(no subject)

[hittheroad.livejournal.com]

I took a semester of Russian last year and --big surprise-- fell in love with the language. Due to budget cuts, my college (and every college in the area) is no longer offering Russian courses. I plan to continue my Russian studies when I transfer to a different school next fall. But in the meantime, I find myself forgetting simple words and phrases because Russian isn't that useful around my house. I'll probably have to audit another elementary course before I get to move on. Any tips for keeping the language fresh in my mind ? I already point and name everything in the grocery and around the house, and practise writing a few things here and there, but I wish there was more I could do.

And here's a question that might annoy a few. I am working on designing a tattoo in memory of my cousin that passed away. We are of Russian, English, Scottish, and Native American blood. I would like to include a word or phrase that reminds me of him in each language our ancestors spoke. The word I would like to use in Russian is "жить". I want to remember his life and not his death.

So here's the actual question-- is "жить" the appropriate tense and spelling for "live" ? Not his life, not my life, just to live. As far as I can tell, this infinitive case would be the same as the English "live". Is this correct ?

Comments

[torick.livejournal.com]

1. I usually translate books' and films' names in English for practising. Sometimes I'm translating interesting phrases and watch movies in English. And, of course, read news in english.

2. Yes, "жить" is "to live". E.g. "жить вечно" - to live forever. Phrase "You will live forever in my heart" can be translated as "Ты будешь вечно жить в моем сердце".

[rimokon.livejournal.com]

I cannot help, but it is so sweet what you're doing. ^___^

[hittheroad.livejournal.com]

OMG great username :)

[rimokon.livejournal.com]

Thanks lol. ^^

[canofcheese.livejournal.com]

During breaks, I'd listen to Russian radio. It kept me regularly exposed to the language, kept me curious, and when I could get my hands on lyrics, it imbedded forms and vocabulary that I would more than likely see in the coming term.

From the context, I got that you're telling someone to live--as in, almost like a command. "(You,) Live" would translate as "живи" because it's an imperative.

That particular context seems to only make sense in my head, though, so if it doesn't apply, my apologies, please disregard. I just wanted to make sure you understood the distinction between the infinitive ("to" + "verb") and the imperative ("Do" + "verb").

:)

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

Don't forget the imperative as a formal/plural command. Although I'm sure you're not going to be using the formal imperative on your tattoo, it's still nice to know and help jog your memory.

жить's imperative forms:

живи - informal
живите - formal/plural

[noser.livejournal.com]

> I'm sure you're not going to be using the formal imperative on your tattoo

Nor while addressing any person as close to one as a cousin. живите is totally wrong. Actually, for dead people it is almost always OK to use the "thou" form.

[hittheroad.livejournal.com]

You're right, "живи" does make more sense. I do mean it in sort of a passively commanding way. (Well, minus the oxymoron of being passively commanding ;])

Thank you !

[idealforcolors.livejournal.com]

I haven't been doing it because I've just been reviewing my textbook lately, but a Russian guy told me to translate poetry (he recommended Yesenin to start with), he said it gives you a good feel for the language.

[shurikpaladin.livejournal.com]

Yeah.. russian is best language
Так что нехуй тут пиздить, всё равно не выучите его
Лучше возьмите пару уроков китайского

[malenkaja-feja.livejournal.com]

нехорошо, товарищ