Thread: The very basics (Хорошо... Как Ты)

After self-studying Russian for quite a bit, from several different books, I've come to realise that the art of translation is difficult, and often books offer translations that literally translate, while others will use the equivalent of what words would be used in the same situation, but not necessarily meaning exactly the same thing.

I simply wanted someone to post a simple opening conversation, along the lines of;

- Hello!
- Hello!
- How are you?
- Good thankyou, and yourself?
- All is well

... now I want a translation which would be used in similar situation, not a literal translation of the above, so if anyone could post several different variations on a classic opening conversation starter and explain what the words actually mean I'd be very grateful.

The confusion stems from the fact that in English, where I would say "I am good", my friend tells me that Russians simply say Хорошо (an adverb if I'm correct). So what is the verb it is adding to, similarly with как дела, как ты, как твои дела. I know roughly what they mean but be nice to have a really technical, in-depth view of the grammar behind these simple opening words.

Phatic expression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

- Как (идут) твои дела?
- Дела мои идут хорошо.

"Мои дела" is already in the question, no need to repeat it within the answer. "Идут" is just skipped.

Как ты = Как ты поживаешь?
Я хороший (I am good) = I am drunk (slang)

Originally Posted by maxmixiv

Я хороший (I am good) = I am drunk (slang)

I have never heard it.

Originally Posted by Marcus

I have never heard it.

Тут есть, пункт №5
хороший — Викисловарь

Originally Posted by ShakeyX

The confusion stems from the fact that in English, where I would say "I am good", my friend tells me that Russians simply say Хорошо (an adverb if I'm correct). So what is the verb it is adding to, similarly with как дела, как ты, как твои дела. I know roughly what they mean but be nice to have a really technical, in-depth view of the grammar behind these simple opening words.

Я хорошо, meaning 'I am well, (good)' in English, хорошо is an adverb describing 'am.' So when a person is asking "How are things?" and someone replies "Good." it is the same concept in both languages.

Similarly, it is possible to hear:

"Добрый день."
"Добрый день."
"Как ты поживаешь?"
"Спасибо, (поживаю) хорошо. А ты?"
"Тоже хорошо."

"Good day."
"Good day."
"How are you (getting along)?"
"Well, thank you. And you?"
"I am also well."

so you don't answer нормально any more?

Normally, we say "нормально". But many other phrases are in use too.

Отлично / Превосходно / Великолепно / Замечательно / ...
Хорошо / Всё путём /
Так себе / Не очень / Да как-то так / Да ничего / ...
Паршиво / Фигово / Хреново / ...

Паршиво / Фигово / Хреново / ? Never of those...the last two don't even translate in the dictionary for me. I assume it means slang for bed things since I know "fig" and "hren"...

The reason I asked is because I was told that answering я хорошо sounded wrong but as it is я (есмь) хорошо I was confused to why it couldn't be used. I understand its not neccessary in the conversation as we know the subject but I just wondered if it was grammatically correct.

So what's the difference between я хорошо and я хороший. Does the latter sound like 'I am a good person' or something?

Originally Posted by ShakeyX

So what's the difference between я хорошо and я хороший. Does the latter sound like 'I am a good person' or something?

Yes, Я хороший = I'm a good person.
Я хорошо sounds incomplete, because you should specify what exactly is "good" with you. For example: Я хорошо провел время в Чебоксарах = I had a good time in Cheboksary. Here "хорошо" refers to "провел время".

Originally Posted by ShakeyX

The reason I asked is because I was told that answering я хорошо sounded wrong but as it is я (есмь) хорошо I was confused to why it couldn't be used. I understand its not neccessary in the conversation as we know the subject but I just wondered if it was grammatically correct.

So what's the difference between я хорошо and я хороший. Does the latter sound like 'I am a good person' or something?

‘Мне (not Я) хорошо’ makes perfect sense and it stands for 'I feel good'. You cannot say ‘Мне есть хорошо’ in that meaning, though. By and large, you need to omit the linking ‘есть’ in most cases and memorize the cases where it is preserved as exceptions. Что есть истина? (What is truth?), but истина - в вине (in vino veritas./ in wine there is truth). There is also a good modern pun about ‘есть’. Счастье есть, оно не может не есть. Happiness exists (in eating), it can’t help eating.

you can say 'ya horosho' can't you?

Originally Posted by Valda

Паршиво / Фигово / Хреново / ? Never of those...the last two don't even translate in the dictionary for me. I assume it means slang for bed things since I know "fig" and "hren"...

Exactly!
Хреново has been derived from adjective хреновый, which should be in serious dictionaries.
Here is the example for memorizing хреновый:

Игорь Иртеньев | * * *

Originally Posted by alexnoel

you can say 'ya horosho' can't you?

Only if you break it in two short sentences.

- Как ты себя чувствуешь?
- Я? Хорошо!

Originally Posted by Paul G.

Yes, Я хороший = I'm a good person.

No, you look despicable on your avatar

Originally Posted by Doomer

No, you look despicable on your avatar

Га?

Originally Posted by Lampada

Га?

что такое га?

Originally Posted by maxmixiv

Exactly!
Хреново has been derived from adjective хреновый, which should be in serious dictionaries.
Here is the example for memorizing хреновый:

Игорь Иртеньев | * * *

http://video.yandex.ru/redir/search/...8C%D0%B5%D0%B2



Дружно катятся года
С песнями под горку,
Жизнь проходит, господа,
Как оно ни горько.

Ёлки-палки, лес густой,
Трюфели-опята,
Был я раньше мен крутой,
Вышел весь куда-то.

Ноу смокинг, ноу фрак,
Даже хау ноу,
У меня один пиджак
Да и тот хреновый.

Нету денег, нету баб,
Кончилась халява,
То канава, то ухаб,
То опять канава.

Пыльной грудою в углу
Свалена посуда,
Ходит муха по столу,
Топает, паскуда.

На гвозде висит Ватто,
Подлинник к тому же,
На Ватто висит пальто,
Рукава наружу.

У дороги две ветлы,
Вдоль дороги просо,
Девки спрыгнули с иглы,
Сели на колеса.

Не ходите, девки, в лес
По ночам без мамки,
Наберёте лишний вес,
Попадёте в дамки.

Не ходите с козырей,
Не ходите в баню,
Ты еврей и я еврей,
Оба мы цыгане.
1992

Originally Posted by Doomer

что такое га?

Ась?