LingoflyAbout character
A text in Kazakh at level B1. The translation sits next to it for checking, not for support: at this level the text is read whole, and an unknown word is usually guessed from the sentence. I have two friends, and their characters are entirely different. The first is straightforward: he says at once what he…
Text
- Менің екі досым бар, олардың мінезі мүлде бөлек. Біріншісі турашыл: ойындағысын бірден айтады, кейде сол сөзі ренжітеді де. Екіншісі тұйық, ұзақ ойланады, бірақ сөзінде тұрады және ешқашан жалған айтпайды. Біріншісімен көңілді, тапқырлығына күлесің; екіншісімен сенімді, ол ешқашан сенімді ақтамай қоймайды деп ойлайсың. Екеуі бір-бірімен әрең тіл табысады, ал мен ортада тұрамын. Түптеп келгенде, адамды бір сөзбен сипаттау мүмкін емес екенін түсіндім.Meniñ eki dosym bar, olardyñ minezi mülde bölek. Birinshisi turashyl: oiyndağysyn birden aitady, keide sol sözi renzhitedi de. Ekinshisi tūiyq, ūzaq oilanady, biraq sözinde tūrady zhäne eshqashan zhalğan aitpaidy. Birinshisimen köñildi, tapqyrlyğyna külesiñ; ekinshisimen senimdi, ol eshqashan senimdi aqtamai qoimaidy dep oilaisyñ. Ekeui bir-birimen äreñ til tabysady, al men ortada tūramyn. Tüptep kelgende, adamdy bir sözben sipattau mümkin emes ekenin tüsindim.I have two friends, and their characters are entirely different. The first is straightforward: he says at once what he thinks, and sometimes those words offend. The second is reserved, thinks for a long time, but keeps his word and never lies. With the first it is fun — you laugh at his quick wit; with the second it is safe — you think he will never let you down. They barely get along with each other, and I stand in the middle. In the end I understood that a person cannot be described in one word.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- What is the first friend like?
- What is said about the second?
- How do they treat each other?
- What conclusion does the narrator come to?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Kazakh?
B1. That means: everyday topics are behind you, you know about three thousand words, and an unknown word is more often guessed from the sentence than looked up.
How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?
First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.