по
- 1.
along, down, through, across, around
Я иду́ по у́лице. - I'm walking down the street.по + Location of walking, going in dative case
+dat
- 2.
about, on the subject of
Учебник по фи́зике. - Physics book.по
+dat
- 3.
by the means of
Говори́ть по телефо́ну - to talk on the phoneпо + object in dative case
+dat
- 4.
after a certain age
Дееспосо́бность возника́ет у лица́ по достиже́нии 18 лет. - A person acquires legal capacity at the age of 18. - 5.
to (indicating to the end or limit of an object)
Я всади́л штык по ду́ло ружья́. - I stuck a bayonet to the muzzle of the gun.по + accusative case
- 6.
on (weekdays, specific part of a day)
по понеде́льникам - on Mondaysпо + day in dative plural
+dat
Usage info
По + dative: (i) With nouns that denote means of communication (ii) In the meaning ‘according to’, ‘by’ etc (iii) To denote a criterion for judgment (iv) To denote a target, especially a moving or diffuse target (v) To define the ‘frame of reference’ of persons, groups, objects etc.: (vi) With ordinal numerals, to denote position in a scale of dimensions or priorities:
Examples
- Твое́й сестре́ нра́вится смотре́ть по телеви́зору борьбу́ сумо.Your sister enjoys watching sumo wrestling on TV.
- Россия выража́ет сожале́ния по по́воду поги́бших во вре́мя кри́зиса с зало́жниками.Russia expresses regret for those lost in the hostage incident.
- Корабли́ дрейфова́ли по ми́лости волн.The ship was drifting at the mercy of the waves.
- Коми́ссия по че́стной торго́вле предъяви́ла но́вые доказа́тельства в рассле́довании подло́га.The FTC nailed down new evidence in the fraud investigation.
- Смотри́, мальчи́шки хо́дят босиком по воде.Look, the boys are walking barefoot in the water.
- Давай поговори́м по доро́ге.Let's talk as we go along.
Fixed expressions
as compared with
about
by last name
at least
light insanity
not to one's liking; dislike
Typical usagePRO
Direction and location
идти́ по у́лице
walk along the street
е́здить по го́роду
drive around town
ходи́ть по ко́мнате
pace around the room
по доро́ге
on the way
Time and frequency
по утра́м
in the mornings
по вечера́м
in the evenings
по понеде́льникам
on Mondays
по выходны́м
at weekends
Communication and channel
по телефо́ну
by phone
по электро́нной по́чте
by email
по телеви́дению
on TV
по ра́дио
on the radio
Learn
Contributions
Michel edited translation 16 hours ago.
Fox edited translation 5 months ago.
