Guo Huajian student of the Qiqihar University from China gave us an interview. Guo learns the Russian language and he is interested in poetry and writes literary essays. He reads the famous poem “The Sail” by M.Y. Lermontov using melody and rhythm of Russian speech and he also translated it into Chinese. Guo told about language, literature and everyday life in "Our University_online" special interview.

About great and mighty Russian language

Guo, how did you enter the North-Eastern Federal University?

I entered the University due to student exchange program between NEFU and the Qiqihar University. There are good opportunities to study, to learn languages and to research in the Federal University. If you want to speak the language, you have to move somewhere, where live the native speakers. You're probably wondering why I'm learning the Russian language, not English or French. I started learning Russian at school. I don’t remember the reason why I chose it. But I never regretted it. My English is bad, I can hardly speak it. When foreign students come to study here, in NEFU International Relations Office they are asked the question “What subjects would you like to study?”.  I’ve chosen Russian literature and history. I learnt M.Y. Lermontov's poem “The Sail” when I was just a first-year student because that was the task our teacher gave us.

There are four groups of people who learn the Russian language in the Qiqihar University and each group consists of about 20 people. But the number of translators in China is still very small. That’s why I’m planning to be a translator. I want to translate from Russian into Chinese.

What difficulties did you face when you just started learning the Russian language? Maybe there was something difficult?

Of course, the grammar. In my opinion, the Chinese language is easier than Russian. There are declensions in the Russian language, words can be used in plural form and they are also divided into different genders.  When I started to learn Russian, I knew two thousand characters in Chinese, but I could not understand how to decline one simple word for six cases in the great and mighty Russian language.

In order to enlarge my vocabulary I use the Internet. I have a page on the social network “VKontakte” and I read news from different groups there. I write down unknown words in a notebook. So I already have several notebooks.

The difference between the Russian literary and spoken language is very big, as well as in Chinese. For example, reading Confucius’ texts in the original is very difficult. But we have to, because it is required in China. It doesn’t even matter whether you know the characters or not, it is difficult to understand the idea. I was advised to read Confucius’ texts translated into Russian, maybe it will be easier?

Since you started learning Russian, now you probably can communicate not only with your old friends but also make new ones?

There are also two girls and a boy from my university, who study in NEFU. We spent our summer holidays here. We worked in construction team and cleaned the streets. It wasn’t so hard to do. During the holidays, I managed to learn a lot of new spoken words that can’t be found in classical poetry and prose. Other people helped me. It’s necessary to know them in order to understand the language fully, but I still haven’t used them in my speech.

I’ve met many NEFU students who learn Chinese. They, of course, have different language levels. They make some mistakes but it’s easy to understand what they say.

Some words about everyday life and politics

There’s a big difference between Chinese cuisine and the local one. How did you solve this problem?

It’s not a problem. I go to the Stolichny market, where one can buy Chinese food. But I also eat instant noodles. You might think that it’s strange, but one of my favorite dishes is tomatoes with sugar.

 I like cooking. I like to do everything myself. I even give myself a haircut, because going to hairdresser is expensive.

They say that there are very strict laws in Tianxia. What do you think about it?

 I think everyone heard that families in China are allowed to have only one child. I have an older sister. I am the second child in the family. My parents had to pay a fine for that. That’s how it works in China. Also we have a law according to which a person, who saved a dying man, has to pay taxes and also pay for the treatment. But I think since we have the problem of overpopulation, these laws are necessary.

As for the Internet, in China one can’t use Google. There are some unwanted political information, bad news and pornography. We use a Chinese analogue - Baidu. But "VKontakte" is not banned in China, but even there one can find that unwanted information.

Does Russian student, who wants to study in China, have to speak Chinese?

There are not so many people in China who can speak Russian. That’s why one should learn Chinese. It will be useful in the future.

It sounds scary ...

Why? There’s close cooperation between Russia and China. Many European countries have shown their hostile attitude by introducing economic sanctions, but China and Russia have been friends for a long time. For example, the Russians built Harbin. Now there are many buildings in the Russian style.

The relations between China and Hong Kong and Taiwan are very similar to relations between Russia and former Soviet Republics. Personally, I want to see the united China. Hong Kong and Taiwan belong to China.

Guo, you’ve already spent six months in Yakutsk. Is there any significant difference between Chinese and Russian lifestyle?

China and Russia are quite different countries. People have different ideas and used to live in their own way. But I can say that people in Russia are very kind and hospitable. In Yakutia they do live. I haven’t seen other Russian cities. At the end of last year, I flew home via Beijing. I am a Chinese, but it was the first time I visited it.