Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'expand'

English Word: expand

Key Russian Translations:

• расширять [rɐˈʂɨrʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective verb, Used for ongoing or repeated actions]
• расширить [rɐˈʂɨrʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Perfective verb, Used for completed actions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in business, education, and everyday contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb aspects, which can be challenging for beginners, but manageable with practice).

Pronunciation (Russian):

расширять: [rɐˈʂɨrʲɪtʲ] (The 'ш' sound is a voiceless retroflex fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'she', but more emphatic; stress on the second syllable.)

расширить: [rɐˈʂɨrʲɪtʲ] (Similar to the above, but the perfective form may vary slightly in rapid speech; note the palatalized 'тʲ'.)

Note on расширять: This verb often has a soft 'рʲ' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; practice with native audio to master the retroflex 'ш'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To increase in size, scope, or extent (e.g., business expansion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• расширять - Used in contexts involving gradual growth, such as expanding a company; common in informal discussions.
• расширить - Used for sudden or completed expansion, like finalizing a project; preferred in formal writing or reports.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны расширять наш бизнес в новые рынки.

  We should expand our business into new markets. (Shows imperfective aspect in a strategic planning context.)

• Компания расширила производство в прошлом году.

  The company expanded production last year. (Illustrates perfective aspect for a completed action.)

• Чтобы расширить знания, читайте больше книг.

  To expand your knowledge, read more books. (Demonstrates use in personal development, with infinitive form.)

• Город расширяет свою инфраструктуру для туристов.

  The city is expanding its infrastructure for tourists. (Ongoing process in a civic context.)

• Он расширил круг своих друзей, участвуя в клубах.

  He expanded his circle of friends by joining clubs. (Social context, showing personal growth.)

To elaborate or provide more details (e.g., in speech or writing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• расширять - In conversational settings, for ongoing explanation.
• расширить - In formal contexts, like essays or presentations, for a complete elaboration.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, расширьте свой ответ на этот вопрос.

  Please expand your answer to this question. (Request for more details in a discussion.)

• Лектор расширил тему, добавив исторические примеры.

  The lecturer expanded the topic by adding historical examples. (Academic context with perfective form.)

• В эссе вы должны расширять аргументы с доказательствами.

  In the essay, you should expand your arguments with evidence. (Writing advice, imperfective for process.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "расширять" and "расширить" are verbs with aspectual pairs (imperfective and perfective). They follow standard Russian conjugation patterns, which are regular but require attention to aspects and stems.

Note: These verbs do not change irregularly, but always conjugate based on aspect—imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective for completed ones.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • увеличивать (uveličivatʹ) - Similar but often implies quantitative increase.
  • развивать (razvivatʹ) - Focuses on development, with a connotation of growth over time.
• Antonyms:
  • сужать (sužatʹ) - To narrow or contract.
  • сокращать (sokrašatʹ) - To reduce or shorten.

Related Phrases:

• расширить горизонты - To broaden horizons (Used metaphorically to mean gaining new experiences or perspectives).
• расширять кругозор - To expand one's outlook (Common in educational contexts for personal growth).
• экономический рост и расширение - Economic growth and expansion (A phrase in business discussions).

Usage Notes:

• Russian verbs like "расширять" and "расширить" must be chosen based on aspect: use imperfective for processes (e.g., "I am expanding") and perfective for results (e.g., "I have expanded"). This differs from English, where "expand" is neutral.
• In formal contexts, such as academic or professional writing, "расширить" is preferred for clarity on completion.
• Be mindful of word order; in Russian, the verb often comes at the end in complex sentences, e.g., "Мы планируем рынок новый расширять."
• When translating "expand," consider the context: for physical expansion, "расширять" works; for abstract ideas, synonyms like "развивать" might be more idiomatic.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the imperfective "расширять" for completed actions, e.g., "Я расширял проект вчера" instead of "Я расширил проект вчера."
  Correct: "Я расширил проект вчера." (Explanation: Imperfective implies ongoing action, which doesn't fit a finished event; perfective is needed for past completion.)
• Error: Forgetting to conjugate properly in sentences, e.g., saying "Я расширять дом" instead of "Я расширяю дом."
  Correct: "Я расширяю дом." (Explanation: Verbs must agree with subject in person and number; beginners often omit present tense endings.)
• Error: Confusing with synonyms, e.g., using "увеличивать" when "expand" means conceptual growth.
  Correct: Use "расширять" for broader expansion; "увеличивать" is for size increase. (Explanation: This can lead to semantic mismatches in context.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of expansion often tie into historical events like the expansion of the Russian Empire or modern economic growth. For instance, phrases like "расширить горизонты" reflect a cultural emphasis on exploration and self-improvement, influenced by Russia's vast geography and history of territorial growth.

Related Concepts:

• развитие (razvitie) - Development
• рост (rost) - Growth
• инновации (innovacii) - Innovations