LANGUAGE
From written signs to everyday conversation.
Bopomofo / Zhuyin
注音符號A set of phonetic symbols used to show Mandarin pronunciation. Syllables are assembled from an initial, a medial or final, and a tone.
The first version was created in 1913 and released in 1918. It remains a practical reading, dictionary, and keyboard tool in Taiwan.
- SYMBOLS
- 37
- TONES
- 5
- ALSO CALLED
- Zhuyin / Zhuyin Fuhao
Initials
21Medials
3Finals
13Tones
5Русский
Food, transport, shops, and getting help.
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The words for everyday life.
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Pronunciation & how to use these phrases
Stress can move and is usually not printed in ordinary Russian. Accents in the Latin reading aids mark stress. Unstressed о often sounds closer to a; е, ё, и, ю, я may soften a preceding consonant. Ь is a soft sign, not an extra vowel. The existing Cyrillic deck covers the alphabet; transliteration is only a reading aid.
Use polite вы forms. Destination and allergy nouns can require case changes; do not replace a blank with any dictionary form and assume it is correct. These are language notes for Russian-speaking interactions, not a country-specific travel advisory.
84 phrases
Basics
Communication
Bathrooms
Food & ordering
Shops & convenience stores
Money & payment
Taxis & transit
Airport
Accommodation
Directions & time
Help & problems
Phone & internet
Replies & signs
Forms, rules & structure
Standard Russian. Stress is shown in selected paradigms for learning and is normally omitted in ordinary writing.
Grammar terminology
- Noun
- A word used to name or classify an entity: person, place, object, substance, idea.
- Adjective
- A word that describes a property; its form and position depend on the language.
- Pronoun
- A form used to refer to a participant or entity without repeating a full noun phrase.
- Determiner
- A word such as an article, demonstrative or possessive that helps specify a noun phrase.
- Verb
- A word heading a predicate, often describing an action, event or state.
- Conjugation
- A pattern of verb forms expressing grammatical distinctions such as person, tense or mood.
- Declension
- A pattern of noun, pronoun or adjective forms, often marking case, number and gender.
- Case
- A distinction marking a noun phrase’s grammatical role or its relationship to a governing word.
- Gender
- A grammatical classification of nouns; it need not match sex or have a transparent meaning.
- Agreement
- A form changes to match features of another expression, such as person, number, gender or case.
- Tense
- A grammatical way of locating a situation relative to a time of reference.
- Aspect
- How a situation is viewed: for example ongoing, habitual, completed or prior to a reference point.
- Mood
- A grammatical distinction associated with assertion, possibility, commands, wishes or other clause functions.
- Finite form
- A verb form that can serve as a clause’s main inflected verb, contrasting with infinitives and participles. The precise criteria vary by language.
- Participle
- A verb-derived form used in constructions such as modifiers, compound tenses or passives; its roles vary by language.
- Infinitive
- A nonfinite verb form in languages that have one; it is not automatically equivalent to English “to + verb”.
- Subject / object
- Grammatical relations in a clause, not universal synonyms for “doer” and “receiver”.
- Clitic
- A short grammatical form that depends phonologically on a neighboring word.
- Transitive
- Describes a verb construction that takes a direct object.
- Register
- A variety of expression associated with context, relationship or level of formality.
Nouns, gender & number
- Russian has masculine, feminine and neuter nouns, but no articles equivalent to a/the. A consonant ending often signals masculine, -а/-я feminine, and -о/-е neuter; soft-sign nouns require lexical gender.
- Number and case interact. Animacy affects accusative forms, especially masculine singular and all plurals.
| Class | Singular | Nominative plural |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | стол (table) | столы |
| feminine | книга (book) | книги |
| neuter | окно (window) | окна |
| soft-sign masculine | словарь (dictionary) | словари |
| soft-sign feminine | ночь (night) | ночи |
Worked examples
Новая книга лежит на столе.
A/the new book is lying on the table.
How it works: Context supplies definiteness; no article is added. Книга is feminine, giving новая.
I am / I have
Russian usually omits am/is/are in present-tense identification and location. Я = I; вы = polite or plural you. У меня есть means I have; у вас есть? asks do you have?
Use вы with unfamiliar adults. Russian is used in several countries; local customs, currency and services depend on the destination.
Try it yourself
1 / 1 · 0 correctComplete the sentence using the pattern above.
У ___ есть билет. (I have)
All words · vocabulary quiz
1 / 149 · 0 correctChoose the English meaning.
