Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'crotchet'

English Word: crotchet

Key Russian Translations:

• четвертная нота [ˈt͡ɕetvʲɪrnəjə ˈnotə] - [Formal, Musical term; used in music theory and notation]
• каприз [kɐˈprʲiz] - [Informal, Everyday language; refers to a whimsical notion or eccentricity]

Frequency: Medium (high in musical contexts, low in general conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (for 'четвертная нота' in musical contexts, per CEFR); A2 (for 'каприз' as a basic noun)

Pronunciation (Russian):

четвертная нота: [ˈt͡ɕetvʲɪrnəjə ˈnotə]

Note on четвертная нота: The initial 'ч' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in 'church'. Stress falls on the first syllable, and the word may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

каприз: [kɐˈprʲiz]

Note on каприз: The 'р' is a trilled 'r', and the stress is on the second syllable. This word is straightforward but can have regional variations in vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Musical term: A note with the time value of a quarter of a semibreve (equivalent to a quarter note in American English).

Translation(s) & Context:

• четвертная нота - Used in formal music education, scores, and discussions about rhythm; common in classical or educational settings.

Usage Examples:

• В этой мелодии преобладают четвертные ноты, что придаёт ритму живость.

  In this melody, crotchets predominate, giving the rhythm a lively feel.

• Ученик научился играть четвертную ноту на пианино за урок.

  The student learned to play a crotchet on the piano in one lesson.

• Композитор использовал четвертные ноты для создания напряжённого темпа.

  The composer used crotchets to create a tense tempo.

• В партитуре отмечены четвертные ноты с акцентами для динамики.

  In the score, crotchets are marked with accents for dynamics.

Whimsical notion: A strange or eccentric idea, habit, or quirk.

Translation(s) & Context:

• каприз - Used in informal conversations about personality traits or behaviors; can imply something endearing or annoying.

Usage Examples:

• Его каприз — собирать редкие монеты — стал хобби на всю жизнь.

  His crotchet of collecting rare coins became a lifelong hobby.

• Не обращай внимания на её капризы; это просто её странные идеи.

  Don't pay attention to her crotchets; they're just her odd notions.

• Этот каприз заставил его переезжать каждые полгода.

  This crotchet made him move every six months.

• В молодости у меня был каприз — есть только синие фрукты.

  In my youth, I had a crotchet of eating only blue fruits.

• Её каприз по поводу порядка в доме иногда раздражает семью.

  Her crotchet about household order sometimes annoys the family.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'четвертная нота' (a feminine noun):

This is a compound noun. 'Нота' (nota) is a feminine noun that follows the first declension pattern, while 'четвертная' is an adjective that agrees with it.

For 'каприз' (a masculine noun):

This follows the second declension with irregular forms in some cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Для 'четвертная нота': нота (general term for note), ритмическая единица (rhythmic unit) - 'Нота' is more neutral and widely used.
  • Для 'каприз': причуда (prichuda) - Implies a more harmless quirk; or мания (mania) - Suggests a stronger obsession.
• Antonyms:
  • Для 'каприз': рациональность (ratsionalnost') - Meaning rationality or logic.

Related Phrases:

• Играть четвертную ноту - To play a crotchet; used in music practice contexts.
• Поддаться капризу - To give in to a whim; implies acting on an eccentric idea in daily life.
• Каприз судьбы - A twist of fate; a common idiomatic expression for an unpredictable event.

Usage Notes:

'Crotchet' as 'четвертная нота' directly corresponds to musical terminology and is best used in formal or educational settings. In Russian, it's essential to ensure adjective agreement (e.g., 'четвертная' changes based on case and gender). For 'каприз', it's more versatile in informal speech but avoid it in professional contexts where 'причуда' might be preferable for subtlety. When choosing between translations, opt for 'четвертная нота' in music-related discussions and 'каприз' for personality traits. Grammar note: Both nouns require proper declension to fit sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'четвертая нота' instead of 'четвертная нота' (confusing the adjective form). Correct: 'Четвертная нота' is the standard term. Explanation: The adjective must agree in gender and case; 'четвертая' is incorrect as it implies ordinal numbering.

• Error: Treating 'каприз' as feminine (e.g., saying 'каприза' in nominative). Correct: It's masculine, so use 'каприз' in nominative. Explanation: This is a common mistake for English speakers unfamiliar with Russian gender rules, leading to agreement errors in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'каприз' often carries a light-hearted connotation, as seen in literature like Chekhov's works, where eccentric behaviors are portrayed humorously. For 'четвертная нота', it reflects the structured tradition of Russian classical music, influenced by composers like Tchaikovsky, emphasizing precision in rhythm.

Related Concepts:

• Полная нота (full note)
• Причуда (whim or quirk)
• Ритм (rhythm)