Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'crumple'

English Word: crumple

Key Russian Translations:

• смять [smʲatʲ] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts like handling objects]
• скомкать [skɐmˈkatʲ] - [Informal, implies a more forceful or complete crumpling, often for fabric or paper]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is moderately common in spoken and written Russian, especially in descriptive narratives or instructions, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to take" or "to go".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR standards; involves understanding verb conjugations and perfective/imperfective aspects, which can be challenging for learners beyond beginner level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

смять: [smʲatʲ] (The "smʲ" sound is a palatalized 's' followed by 'm', which may be tricky for English speakers; stress on the first syllable.)

скомкать: [skɐmˈkatʲ] (Note on скомкать: The stress is on the second syllable, and the 'к' is pronounced as a hard 'k'. Pay attention to the vowel reduction in casual speech.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To crush, wrinkle, or press something into a disordered shape (e.g., paper, fabric)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смять - Used in informal contexts for accidentally or intentionally wrinkling objects, such as in daily life or storytelling.
• скомкать - Applied in situations involving more vigorous action, like crumpling in anger or for practical purposes, often in informal or expressive language.

Usage Examples:

• Он смял лист бумаги и бросил его в корзину.

  He crumpled the sheet of paper and threw it into the bin. (This example shows the verb in a simple past context, illustrating everyday frustration.)

• Дети скомкали одежду, играя в саду.

  The children crumpled the clothes while playing in the garden. (Here, it demonstrates the verb with a plural subject and in a playful, informal setting.)

• Не смейте смять эти важные документы!

  Don't you dare crumple these important documents! (This imperative form highlights a commanding tone, often in professional or urgent contexts.)

• Она скомкала письмо в кулаке от гнева.

  She crumpled the letter in her fist out of anger. (This shows emotional intensity and the perfective aspect for a completed action.)

• В спешке он смял карту, пытаясь найти дорогу.

  In a hurry, he crumpled the map while trying to find the way. (This example illustrates the verb in a dynamic, action-oriented sentence.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "смять" and "скомкать" are perfective verbs in Russian, derived from imperfective bases (e.g., мять for смять). They follow standard verb conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for "смять" (as an example; "скомкать" follows similar patterns).

Note: These verbs are irregular in their perfective forms but follow predictable patterns. For "скомкать," the past tense is "скомкал" for masculine singular, with similar conjugations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: мять [myat'] (to wrinkle or press gently; less forceful than смять), сжать [sžat'] (to squeeze; implies compression without wrinkling)
• Antonyms: разгладить [razgladit'] (to smooth out; directly opposite in meaning), расправить [raspravit'] (to straighten; used for unfolding or fixing crumpled items)

Related Phrases:

• Смять в комок - To crumple into a ball (e.g., Смять бумагу в комок: To crumple paper into a ball; used for describing compacting objects.)
• Скомкать одежду - To crumple clothing (e.g., in a hurry; implies disorder from movement or storage.)
• Не смей смять это - Don't dare crumple this (a phrase for warnings, often in possessive contexts.)

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like "смять" and "скомкать" are perfective, meaning they describe completed actions, unlike their English counterpart "crumple," which can be ongoing. Choose "смять" for general wrinkling and "скомкать" for more intense or irregular crumpling. These are typically used in informal settings; in formal writing, opt for descriptive phrases. Be mindful of aspect: pair with imperfective forms like "мять" for ongoing actions. English learners should note that Russian verbs change based on gender and number in the past tense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "смять" interchangeably with "мять" without considering aspect. For example, learners might say "Я смять бумагу" (incorrect) instead of "Я смял бумагу" for a completed action. Correct: "Я смял бумагу." Explanation: "Смять" is perfective and requires proper tense conjugation; always check the context for completion.
• Error: Mispronouncing the palatalized sounds, e.g., saying [smat] instead of [smʲatʲ], which can make it sound like a different word. Correct pronunciation: Practice the 'ʲ' sound as in "news" in English. Explanation: This leads to confusion with similar verbs like "смыть" (to wash off).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "смять" often appear in literature or everyday expressions to symbolize disorder or emotional turmoil, as seen in works by authors like Chekhov. For instance, crumpling a letter might represent suppressed anger, reflecting the cultural emphasis on emotional restraint in communication.

Related Concepts:

• морщить [morshchit'] (to wrinkle)
• сжать [sžat'] (to squeeze)
• разгладить [razgladit'] (to smooth)