tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961031655299962051.post9197987534680424698..comments2024-01-11T13:44:51.202+03:00Comments on Planet Russia: Nuances of Russian Greeting 101 or how not to be a Человек с приветомUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961031655299962051.post-15175183436444535742013-03-22T00:03:12.713+04:002013-03-22T00:03:12.713+04:00I guess, I am a Russian with a somewhat American a...I guess, I am a Russian with a somewhat American attitude to saying "hi") I also tend to have an urge to greet people more that once a day - and know a lot of people in Russia with the same habit. But since it is not really that common in Russia we have reached a compromise by nodding or smiling at the person instead of helloing him several times a day. A nod or a half-nod combined with a smile is much more appropriate in such situations: you can nod away freely, dauntlessly and resolutely - and as many times a day as you want) A nod or half-nod/half-smile also means that while you fully aknowledge the fact of a previous meeting in the course of a day, you are still glad or at least ok to run into that same person again. It's pretty much like "'sup?" and pretty convenient too)<br /><br />By the way, an ever so slightly more polite way to say is "мы уже сегодня виделись" or "мы ЖЕ уже сегодня виделись". The second variant is a bit tricky: you should manage saying it friendly enough - that way the worst thing the phrase might imply is a little absent-mindedness of the person you are responding to, which also takes the accusation of his being a slightly insane smug overhelloer off the table :-) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14034162452459389373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961031655299962051.post-44894814589502025592012-05-09T01:39:26.394+04:002012-05-09T01:39:26.394+04:00Funny post for me (I am Russian), I now realize ho...Funny post for me (I am Russian), I now realize how often my Americans collegues say "hello" to me)) that is really true!Jenianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961031655299962051.post-62923044365528186132012-05-06T01:29:45.211+04:002012-05-06T01:29:45.211+04:00My boss is an American guy but he never greets us ...My boss is an American guy but he never greets us more than once a day. Whcih doesnt mean that he doesnt really put his legs on the table (I thought its a Hollywood story) and always say "sorry" when accidentaly meeting someone in the corridor or near the door. He couldnt get the rid of these even after 5 years or something in Moscow. And also I admire Americans for their genetic ability to speak and smile endlessly :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961031655299962051.post-5945800309885005202011-04-20T10:06:46.579+04:002011-04-20T10:06:46.579+04:00It is not severe, Nathan. It is instructional.It is not severe, Nathan. It is instructional.Andy Freckahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10642888322677400081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961031655299962051.post-83106137931911581042011-04-19T22:10:52.882+04:002011-04-19T22:10:52.882+04:00It is hard not to say "Привет" a second ...It is hard not to say "Привет" a second time, even when I know I shouldn't. However, I think the "Mы уже с Вами здоровались" response is a bit severe in most cases. I say Americans can't be held liable for their redundant greetings until this rule is written down somewhere... Oh, wait... It just was.Nathanhttp://www.facebook.com/nathaninrussianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961031655299962051.post-45119672242173061762011-04-19T17:40:25.330+04:002011-04-19T17:40:25.330+04:00Hi Amy, Glad you found my explanation to be memor...Hi Amy, Glad you found my explanation to be memorable. As far as explaining "What's up?", I've always found it to be helpful to explain that it's the same as asking "What's going down?". That usually clears up any confusion.Andy Freckahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10642888322677400081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961031655299962051.post-79420649474529225332011-04-19T05:35:59.456+04:002011-04-19T05:35:59.456+04:00Thanks for the overview on Russian greetings. Your...Thanks for the overview on Russian greetings. Your explanation is better (and more memorable) than any I've seen in a text book! I teach ESL now, and one of my favorite stories about greetings is from one of my current students from China. He's written about how confusing the American greeting "What's up" was when he first came here. It took some trial and error to learn that this expression just meant hello and wasn't a literal question. :-)Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16708311484422868677noreply@blogger.com