Russian fairytales

[david-us.livejournal.com]

Is there a Russian equivalent to "Once upon a time ..."?

I have heard that it is "В тридевятом царстве?"

What is the typical beginning of a Russian fairytale?

Thanks!

David Emerling
Memphis, TN
 

Comments

[nekotjonok.livejournal.com]

Давным-давно

[helen-ricky.livejournal.com]

"Once upon a time" is closer to "давным давно"
But the typical begining is "жили-были"

[firebottle.livejournal.com]

"once upon a time" == "давным-давно"
"в тридевятом царстве" == "far away" (lit: you have to cross 39 state borders to get there)

[dusha.livejournal.com]

you have to cross 39 state borders to get there
I guess 3*9=27 borders would be enough :-)

Math is perfect science!

[the-oldest.livejournal.com]

Moreover, if you`re in the first, then 26 is ok.

Re: Math is perfect science!

[dusha.livejournal.com]

The problem arise, when tale begins from "В тридевятом царстве, в тридесятом государстве..."
Which is little bit confusing becouse the country is simultaneously 3*9 czarstvo (kingdom) and 3*10 state ;-)
However I used to think that there is 3*9 czarst and 3 other states (kingdoms, empires, democracies etc).

[the-oldest.livejournal.com]

Mb different ways? =)
Ok, then 29. But not 39.

[dusha.livejournal.com]

I guess we already agree something like 26-27.
And the author of initial comment is already forgot about this topic :-)

[arashi-opera.livejournal.com]

"Once upon a time" is usually translated as Жили-были. "Жили-были старик со старухой..." - "Once upon a time there lived an old man with his wife..."

[la-dy-ashley.livejournal.com]

"В тридевятом царстве, в тридесятом государстве..." is one of several typical qways to start a fairy tale in Russian.

It shows the place where the story is set. Sometimes the tale starts with the characters ("There lived" - Жили-были), or with time setter ("Long-long time ago": Давным-давно).

The typical ending will be: "That's the end of the tale, and he's a good guy who listened to it" - Тут и сказке конец, а кто слушал - молодец.

[xnrrn.livejournal.com]

Ин а галакси три на девять раз авей. :-Р

[chaosmalefic.livejournal.com]

ай эм ёр фазер

[xnrrn.livejournal.com]

Три бай найн таймс зе фазер?

[chaosmalefic.livejournal.com]

экзектли же!

[chaosmalefic.livejournal.com]

Чочо щачло

[oksanaya.livejournal.com]

часто все вместе:
Давным-давно, в тридевятом царстве, в тридесятом государстве, жили-были ...