1. "Good afternoon, this is Gianluca speaking, how can I help you?

2. "The first thing they ask is not: ‘How can I help you?‘ It‘s: ‘How much will you pay?‘ " Khan said.

3. Even in Moscow‘s most expensive boutiques the salesperson will not always come up to you with the standard question, "How can I help you?" Here the saleswomen may look like top models, but they‘ll chat with each other and not pay any attention to the customers.

4. It told friends to follow a set of instructions to gain access to the celebrations, including: "When asked ‘How can I help you?‘ you reply ‘I am here for Lucy‘s birthday party at the Rivoli Bar‘." | View all Reader comments (6) 6 people have commented on this story so far.

5. In Russian, it is appropriate to simply express horror or sadness. Ęŕęîĺ ';îđĺ! (What a tragedy.) Ęŕę ďĺ÷ŕëüíî! (This is so sad.) ĘŕęŕH'; óćŕńíŕH'; ďîňĺđH';! (What a terrible loss.). Or you might commiserate by sharing your own feelings: ß íĺ ěî';ó â ýňî ďîâĺđ';ňü. (I can‘t believe it.) If you are sure this would be appropriate, you might say: ß ěîëţńü çŕ âŕń. (I pray for you.) Or you can simply confess that words fail you: ß íĺ ěî';ó íŕéň'; ńëîâ óňĺřĺí';H';. (I can‘t find words of comfort.) Perhaps the most common Russian expression of commiseration, and the most welcome, is also the most simple: ×ĺě H'; ěî';ó âŕě ďîěî÷ü? (How can I help you?) Michele A.