Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Delve'

English Word: Delve

Key Russian Translations:

• копаться [ˈkopətʲsə] - [Informal, Often figurative]
• углубляться [ʊɡlʊˈblʲatʲsə] - [Formal, Literal or Figurative]
• исследовать [ɪsˈslʲedəvətʲ] - [Formal, Research context]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "копаться"; B2-C1 (Intermediate-Advanced) for "углубляться" and "исследовать"

Pronunciation (Russian):

копаться: [ˈkopətʲsə]

Note on копаться: Stress on the first syllable. The "тся" ending is typical for reflexive verbs.

углубляться: [ʊɡlʊˈblʲatʲsə]

Note on углубляться: Stress on the third syllable. Soft "л" sound before "я".

исследовать: [ɪsˈslʲedəvətʲ]

Note on исследовать: Stress on the second syllable. Double "с" is pronounced distinctly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To dig or search deeply (literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• копаться - Often used for physically digging or rummaging through something.

Usage Examples:

• Он копался в старых коробках, ища документы.

  He was delving into old boxes, looking for documents.

• Не копайся в земле без перчаток!

  Don’t delve into the soil without gloves!

2. To investigate or explore deeply (figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• углубляться - Used for delving into a subject or topic in detail, often academically or intellectually.
• исследовать - Focused on systematic research or exploration.

Usage Examples:

• Она углубилась в изучение истории.

  She delved into the study of history.

• Мы должны исследовать этот вопрос более детально.

  We must delve into this issue in more detail.

• Углубляясь в проблему, он нашел неожиданные решения.

  Delving into the problem, he found unexpected solutions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

копаться (Reflexive Verb, Imperfective): Conjugates regularly in the present and past tense as a reflexive verb. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Person	Form
Я (I)	копаюсь
Ты (You, informal)	копаешься
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	копается
Мы (We)	копаемся
Вы (You, formal/plural)	копаетесь
Они (They)	копаются

углубляться (Reflexive Verb, Imperfective): Follows similar reflexive conjugation patterns. Often used in figurative contexts.

исследовать (Transitive Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation, non-reflexive. Requires a direct object.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "копаться":

• рыться
• возиться

Note: "рыться" is closer to rummaging, while "возиться" implies messing around or fiddling.

Synonyms for "углубляться":

• вникать
• погружаться

Antonyms:

• игнорировать (to ignore)
• упрощать (to simplify)

Related Phrases:

• копаться в памяти - To delve into one’s memory (to recall or remember something).
• углубляться в детали - To delve into details (to explore something thoroughly).
• исследовать проблему - To delve into a problem (to investigate a problem systematically).

Usage Notes:

• "копаться" is more colloquial and often carries a sense of physical searching or rummaging, though it can be used figuratively for memory or thoughts.
• "углубляться" is more formal and typically used for intellectual or abstract delving, such as into studies or topics.
• "исследовать" is the most formal of the three and is tied to systematic research or exploration, often in academic or scientific contexts.
• Choose the translation based on the context: physical search ("копаться"), intellectual depth ("углубляться"), or formal investigation ("исследовать").

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "копаться" in formal contexts. Incorrect: "Я копаюсь в этой теме для диссертации." (I’m delving into this topic for my thesis.) Correct: "Я углубляюсь в эту тему для диссертации."

Error 2: Forgetting the reflexive particle "ся" in "копаться" or "углубляться." Incorrect: "Он копает в коробке." Correct: "Он копается в коробке."

Explanation: Both verbs are reflexive in Russian, and omitting "ся" changes the meaning or makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "delving" into something, especially with "копаться," can sometimes carry a negative connotation of wasting time or being overly meticulous, depending on the context. For example, saying "Не копайся!" can mean "Don’t dawdle!" or "Hurry up!"

Related Concepts:

• поиск (search)
• анализ (analysis)
• изучение (study)