Questions tagged [usage]
Covers questions about the usage of a particular word or phrase in different situations and contexts.
2
votes
2answers
172 views
When is человек used as the word man instead of мужчина
I am coming across sentences where человек is used instead of мужчина, when does this happen and why?
Example:
That man is not a professor he is a doctor
Этот человек не профессор доктор
...
3
votes
2answers
123 views
difference between “расскажите мне” and “скажите мне”
What is the difference between "расскажите мне" and "скажите мне"?
Both mean, tell me!?
And also may I remove мне in both cases?
0
votes
3answers
117 views
римановое многообразие or риманово многообразие?
In mathematics the technical term Riemann manifold (or Riemannian manifold) denotes a type of space investigated by the nineteenth century German mathematician Bernhard Riemann.
The corresponding ...
2
votes
3answers
172 views
What is the difference between “зато” and “но”?
i don't understand the difference between them, feel free to add examples
i was given this sentence for зато and dint see why но couldn't be substituted for it.
i don't like the metro and the airport ...
4
votes
5answers
223 views
When can we omit есть?
In the village (there is) only one new house
В деревне только один новый дом
Here (there is) only one place
Здесь только одно место
In the apartment (there is) a big room
В квартире большая комната
...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
познакомиться as the answer of очень приятно
Is it so informal to answer "очень приятно" with "познакомиться" ?
3
votes
4answers
183 views
“only real words” in Russian - Только настоящие слова?
When you define someone, for example say to a girl that you have a beautiful smile(У тебя красивая улыбка) and she says: oh thanks you can answer her: "only real words!"
So is it correct sentence in ...
3
votes
2answers
153 views
What's the difference between “неважно” and “ничего”
What's the difference between "неважно" and "ничего"?
As I understand both mean "never mind", but what about usage?
for example when I ask somebody but he/she can't understand me, can I use both of ...
11
votes
8answers
4k views
Good for you! in Russian
Somebody say: I took the full test score
And I answer: Good for you!
which one is correct in Russian:
"хорошо для тебя"
or
"повезло тебе"
And also we use "тебе на пользу" in another situation like: ...
4
votes
2answers
207 views
Usage of “же”, why?
Why we should use "же" in this sentence:
где же ручка?
Without "же" this sentence is also complete!
And also I saw in another sentences, too.
And "же" means same or again?
2
votes
3answers
110 views
meaning and usage of “что ты”
What is the meaning of "что ты" when person uses it during conversation like this:
Это твой папа?
Нет! что ты! Это мой дядя.
It means, what are you saying? or you are saying wrong thing!
And another ...
1
vote
1answer
75 views
difference between “как это устроено” and “как это работает”
What is the difference between "как это устроено" and "как это работает"?
Both mean "how it works"?
1
vote
3answers
113 views
In what category does soft sign and hard sign fall into?
I know that the soft and hard signs are not consonants or vowels, but do they fall into as masculine, feminine, or neuter?
Коктейль ? , do we put один одна or одно
3
votes
4answers
139 views
Sentence structure in the following sentences
I was given these sentence at http://masterrussian.com/aa060500a.shtml so they can show me how flexible the sentence structure in the Russian language is (these sentences are supposedly similar):
1) ...
0
votes
3answers
104 views
The difference between “пойди”, “иди” and “начни идти”?
What's the difference between "пойди", "иди" and "начни идти"?
"Иди" is imperfective, while "пойди" and "начни идти" are perfective. However, as far as I know, both "иди" and "начни идти" are used in ...
5
votes
2answers
217 views
What does it mean if a girl puts “есть друг” in Семейное положение? [duplicate]
I'd like to know what if a girl wrote "есть друг" in her marital status, what does this mean?
2
votes
2answers
210 views
What does it mean if a girl puts “есть подруга” in Семейное положение?
I google it and found the word "подруга" means "girlfriend". Does it mean "girlfriend" or "a friend who is a female"? If it means a friend who is a female, it seems weird that she put "есть подруга" ...
2
votes
2answers
119 views
If the gender is implied in the verb do i still have to put 'он' 'она' 'оно'?
