Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Clamber'

English Word: Clamber

Key Russian Translations:

• карабкаться [kɐˈrapkətʲsə] - [Informal, Commonly Used]
• взбираться [vzʲbʲɪˈratʲsə] - [Formal, Often Literary]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

карабкаться: [kɐˈrapkətʲsə]

Note on карабкаться: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'р' sound is rolled, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

взбираться: [vzʲbʲɪˈratʲsə]

Note on взбираться: Stress is on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft 'з' and 'б' sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To climb with effort or difficulty (often using hands and feet)

Translation(s) & Context:

• карабкаться - Used in informal contexts, often for physical climbing over obstacles or rough terrain.
• взбираться - More formal, often implies climbing upwards with purpose, such as a mountain or hill.

Usage Examples:

• Он карабкался на дерево, чтобы достать мяч.

  He clambered up the tree to get the ball.

• Дети карабкались по скалам без страха.

  The children clambered over the rocks without fear.

• Мы взбирались на вершину горы с большим трудом.

  We clambered to the top of the mountain with great difficulty.

• Она взбиралась по крутому склону, держась за камни.

  She clambered up the steep slope, holding onto rocks.

• Солдаты карабкались через заграждения под обстрелом.

  The soldiers clambered over the barricades under fire.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

карабкаться (Imperfective Verb): This verb is reflexive and follows the first conjugation pattern. It does not have a perfective counterpart in common usage.

взбираться (Imperfective Verb): This verb is also reflexive and follows the first conjugation. Its perfective form is "взобраться."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for карабкаться:

• лезть
• вскарабкиваться

Note: "лезть" is more colloquial and can sometimes imply clumsiness, while "вскарабкиваться" is a bit more specific to quick or sudden climbing.

Synonyms for взбираться:

• подниматься
• восходить

Note: "восходить" is highly formal and often used for ascending mountains or in metaphorical contexts.

Antonyms:

• спускаться
• сходить

Related Phrases:

• карабкаться по стене - To clamber up a wall (literal or figurative struggle).
• взбираться на вершину - To clamber to the top (often used for mountains or metaphorical success).
• карабкаться через препятствия - To clamber over obstacles (physical or abstract challenges).

Usage Notes:

• Both "карабкаться" and "взбираться" are reflexive verbs in Russian, requiring the suffix "-ся." English learners often forget this suffix, leading to incorrect usage.
• "карабкаться" is more informal and often used in everyday speech, especially for children or animals climbing. "взбираться" carries a more deliberate or formal tone and is often used in written language or descriptions of significant effort.
• These verbs are imperfective, focusing on the process of climbing. If you need to emphasize completion, use the perfective form of "взбираться," which is "взобраться."

Common Errors:

• Error: Omitting the reflexive "-ся" in "карабкаться" or "взбираться," saying "карабкаю" instead of "карабкаюсь."
  Correct: Я карабкаюсь на дерево. (I am clambering up the tree.)
  Incorrect: Я карабкаю на дерево.
• Error: Using "взбираться" in casual, trivial contexts.
  Explanation: "взбираться" sounds overly formal for small or everyday climbing actions. Use "карабкаться" instead.
  Correct: Он карабкался на стул. (He clambered onto the chair.)
  Incorrect: Он взбирался на стул.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "взбираться" often appears in literature or storytelling, especially in descriptions of heroic or challenging ascents, such as climbing mountains in the Caucasus, a region with deep cultural significance. "карабкаться," on the other hand, is more grounded in everyday life and often used humorously or affectionately when describing children or animals.

Related Concepts:

• подъём
• скалолазание
• вершина