Ничего = No problem
2021年04月05日
1. Ничего for doing well
Ничего is a popular response to the question “Как дела́?” It is a neutral answer, roughly equivalent to “alright.” Another answer with a similar meaning is “Норма́льно” or “Потихо́ньку.”
2. Ничего (стра́шного) for no worries
Ничего can also be a response to “Извини́те” (I’m sorry) or any other apology or explanation.
– Я забы́л поли́ть цветы́ (I forgot to water the flowers).
– Ничего́ стра́шного (That’s OK).
3. Ничего́ себе! for surprise
Ничего себе is used to express surprise or amazement. Many people oppose what they see as unjustified use of borrowed interjections like “ва́у” (wow) and prefer to use expressions like ничего себе or у́х ты!
– У мое́й ба́бушки бы́ло пя́теро дете́й (My grandma had five children).
– Ничего себе! (Oh wow!)
Ни фига́ себе is a colloquial and some would say vulgar variant of this phrase. There are many other similar expressions, some quite vulgar, that follow the same syntactic pattern and convey amazement.
4. Ничего for approval
Ничего can also mean that something or someone is alright or cool. “А до́мик у них ничего” (Their house is not too shabby). When used about a person, this usually refers to their looks. “А сосе́дка-то вполне́ ничего́” (Our neighbor is quite alright).
5. Ничего не поделаешь for acceptance
Ничего́ не поде́лаешь is used to express resignation and acceptance of the situation. Literally, the phrase means “there’s nothing we can do.”
Ничего не поделаешь, пришло́сь встре́чать Но́вый год в аэропорту́. – We had no choice but to celebrate the New Year at the airport. [As you may know, New Year’s is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia, and you don’t want to miss out on it.]
Ничего is a popular response to the question “Как дела́?” It is a neutral answer, roughly equivalent to “alright.” Another answer with a similar meaning is “Норма́льно” or “Потихо́ньку.”
2. Ничего (стра́шного) for no worries
Ничего can also be a response to “Извини́те” (I’m sorry) or any other apology or explanation.
– Я забы́л поли́ть цветы́ (I forgot to water the flowers).
– Ничего́ стра́шного (That’s OK).
3. Ничего́ себе! for surprise
Ничего себе is used to express surprise or amazement. Many people oppose what they see as unjustified use of borrowed interjections like “ва́у” (wow) and prefer to use expressions like ничего себе or у́х ты!
– У мое́й ба́бушки бы́ло пя́теро дете́й (My grandma had five children).
– Ничего себе! (Oh wow!)
Ни фига́ себе is a colloquial and some would say vulgar variant of this phrase. There are many other similar expressions, some quite vulgar, that follow the same syntactic pattern and convey amazement.
4. Ничего for approval
Ничего can also mean that something or someone is alright or cool. “А до́мик у них ничего” (Their house is not too shabby). When used about a person, this usually refers to their looks. “А сосе́дка-то вполне́ ничего́” (Our neighbor is quite alright).
5. Ничего не поделаешь for acceptance
Ничего́ не поде́лаешь is used to express resignation and acceptance of the situation. Literally, the phrase means “there’s nothing we can do.”
Ничего не поделаешь, пришло́сь встре́чать Но́вый год в аэропорту́. – We had no choice but to celebrate the New Year at the airport. [As you may know, New Year’s is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia, and you don’t want to miss out on it.]
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