Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Crucify'

English Word: crucify

Key Russian Translations:

• распять [rɐsˈpʲatʲ] - [Formal, Literal]
• распинать [rɐsˈpʲinətʲ] - [Formal, Figurative or Prolonged Action]

Frequency: Low (Rare in everyday conversation, more common in religious or historical contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "распять"; C1 (Advanced) for "распинать" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

распять: [rɐsˈpʲatʲ]

Note on распять: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'п' sound is a common challenge for non-native speakers.

распинать: [rɐsˈpʲinətʲ]

Note on распинать: Stress on the second syllable. The ending changes based on aspect and conjugation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Literal Meaning (to execute by crucifixion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• распять - Used in historical or religious contexts to describe the act of crucifixion.

Usage Examples:

• Иисуса Христа распяли на кресте.

  Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross.

• В древнем Риме преступников часто распинали.

  In ancient Rome, criminals were often crucified.

• Его распяли за его убеждения.

  He was crucified for his beliefs (literal or metaphorical).

2. Figurative Meaning (to criticize or torment harshly)

Translation(s) & Context:

• распинать - Used metaphorically to describe harsh criticism or emotional torment.

Usage Examples:

• Критики распинали его за последнюю книгу.

  Critics crucified him for his latest book.

• Она распинала себя за свои ошибки.

  She crucified herself over her mistakes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

распять (perfective verb): This verb is used for a completed action. It follows regular conjugation patterns for perfective verbs in Russian.

распинать (imperfective verb): This verb implies an ongoing or repeated action. It is used more flexibly in figurative contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• казнить (execute, broader term)
• мучить (torment, figurative)

Note: "казнить" is broader and can refer to any form of execution, while "мучить" focuses on torment without necessarily implying death.

Antonyms:

• освободить (to free)
• спасти (to save)

Related Phrases:

• распять на кресте - "to crucify on the cross" (literal, religious context)
• распинать словами - "to crucify with words" (figurative, harsh criticism)

Usage Notes:

• "распять" is primarily used for the literal act of crucifixion and is more common in religious or historical texts. It is a perfective verb, indicating a completed action.
• "распинать" can be used both literally and figuratively. As an imperfective verb, it often implies a prolonged or repeated action, especially in metaphorical contexts like criticism.
• Choose "распять" for concise, completed actions and "распинать" for ongoing or figurative torment.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "распять" in a figurative sense. Incorrect: "Критики распяли его книгу." Correct: "Критики распинали его книгу." Explanation: "распять" is perfective and typically literal, while "распинать" fits ongoing or metaphorical criticism.
• Error: Misconjugating verbs due to aspect confusion. Ensure the correct form matches the intended meaning (completed vs. ongoing action).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "распять" carries strong religious connotations due to the prominence of Orthodox Christianity. It is often associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and may evoke deep emotional or spiritual resonance in religious contexts.

Related Concepts:

• крещение (baptism)
• мученичество (martyrdom)
• казнь (execution)