To explain my question i will give this example of a sentence:
она говорила это (Lit. She said that)
говорила это (Lit. Said that) but (Implied. She said that)
Is it necessary for me to have она in ...
1
vote
2answers
240 views
Origins, usage and connotations of the word “швабода”?
Drawing an analogy with "дерьмократия" I think "швабода" is a derisive and probably vulgar way of saying "свобода" (freedom), but please can someone fill me in on the origins, usage, and connotations ...
4
votes
3answers
124 views
Is it acceptable to use two “до этого”s with two different meanings like this?
In conversation, I just said:
Именно. Так мы сможем получить столько средств, сколько нам хватит. Никто еще не додумался до этого. Это же гениально!
Leaving aside the question of stylistic ...
3
votes
4answers
153 views
“Много народа” or “много народу”
I have been doing some reading lately, and became aware of the two phrases 'много народа' and 'много народу'. According to Google Ngrams, both are current (although 'много народу' is 2x more frequent)...
6
votes
3answers
231 views
Difference between “папа” and “отец”?
In Russian is there a difference between папа and отец? If there is, is it like Dad vs Daddy in English?
1
vote
3answers
137 views
How do I express “aren’t”?
I was given this to translate in Russian: "Really? Aren’t they playing on Tuesday?"
I translated it: "Правда? Они не играют не во вторник". ( I did this still without fully understand how to write ...
4
votes
2answers
111 views
Usage of “рваться”
The context: They were talking about a gate they couldn't open and pass through. But they weren't so eager to venture too deep into the forest to begin with.
... но мы не особо-то сюда и рвались.
...
7
votes
3answers
508 views
“Апартаменты” or “квартира”
When studying I always come across words such as apartment, when I search many dictionaries I sometimes get an exact translation апартамент, but there is also another Russian word that has the exact ...
5
votes
3answers
104 views
Why does “подальше”, not “дальше”, seem like a choice by default in some phrasings?
Ты что, собираешься перебраться в деревню, подальше от любопытных глаз?
{vs}: Ты что, собираешься перебраться в деревню, дальше от любопытных глаз?
Так засунь подальше свои эмоции и решай ...
4
votes
3answers
91 views
When to use «вдвое/втрое/etc» rather than «в два/три/etc раза»
Говорят, что это в самом деле были огромные медведи в два раза больше любого человека!
Говорят, что это в самом деле были огромные медведи вдвое больше любого человека!
I'm a bit fuzzy on when I ...
3
votes
3answers
135 views
Does the oxymoronic use of “здо́рово” sound slangish?
In conversation, I said jokingly:
Может, ты кому-то здо́рово насолила? Например, этому человеку, не пораженному пагубной страстью к роскошным автомобилям.
Somewhere along the way, I got used to ...
1
vote
2answers
120 views
Proper usage for “No X, Y, Z” sign?
I've created this sign for a bathroom in a property that I rent out:
(And yes, before you ask - I have fished several such items out of toilets in the past.)
Is the wording correct? I'm particularly ...
11
votes
2answers
998 views
Idiomatic Signage: “No children”, “Children not allowed on table”, etc.?
Let's say you had a nice pool table. And some people were ruining it by putting their small children on top of it and letting them walk around and bang on it.
In American English, you might put a ...
5
votes
4answers
161 views
How to interpret “ведь” in this specific instance?
Почему ты так спокоен, ведь твой друг в опасности?
The usage of "ведь" in this specific instance pulled me up short because in my mind the second clause seems like an affirmative statement:
Почему ...
6
votes
1answer
150 views
“You get the picture”
The literal translation that is found to be most closely equivalent to the English meaning of this is
Вы поЛучите картину,
but I don’t know if that is just the literal meaning of saying ‘...
3
votes
3answers
89 views
3
votes
1answer
71 views
Purpose of ‘уже’ in this sentence
Я плохо говорю по-португальски, но уже хорошо читаю. (Literal meaning: i speak Portuguese badly, but read (it) well.
