Just a little -and- almost

[david-us.livejournal.com]

I'm curious how Russians would express the following sentences. In particular, I'm interested how Russians express the common English phrase "a little."

Could some of you Russians please give your best translation of the below sentences.

She can speak a little bit of Russian.

He only likes vegetables a little bit.

That was a little too close for comfort.

Wait just a little longer, please.

A little bit of kindness goes a long way.

* * *

He almost passed the exam.

She almost always attends the meetings.

That rock almost hit me in the head!

Comments

[cherniavska.livejournal.com]

She can speak a little bit of Russian.
Она немного говорит по-русски.

He only likes vegetables a little bit.
Он не очень любит овощи.

That was a little too close for comfort.
Это было слишком близко.

Wait just a little longer, please.
Подожди еще немножко, пожалуйста!

A little bit of kindness goes a long way.
Доброе слово и кошке приятно:))
* * *

He almost passed the exam.
Он почти сдал экзамен.

She almost always attends the meetings.
Она практически всегда посещает собрания.

That rock almost hit me in the head!
Камень почти попал мне по голове!

[besisland.livejournal.com]

Wait just a little longer, please. — Подожди ещё совсем чуточку, пожалуйста.

She almost always attends the meetings. — could also be: Она почти всегда посещает собрания.

[malim-praedari.livejournal.com]

+1.

But I think a better way to say "the rock almost hit me in the head" is "ка́мень чуть не попа́л мне по голове́".

[cherniavska.livejournal.com]

Either way is fine.

[david-us.livejournal.com]

> Доброе слово и кошке приятно.

Is this some kind of Russian saying?

A kind word and the cat is happy?

[io-ann.livejournal.com]

"She almost always attends the meetings".
I think the best translation of this phrase is "Она почти не пропускает собраний". Because such expressions as "почти всегда" and "практически всегда" in not quite correct in Russian. Sorry for my English, I am Russian and I'm just starting to learn English.

[cherniavska.livejournal.com]

Actually, it is a quotation from a screenplay by Edward Radzinsky for the film "Once again about love" - "Even a cat is happy to hear a kind word". Tatiana Doronina, who played the main character in the film said that and it became an idiom in Russian.

[cherniavska.livejournal.com]

I'd say that you can use "почти всегда" and "практически всегда" interchangeably.

[io-ann.livejournal.com]

These expressions can be used only in speaking. But strictly speaking, both of these expressions are incorrect.

[cherniavska.livejournal.com]

Why?

[david-us.livejournal.com]

What a chick flick! How sappy.

I kept waiting for her to say "Доброе слово и кошке приятно."

But that video clip brings up a question: I hear Russians say, almost interchangeably, "Я люблю тебя" and "Я тебя люблю." Even in this film clip, as she keeps badgering the poor guy :), she says both versions. Is there a subtle difference? Or, is it just a way for a girl to ask a guy the same question, over and over again, trying not to sound too repetitive? :)

[yodelayhee.livejournal.com]

And better: "Она почти всегда посещает собрания" / "Она практически никогда не пропускает собраний". :)

And i suddenly remembered one cool old-schooled slang word for such cases - "Кéцик". :)

[yodelayhee.livejournal.com]

There isn't any difference.
Or it is, thinner than air :) so you can just neglect it.

[cherniavska.livejournal.com]

Well, some people do find her cheesey but Tatiana Doronina is an iconic Russian actress.
I could not find the actual clip with the idiom that I mentioned; however, the clip gives an idea of how she would say that phrase.

As for your question, being repetitve is the point of the scene. She changes the tone, thus changing the meaning by stressing different words and changing the word order in the phrase:
I love you
I LOVE you
i love YOU = Я тебя люблю
To some people Doronina has been one of the ultimate images of femininity in Russian theatre and cinema, and, this particular type of ultimate femininity is sappy so she is not very imaginitive in verbalizing her feelings in this particular scene.

[david-us.livejournal.com]

I was just teasing. She's quite beautiful. I can tell the clip is of a scene that is supposed to be touching.

I chuckled when she first asked, "Ты любишь меня?" and he gave her a simple, "Да." You could see the instant disappointment on her face. She obviously wanted him to elaborate a little more. :)

[io-ann.livejournal.com]

Maybe I am wrong. Doubted from the logical considerations.

[cherniavska.livejournal.com]

That's what the point to elaborate on the differences between females and males..simple, "Да." is enough for some men and not enough for some women:))

[cherniavska.livejournal.com]

Maybe you are wrong.

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

She can speak a little bit of Russian.
Она совсем немного, но может говорить по-русски. >_< (The english version is awkward by itself, isn't it?)

He only likes vegetables a little bit.
Ему лишь слегка нравятся овощи.

That was a little too close for comfort.
Это было чуток слишком близко, чтобы чувствоать себя комфортно.

Wait just a little longer, please.
Подождите ещё совсем чуть-чуть, пожалуйста.

A little bit of kindness goes a long way.
Малая толика доброты проделывает долгий путь. (I'm not familiar with this saying

* * *

He almost passed the exam.
Он был близок к тому, чтобы сдать экзамен.

She almost always attends the meetings.
Она почти всегда посещает встречи/митинги.

That rock almost hit me in the head!
Этот камень мне чуть в голову не попал!

[malim-praedari.livejournal.com]

> Это было чуток слишком близко, чтобы чувствоать себя комфортно.

This is an accurate literal translation but it doesn't sound natural.

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

Indeed.
I lack context and some other things, no surprise >_<

Hmm…

That was a little too close for comfort.
Было не до удобств, с приближенностью чутка переборщили.

Heh.

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

Это было чуток слишком близко, чтобы чувствоать себя комфортно. —> Это чуток слишком близко, чтобы можно было чувствовать себя комфортно.

That would improve the example a bit.
Anyways, context ftw.

[malim-praedari.livejournal.com]

Well, this is an example where an idiomatic expression in English ("too close for comfort") doesn't have a direct Russian equivalent. I've heard it used in all sorts of different contexts, and the Russian translation would differ with each one. So I agree: context is king.