Day 33 of 125

Day 33: A Stain Spreading on the Ceiling

In a block of flats in Minsk, a retired history teacher rings the bell of the young man who lives upstairs, because water is dripping from his ceiling.

How to study this lesson 3 steps
  1. Read the situation under the title.
  2. Read the dialogue and its translation. The audio for this lesson is coming soon.
  3. 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.

Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day

  1. A

    Добрый вечер, я ваш сосед снизу, Аркадий Семёнович. У меня кухню заливает, с потолка капает, и пятно растёт на глазах.

    Good evening, I'm your downstairs neighbour, Arkady Semyonovich. My kitchen is flooding, water is dripping from the ceiling, and the stain is growing before my eyes.

  2. B

    Ой... Секунду. Так и есть, у стиральной машины шланг прорвало, тут воды по щиколотку!

    Oh... One second. You're right, the washing machine hose has burst, the water in here is ankle-deep!

  3. A

    Перекройте, пожалуйста, воду, а разговаривать потом будем. У меня внизу уже все тазы заняты.

    Please turn off the water, and we'll talk afterwards. Every basin I own downstairs is already in use.

  4. B

    Перекрыл. Аркадий Семёнович, приношу свои извинения: я стирку поставил и в магазин выскочил, только что вернулся.

    It's off. Arkady Semyonovich, please accept my apologies: I put the washing on and popped out to the shop, I've only just got back.

  5. A

    Классика жанра, молодой человек: включить стирку и уйти из дома. А потолок я только весной побелил.

    A classic, young man: switch on the washing and leave the house. And I only whitewashed that ceiling in the spring.

  6. B

    Я всё возмещу, честное слово. Только войдите в моё положение: я в ремонт все деньги вложил.

    I'll pay for everything, I promise. Only please put yourself in my position: I sank all my money into renovating this place.

  7. A

    В положение я бы вошёл, да у меня с потолка течёт. Квартира у вас застрахована?

    I'd happily put myself in your position, but my ceiling is leaking. Is your flat insured?

  8. B

    Кажется, да, в прошлом году страховку оформлял... Точно, вот она: залив соседей тоже покрывает!

    I think so, I took out insurance last year... Yes, here it is: it covers flooding the neighbours too!

  9. A

    Тогда вызываем мастера из ЖЭС, он составит акт о заливе, а страховая пришлёт оценщика. Всё по закону.

    Then we call the technician from the housing office, he'll draw up a report on the flooding, and the insurance company will send an assessor. All by the book.

  10. B

    Спасибо, что без скандала. Я, честно говоря, думал, вы сейчас милицию вызовете.

    Thank you for not making a scene. To be honest, I thought you were about to call the police.

  11. A

    Я сорок лет в школе проработал, меня протечкой не напугаешь. А тряпки несите: акт актом, а воду собирать надо сейчас.

    I spent forty years working in a school, a leak won't frighten me. But do bring some rags: the report is one thing, but the water needs mopping up now.

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