Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cut'

English Word: Cut

Key Russian Translations:

• резать [ˈrʲezətʲ] - [Informal, General use for cutting with a tool]
• порезать [pərʲɪˈzatʲ] - [Informal, Often implies a completed action or accidental cut]
• разрезать [rəzrʲɪˈzatʲ] - [Formal, Implies cutting into parts or dividing]

Frequency: High (Widely used in everyday contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on context and verb aspect)

Pronunciation (Russian):

резать: [ˈrʲezətʲ]

Note on резать: Stress is on the first syllable; the 'р' sound is rolled, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

порезать: [pərʲɪˈzatʲ]

Note on порезать: The prefix 'по-' adds a sense of completion; stress on the second syllable.

разрезать: [rəzrʲɪˈzatʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To physically cut something (e.g., with a knife or scissors)

Translation(s) & Context:

• резать - General term for cutting, often used for ongoing action (e.g., cutting bread).
• порезать - Used for a completed or accidental cut (e.g., cutting a finger).
• разрезать - Used for dividing something into parts (e.g., cutting a cake).

Usage Examples:

• Я режу хлеб ножом.

  I am cutting bread with a knife.

• Она порезала палец, когда готовила ужин.

  She cut her finger while preparing dinner.

• Давай разрежем торт на равные части.

  Let’s cut the cake into equal pieces.

• Он порезал бумагу на мелкие кусочки.

  He cut the paper into small pieces.

• Нужно разрезать ткань пополам.

  We need to cut the fabric in half.

2. To reduce or decrease (e.g., budget, time)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сократить - Used for cutting down on expenses, time, or staff.

Usage Examples:

• Компания сократила бюджет на рекламу.

  The company cut the advertising budget.

• Мы должны сократить время на обсуждение.

  We need to cut the discussion time.

• Они сократили штат сотрудников.

  They cut the number of employees.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

резать (Imperfective verb) - Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses.

Person	Present	Past (Masc./Fem./Neut.)	Future
Я (I)	режу	резал/резала/резало	буду резать
Ты (You, sing.)	режешь	резал/резала/резало	будешь резать
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	режет	резал/резала/резало	будет резать

порезать (Perfective verb) - Indicates a completed action; used mostly in past and future tenses.

разрезать (Perfective verb) - Similar to порезать, but with emphasis on division.

сократить (Perfective verb) - Used for reduction; follows regular perfective conjugation patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for резать/порезать/разрезать (physical cut):

• рубить (to chop, often for wood or meat)
• кромсать (to slash or cut roughly)

Note: рубить implies a heavier, rougher action than резать.

Antonyms for резать (physical cut):

• склеивать (to glue together)
• соединять (to connect or join)

Synonyms for сократить (reduce):

• уменьшить (to decrease)
• ограничить (to limit)

Related Phrases:

• резать без ножа - Literally "to cut without a knife"; means to hurt someone emotionally.
• порезать пальцы - "To cut one’s fingers"; often used for minor injuries while cooking.
• разрезать на куски - "To cut into pieces"; used for dividing food or objects.
• сократить расходы - "To cut expenses"; common in financial contexts.

Usage Notes:

• The choice between резать, порезать, and разрезать depends on aspect (ongoing vs. completed) and intention (general cutting vs. dividing). English speakers often struggle with verb aspects in Russian, so pay attention to context.
• сократить is unrelated to physical cutting and is used exclusively for abstract reductions (e.g., budget, time).
• резать can be used metaphorically in Russian (e.g., "резать слух" - "to hurt the ear," meaning an unpleasant sound), which may not directly correspond to English usage of "cut."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using резать when a completed action is implied. Incorrect: *Я резал палец* (ongoing, sounds incomplete). Correct: Я порезал палец (I cut my finger, completed action).
• Error: Confusing сократить with physical cutting. Incorrect: *Я сократил бумагу* (I reduced the paper). Correct: Я порезал бумагу (I cut the paper).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the phrase "резать без ножа" (to cut without a knife) is a common idiom used to describe emotional pain or betrayal, reflecting a deeper metaphorical use of the verb резать compared to English.

Related Concepts:

• нож (knife)
• ножницы (scissors)
• уменьшение (reduction)