Day 145: The Grasshopper and the Ant, Again
At a dacha near Tula in July, a grandfather working in the garden calls out to his grandson, who is lying in a hammock.
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.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day
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A
Ну что, попрыгунья стрекоза, долго ещё будешь бить баклуши? Огород сам себя не польёт.
Well, my little grasshopper, how much longer are you going to loaf around? The garden won't water itself.
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B
Дед, у меня каникулы. Я весь год учился, имею право полежать.
Grandpa, I'm on holiday. I studied all year, I've earned the right to lie around.
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A
Помнишь, как у Крылова: «Ты всё пела? Это дело: так поди же, попляши!»
Remember how Krylov puts it: "You sang all summer? Very well: now go and dance!"
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B
Там же в начале сказано: «Оглянуться не успела, как зима катит в глаза». Лето короткое, дед!
But at the start it says: "Before she could look around, winter was staring her in the face." Summer is short, Grandpa!
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A
Вот именно: зима придёт, а у нас ни картошки, ни огурцов. Кто тогда тебя кормить будет?
Exactly: winter comes, and we've got no potatoes and no cucumbers. Who's going to feed you then?
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B
Ладно, давай так: до обеда я муравей, а после обеда стрекоза.
OK, here's the deal: until lunch I'm the ant, and after lunch I'm the grasshopper.
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A
По рукам. Только утро у муравьёв, между прочим, начинается в шесть.
Deal. Only, by the way, the ants' morning starts at six.
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