ноль
нольzero · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
одинone · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
дваtwo · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
триthree · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
четыреfour · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
пятьfive · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
шестьsix · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
семьseven · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
восемьeight · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
девятьnine · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
десятьten · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
двадцатьtwenty · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
стоone hundred · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
тысячаone thousand · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
водаwater · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
кофеcoffee · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
чайtea · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
молокоmilk · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
хлебbread · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
варёный рисcooked rice · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
лапшаnoodles · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
курицаchicken (meat) · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
свининаpork · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
говядинаbeef · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
рыбаfish · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
яйцоegg · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
овощиvegetables · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
фруктыfruit · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
арахисpeanut · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
креветкаshrimp · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
сахарsugar · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
сольsalt · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
лёдice · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
пивоbeer · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
виноwine · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
завтракbreakfast · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
обедlunch · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
ужинdinner · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
бутылкаbottle · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
пакетbag · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
чекreceipt · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
наличныеcash · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
зарядное устройствоcharger · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
паспортpassport · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
билетticket · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
ключkey · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
полотенцеtowel · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
туалетная бумагаtoilet paper · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
аэропортairport · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
автобусbus · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
таксиtaxi · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
поездtrain · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
гостиницаhotel · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
больницаhospital · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
аптекаpharmacy · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
туалетbathroom / toilet · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
понедельникMonday · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
вторникTuesday · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
средаWednesday · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
четвергThursday · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
пятницаFriday · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
субботаSaturday · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
воскресеньеSunday · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
минутаminute · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
часhour · dictionary form; see Grammar for sentence forms.
Здравствуйте.Hello / good day · Zdrávstvuyte.
Спасибо.Thank you · Spasíbo.
Извините.Excuse me / sorry · Izviníte.
До свидания.Goodbye · Do svidániya.
Вы говорите по-английски?Do you speak English? · Vy govoríte po-anglíyski?
Я не понимаю.I do not understand. · Ya ne ponimáyu.
Говорите помедленнее, пожалуйста.Please speak more slowly. · Govoríte pomédlenneye, pozháluysta.
Повторите, пожалуйста.Could you repeat that? · Povtoríte, pozháluysta.
Напишите, пожалуйста.Please write it down. · Napishíte, pozháluysta.
Я плохо слышу.I am hard of hearing. · Ya plókho slýshu.
Где туалет?Where is the bathroom? · Gde tualét?
Можно воспользоваться туалетом?May I use the bathroom? · Mózhno vospólzovatsya tualétom?
Нет туалетной бумаги.There is no toilet paper. · Net tualétnoy bumági.
Столик на одного, пожалуйста.A table for one, please. · Stólik na odnogó, pozháluysta.
Меню, пожалуйста.May I see the menu? · Menyú, pozháluysta.
Вот это, пожалуйста.This one, please. (point) · Vot éto, pozháluysta.
Что вы рекомендуете?What do you recommend? · Chto vy rekomendúyete?
Воду, пожалуйста.Water, please. · Vódu, pozháluysta.
Кофе, пожалуйста.A coffee, please. · Kófe, pozháluysta.
Без сахара, пожалуйста.Without sugar, please. · Bez sákhara, pozháluysta.
Не острое, пожалуйста.Not spicy, please. · Ne óstroye, pozháluysta.
Я не ем мясо.I do not eat meat. · Ya ne yem myáso.
У меня аллергия на арахис.I have a peanut allergy. · U menyá allergíya na arakhís.
Здесь есть молоко?Does this contain milk? · Zdes yest molokó?
С собой, пожалуйста.To take away, please. · S sobóy, pozháluysta.
Здесь.To eat here. · Zdes.
Счёт, пожалуйста.The bill, please. · Schyot, pozháluysta.
Сколько это стоит?How much is this? · Skólko éto stóit?
У вас есть это?Do you have this? (show an item) · U vas yest éto?
Пакет, пожалуйста.A bag, please. · Pakét, pozháluysta.
Пакет не нужен.I do not need a bag. · Pakét ne núzhen.
Можете это разогреть?Could you heat this up? · Mózhete éto razogrét?
Где ближайший продуктовый магазин?Where is the nearest convenience store / small grocery? · Gde blizháyshiy prodúktovyy magazín?
Во сколько вы закрываетесь?What time do you close? · Vo skólko vy zakryváyetes?
Можно оплатить картой?Can I pay by card? · Mózhno oplatít kártoy?
Чек, пожалуйста.A receipt, please. · Chek, pozháluysta.
