Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'breathe'

English Word: breathe

Key Russian Translations:

• дышать [ˈdɨʂətʲ] - [General usage, Neutral]
• вдыхать [vdɨˈxatʲ] - [Specific to inhaling, Neutral]
• выдыхать [vɨˈdɨxətʲ] - [Specific to exhaling, Neutral]

Frequency: High (especially "дышать")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "дышать"); B1 (Intermediate for "вдыхать" and "выдыхать")

Pronunciation (Russian):

дышать: [ˈdɨʂətʲ]

Note on дышать: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English "sh".

вдыхать: [vdɨˈxatʲ]

Note on вдыхать: Stress on the second syllable. The "в" is pronounced softly before "д".

выдыхать: [vɨˈdɨxətʲ]

Note on выдыхать: Stress on the second syllable. Similar pronunciation pattern to "вдыхать".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To take air into the lungs and expel it (general breathing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дышать - Used for general breathing, applicable in most contexts (e.g., living, breathing air).

Usage Examples:

• Я не могу дышать в этой комнате.

  I can't breathe in this room.

• Дыши глубоко, чтобы успокоиться.

  Breathe deeply to calm down.

• Он дышит с трудом после бега.

  He breathes with difficulty after running.

2. To inhale (take air in)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вдыхать - Specifically refers to the act of inhaling, often used in medical or descriptive contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Вдыхай свежий воздух утром.

  Inhale the fresh air in the morning.

• Она вдыхает аромат цветов.

  She inhales the scent of flowers.

3. To exhale (let air out)

Translation(s) & Context:

• выдыхать - Specifically refers to exhaling, often paired with "вдыхать" in detailed descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Выдыхай медленно, чтобы расслабиться.

  Exhale slowly to relax.

• Он выдыхает дым после каждой затяжки.

  He exhales smoke after each puff.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

дышать (verb, imperfective): Regular verb of the first conjugation. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Person	Form
I (я)	дышу
You (ты)	дышишь
He/She/It (он/она/оно)	дышит
We (мы)	дышим
You (вы)	дышите
They (они)	дышат

Note: Past tense forms follow regular patterns (e.g., дышал, дышала, дышали).

вдыхать (verb, imperfective) and выдыхать (verb, imperfective): Both are also regular first conjugation verbs with similar conjugation patterns to "дышать".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for дышать:

• вдыхать (specifically inhaling)
• выдыхать (specifically exhaling)

Note: "вдыхать" and "выдыхать" are more specific and not fully interchangeable with "дышать".

Antonyms for дышать:

• задыхаться (to suffocate, to struggle to breathe)

Related Phrases:

• дышать полной грудью - to breathe deeply (lit. with full chest), meaning to feel free or relieved.
• вдыхать жизнь - to breathe life into something (figurative, to inspire or revive).
• не дышать на кого-то - to not breathe on someone (idiomatic, to be overly cautious or reverent).

Usage Notes:

• "дышать" is the most general and commonly used term for "breathe". Use it unless a specific action (inhaling or exhaling) is emphasized.
• "вдыхать" and "выдыхать" are often used in pairs in instructional or medical contexts (e.g., breathing exercises).
• Unlike English, Russian often requires a clear distinction between inhaling and exhaling when describing specific actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "вдыхать" or "выдыхать" for general breathing. Incorrect: Я вдыхаю каждый день. Correct: Я дышу каждый день. (I breathe every day.)
• Error: Ignoring aspectual differences. "дышать" is imperfective (ongoing action), while perfective forms like "вдохнуть" (to take a breath) are used for single actions. Incorrect: Я дышу один раз. Correct: Я вдохнул один раз. (I took one breath.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, breathing deeply ("дышать полной грудью") is often associated with freedom, relief, or enjoying nature, reflecting the vast landscapes of Russia where fresh air is a cherished concept.

Related Concepts:

• воздух (air)
• дыхание (breathing, respiration)
• вдох (inhalation, inspiration)
• выдох (exhalation)