Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bush'

English Word: bush

Key Russian Translations:

• куст [kust] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• кустарник [kustˈarnɪk] - [Formal, Often Used in Botanical Contexts]

Frequency: High (especially "куст")

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "куст"; A2 (Elementary) for "кустарник"

Pronunciation (Russian):

куст: [kust]

Note on куст: The stress is on the single syllable. Simple and straightforward pronunciation for beginners.

кустарник: [kustˈarnɪk]

Note on кустарник: Stress falls on the second syllable. Pay attention to the rolled 'r' sound, which might be challenging for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A woody plant, smaller than a tree (literal meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• куст - Commonly used for any small bush or shrub in everyday speech.
• кустарник - More formal, often used in scientific or botanical contexts to refer to shrubs as a category.

Usage Examples:

• В саду растёт красивый куст роз.

  A beautiful rose bush grows in the garden.

• Мы посадили кусты вдоль забора.

  We planted bushes along the fence.

• Кустарники в этом регионе очень разнообразны.

  The shrubs in this region are very diverse.

• За домом спрятался маленький куст.

  A small bush is hidden behind the house.

• Кустарники часто используют для живой изгороди.

  Shrubs are often used for hedges.

2. Remote or wild area (figurative, as in "the bush")

Translation(s) & Context:

• глушь - Used to describe a remote, wild, or undeveloped area, though not a direct translation of "bush" as a plant.

Usage Examples:

• Они живут в полной глуши, вдали от цивилизации.

  They live in the middle of nowhere, far from civilization.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

куст (noun, masculine): Regular noun declension in Russian. Changes according to case and number.

кустарник (noun, masculine): Similar to "куст," follows regular masculine noun declension patterns. Refer to a similar table structure if needed.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for куст:

• кустарник (more formal)
• растение (general term for plant, less specific)

Note: "кустарник" implies a category of shrubs, while "куст" often refers to an individual bush.

Antonyms for куст:

• дерево (tree, larger than a bush)

Related Phrases:

• куст малины - bush of raspberries (refers to a raspberry plant).
• куст шиповника - rosehip bush (a specific type of bush).
• прятаться за кустами - to hide behind the bushes (common expression for concealment).

Usage Notes:

• "куст" is the most common and versatile translation for "bush" in everyday Russian. It is appropriate for most casual and neutral contexts.
• "кустарник" is more formal and often used in written or scientific contexts. Use it when discussing shrubs as a botanical category.
• For figurative uses like "the bush" (wild area), neither "куст" nor "кустарник" fits directly. Instead, terms like "глушь" (remote area) are more appropriate.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кустарник" in casual conversation. It sounds overly formal or out of place when talking about a single bush in a garden.
  Incorrect: У меня в саду растёт кустарник.
  Correct: У меня в саду растёт куст.
• Error: Misusing "куст" in plural form by forgetting declension rules (e.g., saying "куста" instead of "кусты" in nominative plural).
  Incorrect: В парке много куста.
  Correct: В парке много кустов (genitive plural after "много").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, bushes like "куст малины" (raspberry bush) or "куст смородины" (currant bush) are often associated with traditional village life and gardening, as many families grow berries in their dachas (country houses). Understanding these associations can help learners grasp the cultural context of the word "куст."

Related Concepts:

• дерево (tree)
• растение (plant)
• сад (garden)