Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'enmesh'

English Word: enmesh

Key Russian Translations:

• втянуть [vʲtʲaˈnutʲ] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday and metaphorical contexts]
• запутать [zəpʊˈtatʲ] - [Formal, often in legal or psychological scenarios]
• опутать [ɐˈputətʲ] - [Neutral, for physical entangling or literal trapping]

Frequency: Medium (This verb and its variants appear regularly in literature, conversations, and media, but not as frequently as basic verbs like "to be" or "to go".)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level according to CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage. For 'втянуть', it's B2; for 'запутать', it might lean towards B1 due to simpler forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

втянуть: [vʲtʲaˈnutʲ]

запутать: [zəpʊˈtatʲ]

опутать: [ɐˈputətʲ]

Note on втянуть: The initial 'в' is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative [v], and the stress is on the final syllable, which can be tricky for learners due to vowel reduction in unstressed positions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To entangle or trap someone/something physically

Translation(s) & Context:

• опутать - Used in contexts involving literal trapping or binding, such as in fishing or physical restraints.

Usage Examples:

• Рыбаки опутали сеть вокруг стаи рыб.

  The fishermen enmeshed the net around the school of fish.

• В лесу он опутал ноги вьющимися растениями.

  In the forest, he enmeshed his legs in the creeping vines.

To involve deeply in a complicated situation (metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• втянуть - Often used for unintentionally drawing someone into conflicts or obligations, in social or professional settings.
• запутать - Applied in scenarios involving confusion, deception, or legal entanglements.

Usage Examples:

• Его втянули в семейный спор, и теперь он не может вырваться.

  He was enmeshed in a family dispute and now can't extricate himself.

• Бюрократия запутала его в бесконечных документах.

  The bureaucracy enmeshed him in endless paperwork.

• Друзья втянули меня в этот проект, но я жалею об этом.

  My friends enmeshed me in this project, but I regret it now.

• Она запутала себя в сети лжи, чтобы избежать правды.

  She enmeshed herself in a web of lies to avoid the truth.

• Втянув в политические интриги, он потерял прежнюю жизнь.

  By enmeshing him in political intrigues, they ruined his former life.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Втянуть' and 'запутать' are perfective verbs, while 'опутать' can be used in both perfective and imperfective forms. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects, and they inflect irregularly in some cases.

Note: These verbs do not change in gender or number in their infinitive form but inflect in past tense as shown. For imperfective counterparts (e.g., втягивать), similar patterns apply with ongoing action emphasis.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вовлечь (vovlech') - Similar to втянуть, but more formal for involvement.
  • замешать (zameshat') - Implies mixing or entangling, often with a negative connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • освободить (osvobodit') - To free or release from entanglement.
  • вырваться (vybrat'sya) - To escape or break free.

Related Phrases:

• втянуть в авантюру - To enmesh someone in an adventure (implies getting involved in risky situations).
• запутать в паутине лжи - To enmesh in a web of lies (a common metaphor for deception).
• опутать сетью - To enmesh with a net (literal or figurative for trapping).

Usage Notes:

'Enmesh' corresponds most closely to 'втянуть' in metaphorical contexts, such as psychological or social entanglements, while 'опутать' is better for physical scenarios. Be mindful of the aspect in Russian verbs: perfective (like these) indicates completion, so use them for finished actions. In formal writing, 'запутать' might be preferred over 'втянуть' for precision. When choosing between translations, consider the context—e.g., use 'втянуть' for unintentional involvement and 'запутать' for deliberate confusion.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'втянуть' interchangeably with 'вовлекать' without considering aspect. Incorrect: Я втягиваю в спор. (This implies ongoing action, but 'enmesh' is typically perfective.) Correct: Я втянул в спор. (For a completed action.) Explanation: Russian requires matching verb aspect to the context; learners often overlook this, leading to tense mismatches.
• Mistake: Overusing 'запутать' in casual speech. Incorrect: Я запутал друга в простой проблеме. (Sounds overly formal.) Correct: Я втянул друга в простую проблему. Explanation: 'Запутать' has a stronger connotation of confusion, so reserve it for complex situations to avoid exaggeration.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'втянуть' often appear in literature and proverbs to describe the complexities of social networks or bureaucratic systems, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on community and state involvement. For instance, being 'enmeshed' in family or political affairs is a common theme in works by authors like Dostoevsky, highlighting the difficulty of personal freedom in interconnected societies.

Related Concepts:

• вовлечение
• паутина
• интриги