Day 125: Grandfather Turns Ninety
At his ninetieth birthday party in Minsk, a grandfather gathers his son, his grandson and his twelve-year-old great-grandson Vanya around the table to hand out his treasures.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title.
- Read the dialogue and its translation. The audio for this lesson is coming soon.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Russian audio, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio for this lesson is coming soon. For now, read the dialogue and its translation.
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A
Ну, раз уж все четыре поколения за одним столом, слушайте. Девяносто лет я добро копил, пора раздавать, пока руки не дрожат.
Well, since all four generations are at one table, listen. I've spent ninety years saving up my treasures, and it's time to hand them out while my hands are still steady.
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B
Пап, может, не сегодня? Юбилей всё-таки, праздник, а ты будто завещание зачитываешь.
Dad, maybe not today? It's your birthday, a celebration, and you sound like you're reading out a will.
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A
Не завещание, Коля, а заветы, почувствуй разницу. Держи: часы «Полёт», мне их на тракторном за сорок лет у станка вручили.
Not a will, Kolya, advice to live by, feel the difference. Here: a Polyot watch, they gave it to me at the tractor works for forty years at the machine.
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B
Помню, пап, ты их по праздникам надевал, а заводил каждое утро, как ритуал. И какой к ним завет?
I remember, Dad, you wore it on holidays, but you wound it every morning, like a ritual. And what's the advice that goes with it?
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A
Завет простой: часы время показывают, а не прибавляют. Не трать его на обиды, Коля: я с братом десять лет не разговаривал, а теперь не с кем.
The advice is simple: a watch shows time, it doesn't add any. Don't waste it on grudges, Kolya: I didn't speak to my brother for ten years, and now there's no one to speak to.
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C
Дед, а удочки? Я на них с тобой на Нарочи первого леща вытащил, помнишь?
Grandpa, what about the fishing rods? I landed my first bream on them with you on Lake Naroch, remember?
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A
Как не помнить: лещ был с ладошку, а к вечеру ты его уже до весла дорастил. Держи, бамбуковые, им шестьдесят лет.
How could I forget: the bream was the size of your palm, and by evening you'd grown it to the size of an oar. Here, bamboo ones, they're sixty years old.
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C
Спасибо, дед. А завет какой? Терпение и не врать про улов?
Thanks, Grandpa. And what's the advice? Be patient and don't lie about your catch?
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A
Терпению рыба сама научит. А завет такой: не езди на рыбалку от кого-то, езди с кем-то, вот как мы с тобой.
The fish will teach you patience by themselves. The advice is this: don't go fishing to get away from someone, go with someone, the way you and I did.
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D
Прадедушка, а мне что-нибудь достанется? Я не жадный, просто спрашиваю.
Great-grandpa, will I get anything? I'm not greedy, I'm just asking.
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A
Тебе, Ванечка, самое дорогое: шахматы. На этой доске я полвека в парке Горького обыгрывал всех, кто садился. А завет такой: не торопись и ферзя не зевай.
For you, Vanechka, the most precious thing: the chess set. On this board I beat everyone who sat down with me in Gorky Park for half a century. And the advice is this: don't rush, and don't blunder your queen.
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D
Не зевну, прадедушка. А можно мы прямо сейчас сыграем, пока все торт режут? Только, чур, без поддавков!
I won't, Great-grandpa. Can we play right now, while everyone's cutting the cake? But no letting me win, that's the rule!
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