Difference between revisions of "Template:Russians interpret the question of “How are you?” and strangers asking personal questions very differently than Americans"

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(Russians who know each other well may answer the questions “how are you” i.e. kak dela with humorous answers that might make no sense to foreign friends. Russians don’t use these informal phrases with people who they don’t know very well. “P)
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Sometimes, even strangers in Russia can act like Americans and ask personal questions, especially if they will be spending a long time together. For example, absolutely unknown people on an overnight train may share their food and ask why a person is not married or have no kids.<ref name="anna">Sorokina, Anna. (2018, July). What should you say when Russians ask ‘How are you’? Russia Beyond. https://www.rbth.com/education/328673-how-are-you-russian</ref>  
 
Sometimes, even strangers in Russia can act like Americans and ask personal questions, especially if they will be spending a long time together. For example, absolutely unknown people on an overnight train may share their food and ask why a person is not married or have no kids.<ref name="anna">Sorokina, Anna. (2018, July). What should you say when Russians ask ‘How are you’? Russia Beyond. https://www.rbth.com/education/328673-how-are-you-russian</ref>  
  
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|Russians who know each other well may answer the questions “how are you” i.e. kak dela  with  humorous answers that might make no sense to foreign friends. Russians don’t use these informal phrases with people who they don’t know very well.  
 
|Russians who know each other well may answer the questions “how are you” i.e. kak dela  with  humorous answers that might make no sense to foreign friends. Russians don’t use these informal phrases with people who they don’t know very well.  
  

Revision as of 18:36, 26 September 2020

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Americans are:

1. more likely than those from many cultures to smile at strangers,

2. to ask “how are you?” (which is a form of “hello” to Americans)

3. to ask several personal discussions with people they hardly know.

Kak dela?

Russians like to ask about your mood: How do you feel today? How is everything? In American culture, however, it is not accepted to respond to these questions in detail. In contrast, when a Russian asks about your mood, he’s ready to hear the full story.

If you know the Russian who asked you “How are you?” well they may consider an answer such as “fine” as insincere, or think that you’re hiding something. When they ask what exactly is “fine,” you should add something. You don't need to make a full confession; you can just say, “fine, I feel cold today,” or add an emotion.

Russians are a rather emotional people, and they always share their feelings with everyone. An answer such as: “Fine” plus an emotion will be the same short polite answer that you can use in order to respond to “How are you?” In Russia, it’s normal to share private emotions with friends and to find a way to solve the problem together.

Sometimes, even strangers in Russia can act like Americans and ask personal questions, especially if they will be spending a long time together. For example, absolutely unknown people on an overnight train may share their food and ask why a person is not married or have no kids.[1]

Russians who know each other well may answer the questions “how are you” i.e. kak dela with humorous answers that might make no sense to foreign friends. Russians don’t use these informal phrases with people who they don’t know very well.

“Poka ne rodila” (“I have not given birth yet”) – a woman may jokingly respond this way, meaning that everything is ok (this rhymes with the word “dela” in Russian).

“Kak sazha bela” (“Things are all right as soot is white”) – also a joking rhyme used mostly by seniors.

“Vsyo v shokolade” (“Everything is in chocolate”) – everything is super and you want to show it.

“Vsyo puchkom” (“Everything is in the form of a bunch”) – means you’re fine and feel like a bunch of dill; Russians love dill and it’s good when your things are like a bunch.

“Ne dozhdyotes” (“Don’t expect”) – meaning "If you think things will go bad for me, don't hold your breath".[1]


  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sorokina, Anna. (2018, July). What should you say when Russians ask ‘How are you’? Russia Beyond. https://www.rbth.com/education/328673-how-are-you-russian
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