Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Trouble with a few things

  1. #1
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    St. Louis, USA
    Posts
    353
    Rep Power
    13

    Trouble with a few things

    Hey all,

    I'm writing a letter to a friend in Russia, and for the most part I think i've got it. However, i'm having trouble with a couple of expressions that I want to use in the letter, and i'd like to solicit your help

    I hope this letter finds you in good health

    I can't wait to return

    Happy Thanksgiving

    I hope things are going well with your new boss

    Anyway, if i could get some help with these translations, it'd make life a lot easier. Thanks in advance!

    tdk

  2. #2
    Властелин
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Moscow, Russia
    Posts
    1,437
    Rep Power
    15

    Re: Trouble with a few things

    I hope this letter finds you in good health - надеюсь, что ты не болеешь or надеюсь что у тебя все в порядке - this one has a wider meaning but it is used more often IMO (there's also a more literal translation but it sounds too formal and archaic - надеюсь, что это письмо застанет Вас в добром здравии)

    I can't wait to return - мне не терпится вернуться; с нетерпением жду, когда я вернусь (also it is sounds better if you mention a place were you are going to return)

    Happy Thanksgiving - счастливого Дня благодарения

    I hope things are going well with your new boss - надеюсь, что с новым боссом у тебя всё гладко
    "Happy new year, happy new year
    May we all have a vision now and then
    Of a world where every neighbour is a friend"

  3. #3
    DDT
    DDT is offline
    Завсегдатай DDT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    I have given up the Gambling, the Wine and the Cows!.. I'm in St Petersburg Russia
    Posts
    3,368
    Rep Power
    17

    Re: Trouble with a few things

    Quote Originally Posted by Friendy
    боссом
    Somehow I was hoping for a more Russian sounding translation!!!
    Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself. - Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

  4. #4
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    St. Louis, USA
    Posts
    353
    Rep Power
    13
    Thanks for the help! On the last one, I wasn't even sure if there was an expression for 'Happy Thanksgiving' because I thought it was pretty much an american thing. It's actually an inside joke with us, i'm sending them a turkey :P

    tdk

  5. #5
    Завсегдатай kalinka_vinnie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Sunnyvale, Cali
    Posts
    5,771
    Rep Power
    18
    Actually, I have invented a new Russian word for Thanksgiving (День благодарения is too bulky):

    БЛАГОСПАСИБО

    как вам?
    Hei, rett norsken min og du er død.
    I am a notourriouse misspeller. Be easy on me.
    Пожалуйста! Исправляйте мои глупые ошибки (но оставьте умные)!
    Yo hablo español mejor que tú.
    Trusnse kal'rt eturule sikay!!! ))

  6. #6
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    в небе
    Posts
    2,223
    Rep Power
    16
    I'd say спасибодавание :)

  7. #7
    Властелин
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Moscow, Russia
    Posts
    1,437
    Rep Power
    15
    "День благодарения" is a common translation that can be found in dictionaries.
    Quote Originally Posted by tdk2fe
    On the last one, I wasn't even sure if there was an expression for 'Happy Thanksgiving' because I thought it was pretty much an american thing.
    Sure, there is no Thanksgiving Day in Russia but congratulations are rather standard, all you have to do is to replace the name of a holiday.
    "Happy new year, happy new year
    May we all have a vision now and then
    Of a world where every neighbour is a friend"

  8. #8
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Almaty (former Alma-Ata), Kazakhstan
    Posts
    920
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Trouble with a few things

    Quote Originally Posted by DDT
    Quote Originally Posted by Friendy
    боссом
    Somehow I was hoping for a more Russian sounding translation!!!
    Босс = начальник = шеф (the latter isn't so widely used as the first two).
    Please correct my mistakes if you can, especially article usage.
    My avatar shall be the author I'm currently reading.

  9. #9
    DDT
    DDT is offline
    Завсегдатай DDT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    I have given up the Gambling, the Wine and the Cows!.. I'm in St Petersburg Russia
    Posts
    3,368
    Rep Power
    17

    Re: Trouble with a few things

    Quote Originally Posted by Vadim84
    Quote Originally Posted by DDT
    Quote Originally Posted by Friendy
    боссом
    Somehow I was hoping for a more Russian sounding translation!!!
    Босс = начальник = шеф (the latter isn't so widely used as the first two).
    All of my books use the word начальник.
    Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself. - Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

  10. #10
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Almaty (former Alma-Ata), Kazakhstan
    Posts
    920
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Trouble with a few things

    Quote Originally Posted by DDT
    All of my books use the word начальник.
    Yes, that's the most apropriate word. I'd say "босс" sometimes (depends on the context) sounds a bit informal and ironic.
    Please correct my mistakes if you can, especially article usage.
    My avatar shall be the author I'm currently reading.

  11. #11
    Властелин
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Residing in an unknown place
    Posts
    1,400
    Rep Power
    14
    I totally agree with Vadim84 that начальник is the most appropriate word of all. Ironic - very true...
    "A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read"
    Mark Twain
    American author/essayist (1835-1910)
    WHSmith

Similar Threads

  1. Vocab trouble
    By JackBoni in forum German
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: April 19th, 2009, 04:33 PM
  2. Having trouble with т's and д's
    By rainbowworrier in forum Pronunciation, Speech & Accent
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: June 14th, 2007, 08:15 PM
  3. If it isnt to much trouble....
    By *Krysten* in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: January 13th, 2007, 04:32 AM
  4. Having trouble with more words!
    By Marios in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: June 8th, 2006, 12:08 PM
  5. Pimsleur's "things or things"
    By Haksaw in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: March 27th, 2006, 09:53 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary