Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bend'

English Word: bend

Key Russian Translations:

• сгибать [sɡʲiˈbatʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective, Formal/Informal]
• согнуть [sɐˈɡnutʲ] - [Verb, Perfective, Formal/Informal]
• изгиб [ɪzˈɡʲip] - [Noun, Masculine, Refers to a curve or bend]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday and technical contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for verbs "сгибать" and "согнуть"; A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for noun "изгиб"

Pronunciation (Russian):

сгибать: [sɡʲiˈbatʲ]

Note on сгибать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The initial "сг" cluster can be tricky for non-native speakers.

согнуть: [sɐˈɡnutʲ]

Note on согнуть: Stress on the first syllable. Pay attention to the soft "г" sound.

изгиб: [ɪzˈɡʲip]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To bend something (verb, physical action)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сгибать - Used for the ongoing or repeated action of bending (imperfective aspect).
• согнуть - Used for a completed or one-time action of bending (perfective aspect).

Usage Examples:

• Я сгибаю бумагу, чтобы сделать оригами.

  I am bending the paper to make origami.

• Он согнул металлический прут без усилий.

  He bent the metal rod effortlessly.

• Не сгибайте эту карту, она очень старая.

  Don't bend this map; it's very old.

2. A bend or curve (noun, physical shape)

Translation(s) & Context:

• изгиб - Refers to a curve or bend, often used for roads, rivers, or body shapes.

Usage Examples:

• Дорога делает резкий изгиб у реки.

  The road makes a sharp bend near the river.

• Изгиб её талии был очень изящным.

  The curve of her waist was very elegant.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сгибать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation in the first conjugation group. Key forms:

согнуть (verb, perfective): Used for completed actions. Often paired with "сгибать".

изгиб (noun, masculine): Declines as a second-declension noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for сгибать/согнуть (verb):

• гнуть
• скручивать (more specific to twisting)

Note: "гнуть" is often used interchangeably with "сгибать", but may imply more effort or resistance.

Antonyms for сгибать/согнуть (verb):

• выпрямлять (to straighten)

Synonyms for изгиб (noun):

• поворот
• кривизна

Related Phrases:

• согнуть спину - "to bend one's back" (literal or figurative, meaning to work hard or submit).
• изгиб реки - "bend of the river" (common geographical term).
• сгибать колени - "to bend one's knees" (often used in sports or prayer contexts).

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "сгибать" (imperfective) and "согнуть" (perfective) depends on whether the action is ongoing/repeated or completed. For example, use "согнуть" to describe bending something once with a result.
• "изгиб" is primarily used for physical curves or bends and is not interchangeable with the verbs.
• Be mindful of the transitive nature of these verbs; they usually require a direct object (e.g., "bend a rod" = "согнуть прут").

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "сгибать" and "согнуть". Incorrect: "Я согнул бумагу каждый день." Correct: "Я сгибаю бумагу каждый день." (Use imperfective for repeated actions.)
• Error: Using "изгиб" as a verb. Incorrect: "Я изгиб бумагу." Correct: "Я сгибаю бумагу." ("изгиб" is a noun, not a verb.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the phrase "согнуть спину" (to bend one's back) often carries a cultural connotation of hard labor or submission, reflecting historical contexts of peasantry or oppression. It can be used metaphorically in literature or speech.

Related Concepts:

• гнуть (to bend, alternative verb)
• выпрямлять (to straighten)
• кривая (curve, as in geometry)