Где банкомат?Where is an ATM? · Gde bankomát?
Покажите цену, пожалуйста.Please show me the price. · Pokazhíte tsénu, pozháluysta.
По этому адресу, пожалуйста.Please take me to this address. · Po étomu ádresu, pozháluysta.
Сколько это будет стоить?How much will it cost? · Skólko éto búdet stóit?
Остановите здесь, пожалуйста.Stop here, please. · Ostanovíte zdes, pozháluysta.
Где вокзал?Where is the station? · Gde vokzál?
Один билет до …, пожалуйста.One ticket to …, please. · Odín bilét do …, pozháluysta.
Этот автобус идёт в аэропорт?Does this bus go to the airport? · Étot avtóbus idyót v aeroport?
Какая платформа?Which platform? · Kakáya platfórma?
Где стойка регистрации?Where is the check-in counter? · Gde stóyka registrátsii?
Где выход на посадку?Where is the departure gate? · Gde výkhod na posádku?
Мой багаж не прибыл.My luggage has not arrived. · Moy bagázh ne príbyl.
У меня пересадка.I have a connecting flight. · U menyá peresádka.
У меня бронь.I have a reservation. · U menyá bron.
Можно оставить здесь багаж?Could I leave my luggage here? · Mózhno ostávit zdes bagázh?
Ключ не работает.The key does not work. · Klyuch ne rabótayet.
Есть номер потише?Is there a quieter room? · Yest nómer potíshe?
Во сколько выезд?What time is check-out? · Vo skólko výyezd?
Покажите на карте, пожалуйста.Please show me on the map. · Pokazhíte na kárte, pozháluysta.
Можно дойти пешком?Can I walk there? · Mózhno doytí peshkóm?
Сколько времени это займёт?How long does it take? · Skólko vrémeni éto zaymyót?
Помогите, пожалуйста.Please help me. · Pomogíte, pozháluysta.
Вызовите скорую, пожалуйста.Please call an ambulance. · Výzovite skóruyu, pozháluysta.
Вызовите полицию, пожалуйста.Please call the police. · Výzovite polítsiyu, pozháluysta.
Мне нужен врач.I need a doctor. · Mne núzhen vrach.
Где аптека?Where is the pharmacy? · Gde aptéka?
Мой паспорт пропал.My passport is missing. · Moy pásport propál.
Какой пароль от Wi-Fi?What is the Wi-Fi password? · Kakóy paról ot Wi-Fi?
Можно здесь зарядить телефон?May I charge my phone here? · Mózhno zdes zaryadít telefón?
Мне нужна сим-карта.I need a SIM card. · Mne nuzhná sim-kárta.
Да / нетYes / no · Da / net
Только наличныеCash only · Tólko nalíchnyye
Открыто / закрытоOpen / closed · Otkrýto / zakrýto
Вход / выходEntrance / exit · Vkhod / výkhod
Налево / направо / прямоLeft / right / straight ahead · Nalévo / naprávo / pryámo
Сегодня / завтра / сейчасToday / tomorrow / now · Segódnya / závtra / seychás
Подождите, пожалуйста.Please wait a moment. · Podozhdíte, pozháluysta.
Распродано / нет в наличииSold out / unavailable · Raspródano / net v nalíchii
Два человека.Two people. · Dva chelovéka.
Воду без газа, пожалуйста.Still water, please. · Vódu bez gáza, pozháluysta.
Ложку, пожалуйста.A spoon, please. · Lózhku, pozháluysta.
Можете проверить состав?Could you check the ingredients? · Mózhete provérit sostáv?
Где выдача багажа?Where is baggage claim? · Gde výdacha bagazhá?
Во сколько начинается посадка?What time does boarding start? · Vo skólko nachináyetsya posádka?
Билет туда и обратно, пожалуйста.A return ticket, please. · Bilét tudá i obrátno, pozháluysta.
Нужно делать пересадку?Do I need to change trains? · Núzhno délat peresádku?
Нет, спасибо.No, thank you. · Net, spasíbo.
Задержан / отменёнDelayed / cancelled · Zadérzhan / otmenyón
Between the words
Everyday interactions, useful replies, and local context. Practices vary by person and place.
Вы
Polite or plural youВы and polite imperative forms such as скажите and покажите suit interactions with unfamiliar adults. Ты is singular informal and is best used once that relationship is established.
Скажите, пожалуйста, где вокзал?
Russian-speaking communities are diverse. Do not infer nationality, political views or preferred language from someone’s Russian ability.
Read the situation
1 / 4 · 0 correctWhich pronoun is a safe opening with an unfamiliar adult?