The literal meaning of уже is ‘already’, but at the same time i know it expresses ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
“Не берись …” vs “Не вздумай …”
Не берись утверждать, что ты действительно знаешь, какая она.
Не вздумай утверждать, что ты действительно знаешь, какая она.
I'm wondering how they are nuanced. Is the former about telling them ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Difference between usage of ‘удивление’ и ‘сюрприз’
I was given this sentence:
Я делаю сюрприз (Im preparing a surprise)
But i was also given удивление as when you pop out and yell surprise*
What is the difference of usage between the two, i searched ...
3
votes
1answer
65 views
Usage of “у них у всех” vs “у них всех”
In conversation, I just said:
Некоторых ссор время от времени просто не избежать. У них у всех ведь нет ничего общего.
Nuance-wise, how does the dual-prepositional-style "у них у всех" sound, ...
3
votes
2answers
63 views
Difference of usage between ‘право, правда, and действительно’?
What is the difference in usage between them, i couldnt find anything online and правда и действительно have the same definitions.
4
votes
3answers
106 views
How are “в случае чего” and “чуть что” nuanced?
In conversation, I just said:
Ни за что! Мне нужно быть налегке, чтобы, в случае чего, я мог бы быстренько отправиться.
We were talking about how I like travelling light on business trips. I ...
3
votes
1answer
59 views
When to use “а ведь”, as opposed to “хотя/хоть”
Она больше не знает, что к чему, а ведь ей почти всегда это было понятно.
I'm wondering when it is preferable to use "а ведь" to show contrast.
Она больше не знает, что к чему, хотя ей почти ...
6
votes
3answers
98 views
How to use an incomplete “чтобы” subordinate clause
Чтобы ты управляла лодкой? Еще чего! Ты еще не в силах справиться с ней в одиночку!
In conversation, I sometimes use an incomplete "чтобы" subordinate clause like this to express an element of ...
3
votes
2answers
54 views
Nuances of meaning between “Если бы”, “Вот бы”, and “Вот если бы”
Если бы и в жизни было так.
Вот бы и в жизни было так.
Вот если бы и в жизни было так.
In conversation, I tend to use whichever comes to mind first, but I'm wondering how they are nuanced.
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Usage of the structure “кто …, у того …”
А кто пачкается за столом, у того и душа запятнана.
I just heard this, and given the context, I assume that the combination of "кто ..., у того ..." means "those who ...". I wonder if this is a ...
1
vote
3answers
103 views
Which is the best way to convey “You're lucky that you're not here” in Russian?
The translators all give different meanings but which is the most appropriate way to say it?
Твоё счастье, что ты не здесь ( счастье’s main meaning is happiness)
Тебе повезло, что тебя здесь нет (...
3
votes
3answers
117 views
The meaning and usage of “Куда + dative + noun”
Куда нам еще однa шляпа, и так уже целый склад.
I just heard my girlfriend say this, and I'm not familiar with this particular usage of "куда". What does this sentence mean? Is it meant as a ...
6
votes
3answers
274 views
The meaning and usage of “не то чтобы”
Они не то чтобы открыть, а даже сдвинуть его с места не могут.
I'm familiar with the expression "Не то чтобы" -- in the sense of "Not that ..." -- placed at the beginning of a subordinate clause, but ...
2
votes
2answers
95 views
Nuances between “… бы … ни …” and “неважно, …”
Какое бы положение ты ни занимал в обществе, ...
Неважно, какое положение занимаешь в обществе, ...
Не важно, какое положение занимаешь в обществе, ...
I tend to use these subordinate ...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
Difference between “друг другу всем” and “все … друг другу”
Мы будем помогать друг другу всем.
I wonder how placing "всем" after "друг другу" compares with:
Мы все будем помогать друг другу.
Is it just a stylistic difference, or are they nuanced?
2
votes
3answers
168 views
Usage of “Ничего, если … ?”
Ничего, если я поживу здесь какое-то время?
I hear this expression in conversation from time to time. How polite does it sound; is it appropriate for use in formal settings such as business meetings? ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
What is the purpose of “a” in these sentences if not *and*
These are the images from the lessons im taking
