Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Borrow'

English Word: borrow

Key Russian Translations:

• брать в долг [bratʲ v dolɡ] - [Formal, Often used for money or items]
• заимствовать [zɐˈimstvəvətʲ] - [Formal, Often used for ideas or words]
• одолжить [ɐˈdolʐɨtʲ] - [Informal, Often used for temporary use of items]

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

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "брать в долг" and "одолжить"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "заимствовать" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

брать в долг: [bratʲ v dolɡ]

Note on брать в долг: Stress falls on the first syllable of "брать" and the second syllable of "долг".

заимствовать: [zɐˈimstvəvətʲ]

Note on заимствовать: Stress on the second syllable; the "в" sounds soft due to the following "ə".

одолжить: [ɐˈdolʐɨtʲ]

Note on одолжить: Stress on the second syllable; "ж" is a voiced retroflex sound, distinct from English "zh".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To take something temporarily with the intent to return (e.g., money, items)

Translation(s) & Context:

• брать в долг - Used for borrowing money or tangible items, often with a formal or serious tone.
• одолжить - Informal, used for casual borrowing of items or small amounts of money among friends or family.

Usage Examples:

• Я должен взять в долг у банка, чтобы купить машину.

  I need to borrow money from the bank to buy a car.

• Можно одолжить твою ручку на минутку?

  Can I borrow your pen for a minute?

• Он часто берёт в долг у друзей и не возвращает.

  He often borrows money from friends and doesn’t return it.

2. To adopt or take inspiration (e.g., ideas, words, culture)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заимствовать - Used for abstract borrowing, such as ideas, concepts, or linguistic elements.

Usage Examples:

• Русский язык заимствовал много слов из французского в XIX веке.

  The Russian language borrowed many words from French in the 19th century.

• Этот автор заимствует идеи у классиков.

  This author borrows ideas from the classics.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

брать в долг (verb phrase): The verb "брать" is imperfective and conjugates irregularly. "Долг" (debt) is a masculine noun, declines by case and number.

заимствовать (verb): Regular imperfective verb, follows standard conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -овать.

одолжить (verb): Perfective verb, often used in past or future tense to indicate a completed action of borrowing.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• взять напрокат (to rent/take for temporary use, for items)
• позаимствовать (to borrow, often informal or for ideas)

Note: "взять напрокат" implies a more formal or commercial borrowing (e.g., renting), while "позаимствовать" can overlap with "заимствовать" for abstract borrowing.

Antonyms:

• дать в долг (to lend)
• вернуть (to return)

Related Phrases:

• брать кредит (to take a loan/credit) - Often used for formal borrowing from institutions.
• одолжить до зарплаты (to borrow until payday) - A common informal expression for short-term borrowing.
• заимствовать опыт (to borrow experience) - Used for adopting practices or knowledge.

Usage Notes:

• "брать в долг" is the most common translation for borrowing money or items with a sense of obligation to return. It is often used in serious or formal contexts.
• "одолжить" is more casual and typically implies borrowing something small or for a short time, often from someone you know well.
• "заимствовать" is reserved for abstract or intellectual borrowing and is rarely used in everyday speech about physical items.
• Be mindful of the aspectual difference: "одолжить" (perfective) implies a completed action, while "брать" (imperfective) can describe an ongoing or habitual action.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "заимствовать" for borrowing physical items. Incorrect: "Я заимствовал книгу у друга." Correct: "Я одолжил книгу у друга." (I borrowed a book from a friend.) Explanation: "заимствовать" is for abstract borrowing, not tangible objects.
• Error: Confusing "одолжить" (to borrow) with "дать в долг" (to lend). Incorrect: "Я одолжил ему деньги." (if intending to say "I lent"). Correct: "Я дал ему деньги в долг." Explanation: "одолжить" means to borrow, not to lend.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, borrowing (especially money) can carry a sense of personal obligation or trust, particularly when using "одолжить" among friends or family. It is often considered polite to return borrowed items or money promptly to maintain good relationships. The phrase "брать в долг" may imply a formal or serious commitment, often associated with financial debt.

Related Concepts:

• долг (debt)
• кредит (credit/loan)
• возврат (return/repayment)