Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bulldoze'

English Word: bulldoze

Key Russian Translations:

• снести [ˈsnʲesʲtʲi] - [Formal; used in construction or destructive contexts]
• протолкнуть [prətɐlʲˈknutʲ] - [Informal; used metaphorically for forcing through obstacles]

Frequency: Medium - The word is not extremely common in everyday conversation but appears frequently in contexts like construction, politics, or forceful actions.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but understanding nuances requires familiarity with Russian verb aspects and contextual applications. For "снести," it is B1; for "протолкнуть," it is also B1 due to similar structures.

Pronunciation (Russian):

снести: [ˈsnʲesʲtʲi]

Note on снести: This is a perfective verb with stress on the first syllable; the "сн" cluster can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalized 'н' sound. Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) affecting pronunciation.

Audio: []

протолкнуть: [prətɐlʲˈknutʲ]

Note on протолкнуть: Stress falls on the third syllable; the "лʲ" is a palatalized 'l' sound, which is softer than in English. This verb often involves a quick consonant cluster.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To demolish or level something, often with heavy machinery like a bulldozer.

Translation(s) & Context:

• снести - Used in literal construction or destruction scenarios, such as clearing land.

Usage Examples:

• Рабочие снесли старый забор, чтобы освободить место для нового здания.

  The workers bulldozed the old fence to make way for the new building.

• Городские власти решили снести несколько домов в центре для расширения дорог.

  The city authorities decided to bulldoze several houses in the center to expand the roads.

• Инженеры снесли холм бульдозером, чтобы выровнять teren для строительства.

  The engineers bulldozed the hill to level the ground for construction.

• После урагана команда снесла поврежденные структуры для безопасности.

  After the hurricane, the team bulldozed the damaged structures for safety.

Meaning 2: To force through or push aggressively, often metaphorically (e.g., in discussions or plans).

Translation(s) & Context:

• протолкнуть - Applied in figurative contexts, such as pushing a bill through parliament or overcoming resistance.

Usage Examples:

• Политик смог протолкнуть свой законопроект несмотря на оппозицию.

  The politician managed to bulldoze his bill through despite opposition.

• В переговорах менеджер протолкнул идею, игнорируя возражения команды.

  In the negotiations, the manager bulldozed the idea forward, ignoring the team's objections.

• Активисты протолкнули реформу, мобилизовав общественное мнение.

  The activists bulldozed the reform by rallying public opinion.

• Он протолкнул свой план вперед, не учитывая последствия.

  He bulldozed his plan ahead without considering the consequences.

• В дискуссии она протолкнула свою точку зрения, прерывая других.

  In the discussion, she bulldozed her viewpoint by interrupting others.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "снести" and "протолкнуть" are perfective verbs in Russian, which means they express completed actions. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. These verbs are irregular in some aspects due to their perfective forms.

For "снести" (to demolish):

For "протолкнуть" (to push through):

These verbs do not change in a completely regular pattern due to Russian's aspect system; always pair with imperfective forms for ongoing actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • уничтожить (u-ni-chtoz-hit') - To destroy completely; often more intense than снести.
  • разрушить (ra-zru-shit') - To demolish; similar to снести but can apply to larger structures.
  • пробить (pro-bit') - To break through; a softer synonym for протолкнуть in metaphorical contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • сохранить (so-khra-nit') - To preserve.
  • защитить (za-shchit-it') - To protect.
  • остановить (a-sta-no-vit') - To stop or halt.

Related Phrases:

• Снести здание - To demolish a building; used in urban planning contexts.
• Протолкнуть закон - To push a law through; common in political discussions, implying forceful passage.
• Снести препятствие - To remove an obstacle; metaphorical for overcoming challenges.
• Протолкнуть идею - To force an idea forward; often in business or creative settings, with the connotation of persistence.

Usage Notes:

"Bulldoze" translates to Russian verbs like "снести" for physical destruction and "протолкнуть" for figurative forcefulness. Choose "снести" in formal, literal contexts such as construction, where precision is key. "Протолкнуть" is better for informal or metaphorical uses, like in debates. Be mindful of Russian's aspect system: use perfective forms (like these) for completed actions and pair with imperfective verbs for ongoing ones. In speech, these words often carry a sense of aggression, so they may sound blunt in polite conversations.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: English learners might use "снести" for ongoing actions, e.g., saying "Я снесу дом" incorrectly for a process. Correct: Use imperfective "сносить" for ongoing, e.g., "Я сношу дом" (I am demolishing the house). Error example: "Я снес дом вчера" (implying completion, which is correct), but wrongly as "Я сносить дом" for past.
• Misapplying in context: Learners often translate "bulldoze" directly as "бульдозить," which isn't standard. Correct: Use "снести с помощью бульдозера." Error: "Я бульдозил план" instead of "Я протолкнул план."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "снести" can evoke historical contexts, such as the rapid urbanization and demolition during the Soviet era, where old structures were often "bulldozed" for new developments. This carries a connotation of progress at the expense of heritage, reflecting themes in Russian literature and media about modernization versus tradition.

Related Concepts:

• уничтожение (destruction)
• препятствие (obstacle)
• реформа (reform)
• защита (protection)