Day 119: An Error in the Bridge Calculations
In a design office in Novosibirsk, a young engineer quietly asks a trusted older colleague for a word in private.
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
Юрий Михайлович, можно вас на пару слов? Кажется, я нашёл ошибку в расчётах по мосту.
Yuri Mikhailovich, could I have a word? I think I've found a mistake in the bridge calculations.
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B
Надеюсь, у себя? Свою исправить легко, а чужую, сам знаешь, дело тонкое.
Your own, I hope? Correcting your own is easy, but someone else's, as you know, is a delicate matter.
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A
В том-то и дело. У Виктора Павловича, похоже, не тот коэффициент по снеговой нагрузке.
That's just it. Viktor Pavlovich seems to have used the wrong coefficient for the snow load.
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B
У главного инженера... Ты уверен? Он тридцать лет мосты считает.
The chief engineer... Are you sure? He's been doing bridge calculations for thirty years.
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A
Трижды проверил. Подставлять никого не хочу, но и промолчать не могу: по этому мосту людям ездить.
I checked it three times. I don't want to land anyone in trouble, but I can't keep quiet either: people will be driving over this bridge.
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B
Правильно. Тем не менее на планёрку с этим не ходи: человек он гордый, при всех ему будет вдвойне обидно.
Quite right. Even so, don't take this to the team meeting: he's a proud man, and in front of everyone it would hurt him twice as much.
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A
А как тогда? Как бы это помягче, чтобы он не решил, что мальчишка его учить вздумал?
Then how? How do I put it gently, so he doesn't think some boy has decided to teach him his job?
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B
Подойди к нему не с ошибкой, а с вопросом: мол, не сходится, помогите разобраться. Он найдёт её сам, ибо голова у него светлая.
Don't go to him with a mistake, go with a question: something like, it doesn't add up, help me figure it out. He'll find it himself, for he has a sharp mind.
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A
Выходит, ошибку найдёт он, а я просто вовремя спрошу. Мудро, пойду распечатаю расчёты.
So he'll find the mistake, and I'll just ask at the right moment. That's wise, I'll go and print out the calculations.
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