Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dabble'

English Word: dabble

Key Russian Translations:

• пробовать [prɐˈbavatʲ] - [Informal, often used for trying something casually]
• возиться [vɐˈzʲirətsə] - [Informal, implies fussing with something without deep commitment]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversation but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage, though "пробовать" is straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пробовать: [prɐˈbavatʲ]

возиться: [vɐˈzʲirətsə]

Note on пробовать: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To work at something in a superficial or desultory way, often without serious intent (e.g., dabble in a hobby).

Translation(s) & Context:

• пробовать - Used in informal contexts for casual experimentation, such as trying a new skill without expertise.
• возиться - Applied in scenarios involving playful or unproductive engagement, like tinkering with an idea.

Usage Examples:

• Он пробует себя в живописи, но не слишком серьёзно.

  He dabbles in painting, but not very seriously.

• Моя сестра возится с садоводством по выходным, но это не её основное занятие.

  My sister dabbles in gardening on weekends, but it's not her main occupation.

• Иногда я пробую готовить новые блюда, чтобы разнообразить повседневность.

  Sometimes I dabble in cooking new dishes to spice up everyday life.

• Дети часто возятся с гаджетами, не понимая их полностью.

  Children often dabble with gadgets without fully understanding them.

• В молодости он пробовал разные профессии, прежде чем найти своё призвание.

  In his youth, he dabbled in various professions before finding his calling.

Meaning 2: To splash or play in water lightly (less common usage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• пробовать - In a metaphorical sense, for light interaction with water or liquids.

Usage Examples:

• Дети пробуют воду в луже босыми ногами.

  The children dabble in the puddle with their bare feet.

• Она пробует пальцем воду в ванне, проверяя температуру.

  She dabbles her finger in the bathwater to check the temperature.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "пробовать" and "возиться" are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects; "пробовать" is imperfective, while related perfective forms exist (e.g., "попробовать").

Note: These verbs are regular in most aspects but follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. "Возиться" is reflexive, so it always includes the particle "-ся".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • попробовать (to try, more perfective aspect; implies a one-time action)
  • заниматься (to engage in, but can be more serious; difference: "заниматься" suggests deeper involvement)
  • ковыряться (to fiddle with, informal and playful)
• Antonyms:
  • специализироваться (to specialize, implies deep commitment)
  • избегать (to avoid, complete opposite of trying)

Related Phrases:

• пробовать силы в чём-то - To test one's abilities in something (e.g., dabble in a new field).
• возиться с делом - To fuss with a task (implies unproductive dabbling in work).
• попробовать на вкус - To dabble or sample something, like food (literal tasting, with a sense of experimentation).

Usage Notes:

"Dabble" corresponds closely to "пробовать" in informal contexts, emphasizing experimentation without depth, but Russian users might prefer "возиться" for more playful or messy activities. Be mindful of aspect: use imperfective forms like "пробовать" for ongoing actions and perfective "попробовать" for completed ones. In formal writing, opt for more precise phrases to avoid ambiguity. When choosing between translations, select based on context—e.g., "пробовать" for hobbies and "возиться" for hands-on tinkering.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пробовать" in a perfective sense when a one-time action is meant (e.g., saying "Я пробовал это вчера" instead of "Я попробовал это вчера"). Correct: "Попробовал" is the perfective form for a completed try. Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian's aspect system, leading to tense mismatches.

• Error: Omitting the reflexive particle in "возиться" (e.g., saying "возить" instead). Correct: Always use "возиться" with "-ся". Explanation: This changes the meaning entirely, as "возить" means "to transport".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "пробовать" or "возиться" often reflects a pragmatic approach to life, where trying new things is encouraged but not always pursued deeply, as seen in traditional folk tales like those of Pushkin, where characters dabble in adventures before settling into routines.

Related Concepts:

• экспериментировать (to experiment)
• заниматься хобби (to engage in hobbies)
• попробовать удачу (to try one's luck)