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I find it difficult to understand how to translate some English expressions used to "link" sentences in order to make your language more fluent. For example:

"Ok let's meet tomorrow at 9... By the way, you can ask your friends if they want to join us"

Or

"blablabla(long speech going on)...anyway, let's cut this boring conversation short — I want to show you my new car" --> change of topic

or

"I forgot to buy the cake. It doesn't do much good, anyway"

How can each of these sentences be expressed in Russian? Please provide me with some formal/informal variants (if they exist).

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4 Answers 4

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By the way usually corresponds to кстати.

By the way, you can ask your friends if they want to join us --> Кстати, ты можешь пригласить своих друзей

Anyway can be different depending on context.

Anyway, let's cut this boring conversation --> Ладно, давай оставим этот скучный разговор (or maybe simply "Ладно, хватит об этом")

But

It doesn't do much good, anyway --> А, всё равно это ни к чему (or maybe Всё равно бе́з толку)

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The usual translation of "by the way" is "кстати" or "к слову" or "между прочим".

The usual phrase used where an English speaker would use "anyway" is "как бы то ни было" or any other introductory phrase or word, like, "ну", "ну что же", etc.

"Ok let's meet tomorrow at 9... By the way, you can ask your friends if they want to join us"

would be
"Ладно, давайте встретимся завтра в 9... Кстати, вы можете спросить своих друзей, не хотят ли они к нам присоединиться.

And the sentence

"Anyway, let's cut this boring conversaion, I want to show you my new car."

would be
"Ну, давайте прекратим эту пустую болтовню, я хочу вам свою новую "тачку" показать."

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    I'd add "в любом случае" as a translation for "anyway"
    – Roman
    Commented Oct 30, 2015 at 6:00
  • And I'd add "как бы то ни было" to anyway. That's a bit long, of course, but I use it sometimes.
    – Andrey Stukalin
    Commented Oct 30, 2015 at 8:56
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    None of your "anyways" work for the "let's cut this boring conversation" one. It should be either в общем or короче.
    – Nikolay Ershov
    Commented Oct 30, 2015 at 9:02
  • In case of "let's cut this boring conversation" you can also use "ладно". It's closer to "OK" by meaning, but it's used in such cases rather frequently.
    – Alissa
    Commented Oct 30, 2015 at 10:20
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by the way = между прочим, кстати

anyway = в любом случае

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"By the way" - Впрочем, к слову сказать(or говоря), между прочим, кстати,

Literally : по дороге, по пути

Colloquial : кстати сказать.

And, indeed, you can use "по пути" or "попутно"(it's better) whatever you need, this usage implies the usual level of figurative, metaphoric logic for Russian.

Я объяснял эту тему и попутно рычал как медведь.

"Anyway" : во всяком случае, в любом случае, как бы то ни было, каким бы то ни было образом, как бы то ни было, как-нибудь, всё равно как, так или иначе...

and любым путем :>

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