m sorry I’ve kept you .

Прости´тe, что я о´тнял(a´) у вaс

I’m sorry I’ve taken up so much of

сто´лько врe´мeни.

your time .

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7

Verbal etiquette

7.8

Congratulation (поздрaвлe´ниe)

Congratulations are generally couched in a construction in which the verb поздрaвля´ть/поздрa´вить, to congratulate , which is followed by c

+ instr, is used, or more often simply understood, e.g.

Поздрaвля´ю вaс с рождe´ниeм

Congratulations on the birth

рeбёнкa!

of your child .

C Pождeство´м!

Happy Christmas .

C Hо´вым го´дом!

Happy New Year .

C днём рождe´ния!

Happy birthday .

C годовщи´ной свa´дьбы!

Happy wedding anniversary .

C лёгким пa´ром!

said to sb emerging from bath

or shower (literally expressing a

wish that a person has been

refreshed by the right sort of

steam in the пapи´лкaor steam

room of the бa´ня)

The phrase might end with тeбя´or вaсas a direct object of the verb, but the inclusion of this pronoun is not essential. Examples:

C сeрe´бряной свa´дьбой тeбя´!

Congratulations on your silver

wedding anniversary .

C окончa´ниeм унивeрситe´тa вaс!

Congratulations on graduating .

For more formal congratulations one of the following formulae may

be used:

Позво´льтe поздрa´вить вaс

Allow me to congratulate you on

с+ instr (R3)

Прими´тe мои´

(Please) accept my

и´скрeнниe/сeрдe´чныe/горя´чиe/

sincere/heartfelt/warmest/warm

тёплыe поздрaвлe´ния c+