Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Chase'

English Word: chase

Key Russian Translations:

• преследовать [prɪsʲlʲɪˈdovatʲ] - [Formal, Verb]
• гнаться [ˈɡnatʲsə] - [Informal, Verb]
• погоня [pɐˈɡonʲə] - [Noun, Refers to the act of chasing]

Frequency: Medium (used regularly in specific contexts like action or pursuit)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "преследовать" and "гнаться"; A2 (Beginner) for "погоня"

Pronunciation (Russian):

преследовать: [prɪsʲlʲɪˈdovatʲ]

Note on преследовать: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "сʲ" is a soft consonant, pronounced with the tongue close to the palate.

гнаться: [ˈɡnatʲsə]

Note on гнаться: Stress on the first syllable. The "тʲ" is a soft sound, similar to "ch" in "church."

погоня: [pɐˈɡonʲə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To pursue someone or something (verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• преследовать - Used in formal or serious contexts, often implying a deliberate or persistent pursuit (e.g., chasing a criminal).
• гнаться - More informal, often used for physical chasing or pursuing a goal (e.g., running after someone).

Usage Examples:

• Полиция преследовала преступника всю ночь.

  The police chased the criminal all night.

• Он гнался за автобусом, но не успел.

  He chased after the bus but didn’t make it.

• Мы преследуем общую цель.

  We are chasing a common goal. (Figurative use)

2. The act of chasing (noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• погоня - Refers to the act or event of chasing, often in dramatic or action contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Погоня за вором была захватывающей.

  The chase after the thief was thrilling.

• В фильме была долгая погоня на машинах.

  There was a long car chase in the movie.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

преследовать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Below is the present tense conjugation:

гнаться (Verb, Imperfective): Irregular in some forms, often used with the preposition "за" (after). Conjugation is similar to reflexive verbs.

погоня (Noun, Feminine): Declines according to the first declension pattern. Below are the main cases:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for преследовать/гнаться:

• догонять (to catch up)
• охотиться (to hunt, often figurative)

Note: "догонять" implies catching up rather than persistent pursuit, while "охотиться" is often used metaphorically.

Antonyms for преследовать/гнаться:

• убегать (to run away)
• избегать (to avoid)

Related Phrases:

• гнаться за мечтой - Chasing a dream (figurative pursuit of goals).
• погоня за славой - Chase for fame (pursuit of recognition).
• преследовать цель - To pursue a goal (formal, deliberate action).

Usage Notes:

• "преследовать" is more formal and often used in contexts of law enforcement or persistent pursuit, while "гнаться" is more casual and physical.
• "погоня" specifically refers to the act or event of chasing and cannot be used as a verb.
• When using "гнаться," it often pairs with "за" followed by the instrumental case to indicate what is being chased (e.g., "гнаться за собакой" - chasing after a dog).

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "преследовать" in casual contexts. Incorrect: "Я преследовал автобус." Correct: "Я гнался за автобусом." Explanation: "преследовать" sounds overly formal for everyday situations like missing a bus.

Error 2: Forgetting the preposition "за" with "гнаться." Incorrect: "Я гнался собаку." Correct: "Я гнался за собакой." Explanation: "гнаться" requires "за" to indicate the object of pursuit.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "погоня" often appears in literature and films, especially in action or historical contexts (e.g., Cossack chases). It carries a dramatic connotation, unlike the more neutral English "chase."

Related Concepts:

• охота (hunting)
• бег (running)
• цель (goal, target)