Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Compress'

English Word: compress

Key Russian Translations:

• сжимать [ˈsʐɨmatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Imperfective]
• сжать [ˈsʐatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Perfective]
• уплотнять [ʊplɐtˈnʲatʲ] - [Formal/Technical, Verb, Imperfective]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in technical and everyday contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "сжимать" and "сжать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "уплотнять"

Pronunciation (Russian):

сжимать: [ˈsʐɨmatʲ]

Note on сжимать: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

сжать: [ˈsʐatʲ]

Note on сжать: Stress on the first syllable. Shorter form due to perfective aspect.

уплотнять: [ʊplɐtˈnʲatʲ]

Note on уплотнять: Stress on the third syllable. Common in technical contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To reduce in size or volume by pressure (Physical compression)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сжимать - Used for ongoing or repeated compression (imperfective).
• сжать - Used for a completed act of compression (perfective).

Usage Examples:

• Он сжимает пружину, чтобы проверить её упругость.

  He compresses the spring to test its elasticity.

• Она сжала губы, чтобы не рассмеяться.

  She compressed her lips to avoid laughing.

• Нужно сжать файл перед отправкой.

  You need to compress the file before sending it.

2. To make denser or more compact (Technical or abstract usage)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уплотнять - Often used in technical contexts like construction or data compression.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны уплотнять грунт перед строительством.

  We must compress the soil before construction.

• Этот алгоритм помогает уплотнять данные.

  This algorithm helps to compress data.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сжимать (Imperfective Verb): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses.

Person	Present	Past (Masc./Fem./Neut.)	Future
1st Sing.	сжимаю	сжимал / сжимала / сжимало	буду сжимать
3rd Plur.	сжимают	сжимали	будут сжимать

сжать (Perfective Verb): Used only in past and future tenses to indicate a completed action.

уплотнять (Imperfective Verb): Similar regular conjugation, often used in technical contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for сжимать/сжать:

• сдавливать (to squeeze or press)
• стягивать (to tighten or constrict)

Note: "сдавливать" often implies stronger pressure, while "стягивать" can refer to tightening.

Antonyms for сжимать/сжать:

• расширять (to expand)
• растягивать (to stretch)

Related Phrases:

• сжать кулак - to clench a fist (used to express anger or determination)
• сжать сердце - to grip the heart (used metaphorically for emotional pain)
• уплотнять график - to compress a schedule (to make it tighter or more packed)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "сжимать" (imperfective) and "сжать" (perfective) depends on whether the action is ongoing or completed. Use "сжимать" for habitual or incomplete actions and "сжать" for a one-time, completed act.
• "уплотнять" is more specific to technical or abstract contexts (e.g., compressing soil or data) and is less common in everyday speech.
• Be mindful of metaphorical uses, such as "сжать сердце" (to feel emotional pain), which do not directly translate to physical compression.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect Aspect Usage: English speakers often misuse "сжимать" and "сжать" by ignoring aspect. For example, saying "Я сжимаю файл вчера" (incorrect) instead of "Я сжал файл вчера" (correct) because the action is completed in the past.
• Wrong Context for "уплотнять": Using "уплотнять" in casual conversation (e.g., "уплотнять губы" instead of "сжать губы") sounds unnatural and overly technical.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, metaphorical expressions involving compression, like "сжать сердце" (heart squeezes with pain), are common in literature and emotional contexts. These expressions often carry a deeper emotional weight than their English equivalents, reflecting a cultural tendency to vividly describe inner feelings.

Related Concepts:

• давление (pressure)
• сжатие (compression, noun form)
• уменьшение (reduction)