Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Broaden'

English Word: broaden

Key Russian Translations:

• расширять [rɐˈʂɨrʲatʲ] - [Formal, Often used for abstract or physical expansion]
• расширить [rɐˈʂɨrʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Perfective form, indicates completed action]
• увеличивать [uvʲɪˈlʲitɕɪvətʲ] - [Neutral, Often used for increasing scope or size]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "расширять" and "расширить"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "увеличивать"

Pronunciation (Russian):

расширять: [rɐˈʂɨrʲatʲ]

Note on расширять: Stress falls on the second syllable; the "ш" sound is a soft hissing sound unique to Russian.

расширить: [rɐˈʂɨrʲɪtʲ]

Note on расширить: Similar to "расширять" but with a shorter, completed-action nuance in pronunciation.

увеличивать: [uvʲɪˈlʲitɕɪvətʲ]

Note on увеличивать: Stress on the third syllable; the "ч" is a soft "ch" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To expand in scope, knowledge, or perspective

Translation(s) & Context:

• расширять - Often used for broadening horizons, knowledge, or understanding.
• расширить - Used when the action of expansion is completed, e.g., after achieving broader understanding.

Usage Examples:

• Нужно расширять свои горизонты.

  You need to broaden your horizons.

• Она расширила свои знания о культуре.

  She broadened her knowledge of culture.

• Мы стремимся расширять круг общения.

  We aim to broaden our social circle.

2. To make physically wider or larger

Translation(s) & Context:

• расширять - Used for physical expansion, like roads or spaces.
• увеличивать - Can refer to increasing size or scope in a more general sense.

Usage Examples:

• Они расширяют дорогу за городом.

  They are broadening the road outside the city.

• Мы решили увеличить пространство в офисе.

  We decided to broaden the space in the office.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

расширять (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb of the first conjugation. Follows standard conjugation patterns for imperfective verbs.

расширить (Perfective Verb): Perfective counterpart to "расширять". Used for completed actions.

увеличивать (Imperfective Verb): Follows similar conjugation patterns to "расширять" but with different stem changes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• увеличивать (to increase)
• расширить (to expand, perfective)
• развивать (to develop)

Note: "развивать" often implies development over expansion, while "увеличивать" can be more general.

Antonyms:

• сужать (to narrow)
• уменьшать (to reduce)

Related Phrases:

• расширять кругозор - to broaden one’s outlook or horizons.
• расширить возможности - to broaden opportunities.
• увеличивать масштаб - to broaden the scope or scale.

Usage Notes:

• "расширять" is imperfective and used for ongoing or habitual actions of broadening, while "расширить" is perfective and indicates a completed action.
• "увеличивать" can sometimes be used interchangeably with "расширять", but it often implies a more general increase rather than specific expansion.
• Be mindful of context: "расширять" is more common for abstract concepts like knowledge, while "увеличивать" can apply to measurable increases like size or quantity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "расширить" (perfective) when describing an ongoing process.
  Incorrect: Я расширю знания каждый день.
  Correct: Я расширяю знания каждый день.
  Explanation: "расширить" implies a completed action, so for ongoing processes, use the imperfective "расширять".
• Error: Confusing "увеличивать" with "расширять" in abstract contexts.
  Incorrect: Мы увеличиваем горизонты.
  Correct: Мы расширяем горизонты.
  Explanation: "расширять" is more idiomatic for abstract broadening like horizons or perspectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "broadening horizons" (расширять кругозор) is often tied to education and travel, reflecting a value placed on intellectual and experiential growth. This phrase is frequently used in motivational or educational contexts.

Related Concepts:

• развивать (to develop)
• совершенствовать (to improve)
• углублять (to deepen)