Russian/Lesson 1

Describing language skills

Read the dialogue of two well-acquainted people - Ivan (male) and Olga (female):

Cultural note Russian has a variety of ways to address a person. Personal names have at least 3 forms: full (Константин), short (Костя) and pet (Костик, Костенька). Other possible forms are vulgar (Костян) and familiar (Костька). Note that Russians almost never use full forms of personal names.

Иван: Привет, Ольга.

Ivan: Hi, Olga.

Ольга:Привет.

Hi.

Иван:Слушай, ты китайский хорошо знаешь?

Listen, do you speak Chinese well?

Ольга:Да, а что?

Yes; why?

Иван:К нам партнёры из Китая завтра приезжают, а переводчик заболел. Не могла бы ты его заменить? Мы заплатим.

We have an appointment with partners from China tomorrow, but our interpreter has fallen ill. Could you please replace him? We'll pay.

Ольга:Конечно.

Sure.

Cultural note Привет is the most popular informal greeting. Expression "Привет. Как дела?" (Hi, How are you?) is often used to begin conversation.