THE CONCEPT OF TEA IN

ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN

WORLDVIEWS
Presentation made by
Bezverkhniaya A.
Yakovleva E.
Group 172
 Etymology
茶 -
chaa
• Lu Yu's «Tea Canon»

• chaa ча

• chaa (1590s), tay (1650s); the modern pronunciation

predominates from mid-18c.
 🇬🇧 Definition 🇷🇺

• the dried leaves (called tea leaves) of the tea bush

• a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto leaves of
the particular plant or flower.
• a cup of tea
• an afternoon meal

(Cambridge, Oxford, Collins, Merriam-Wenbsterr, Даль, Ушаков, Ожегов, Словарь русского языка
Под ред. А. П. Евгеньевой)
🇬🇧 Definition 🇷🇺
 DIFFERENCES

• features of the tea drinking process («five o’clock»

-пятичасовое чаепитие.),

• tea brands of England (Ahmad Tea, etc.),

• items and utensils for tea or tea drinking (tea caddy, tea
towel, etc.)
 DIFFERENCES

• Russian brands of tea («Беседа», «Майский», «Лисма»),

• dishes (самовар, подстаканник и др.)

• Russian treats for tea (сушки, пироги, варенье)

 Additional meanings

• «распивать чай», «прихлебывать чай» emphasize the long

and unhurried manner of tea drinking of the Russian person.

• «чай» is used in the sense of "remuneration, payment for a

small service": давать/брать/оставить на чай, чаевые.

• “tea” - scandalous information; gossip (esp in the phrase “

spill the tea”, “that´s the tea, sis”)
 Proverbs, sayings and idioms in Russian
language
• past-time («Чай не пил — какая сила? Чай попил — совсем
ослаб!»)
• Tea etiquette, hospitality («Чай несу — не подумайте, что
выгоняю»)
• longevity (Чай пить – долго жить)
• respect (Коль чаем угощают, значит уважают)
• rest, pleasure (Чай пить – не дрова рубить; Пей чай –
удовольствие получай; Чай пить – приятно жить; Чаем
на Руси никто не подавился)
 Proverbs, sayings and idioms in English
language
• pastime («Drinking tea with pleasure isn’t working without
measure»),
• attitude to something (something is not your cup of tea,
someone would not do something for all the tea in China, It’s
a s good as a chocolate teapot)
• hospitality, kindness (tea and sympathy)
• rest, pleasure (A cup that cheers, but not inebriates, «If you
are hot, tea will cool you off, and if you are cold, it will warm
you up»)
 🇷🇺 TEA IN CULTURE
• Tea serves as a drink to quench thirst, to enjoy the taste, to lift the mood,
to maintain a friendly and frank heart-to-heart conversation.
(«зайти/пригласить на чашечку чая»,
«побаловаться чайком»(бездельничать),«даже чаю не предложили»
(о недолжном гостеприимстве))

• Russian tea is brewed and can be served sweet, and hot or cold. It is

traditionally taken at afternoon tea, but has since spread as an all daydrink,
especially at the end of meals, served with dessert. A notable aspect of
Russian tea culture is the samovar, which is used for brewing.
 🇬🇧 TEA IN CULTURE
• Tea is usually served with milk, it is not uncommon to drink it black or
with lemon, with sugar being a popular addition to any of the above.
Strong ordinary tea (such as English Breakfast tea), served in a mug with
milk and often sugar, is a popular combination known as builder's tea. It
is often accompanied with sandwiches, crumpets, scones, cake and/or 
biscuits, with a popular British custom being dunking or dipping the
biscuit into it. 

• Tea also suggests comfort, and sitting down with a ‘nice cup of tea’ is a
common response to problems and worries.
Thank you for your
attention!