Day 89 of 125

Day 89: The Guest Who Stayed Three Weeks

In a flat in Saint Petersburg, Lyokha complains to his friend Denis about a school friend from Norilsk who is staying with him.

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

    Слушай, Денис, я больше не могу. Вовка приехал из Норильска «на пару деньков», а живёт у меня уже три недели.

    Listen, Denis, I can't take it any more. Vovka came from Norilsk "for a couple of days", and he's been living at my place for three weeks now.

  2. B

    Ну ты же сам говорил: школьный друг, сто лет не виделись. Что, уже соскучился по одиночеству?

    Well, you said it yourself: old school friend, haven't seen each other in ages. What, missing your solitude already?

  3. A

    Он оккупировал мой диван, подъедает мои пельмени, а выгонять неудобно. Как бы ему намекнуть, чтобы не обиделся?

    He's occupied my sofa, he's working his way through my dumplings, and it feels awkward to throw him out. How can I drop him a hint without offending him?

  4. B

    Давай отрепетируем. Начни издалека, ненавязчиво: «Вов, а как там Норильск, не скучает по тебе?»

    Let's rehearse. Start from afar, gently: "Vov, how's Norilsk doing, isn't it missing you?"

  5. A

    Пробовал. Он говорит, что в Норильске минус сорок и полярная ночь, а у меня тепло и Эрмитаж рядом.

    Tried it. He says in Norilsk it's minus forty and polar night, while at my place it's warm and the Hermitage is round the corner.

  6. B

    Тогда пословица. За ужином, как бы между прочим: «В гостях, конечно, хорошо, а дома, говорят, лучше».

    Then a proverb. Over dinner, just in passing: "Being a guest is nice, of course, but home, they say, is better."

  7. A

    А он ответит: «Вот и я говорю, Лёха, у тебя как дома». Его намёками не прошибёшь, он ещё в школе был толстокожим.

    And he'll say: "That's what I'm saying, Lyokha, it's just like home at yours." Hints don't get through to him, he was thick-skinned even at school.

  8. B

    Хорошо, тяжёлая артиллерия. «Вова, не пора ли и честь знать?» Коротко, по-старинному, и никто не ругается.

    Fine, heavy artillery. "Vova, don't you think you've outstayed your welcome?" Short, old-fashioned, and nobody's swearing.

  9. A

    Грубовато как-то. Школьный друг всё-таки, мы с ним десять лет за одной партой сидели.

    A bit rude, somehow. He's my school friend after all, we sat at the same desk for ten years.

  10. B

    Тогда совсем прямо: купи ему билет до Норильска и положи на подушку. Такой намёк, согласись, трудно истолковать превратно.

    Then be totally direct: buy him a ticket to Norilsk and put it on his pillow. You'll agree, a hint like that is hard to misread.

  11. A

    Погоди, он в чат пишет. «Лёха, отличные новости! Меня взяли на работу в Питере, поживу у тебя, пока квартиру не найду».

    Hang on, he's writing in the chat. "Lyokha, great news! I got a job in Petersburg, I'll stay at yours till I find a flat."

  12. B

    Поздравляю, гостеприимство у тебя теперь бессрочное. Дивану, кстати, передай мои соболезнования.

    Congratulations, your hospitality is now open-ended. And give my condolences to the sofa.

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