Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'explode'

English Word: explode

Key Russian Translations:

• взорваться [vzɐˈrvaʦə] - [Informal, Verb, Intransitive; used for sudden, violent bursting or emotional outbursts]
• взрывать [vzɐˈrʲvatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Transitive; used for causing something to explode]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday contexts like news, literature, and conversations about events or emotions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context-specific usage. For 'взорваться', it's B1; for 'взрывать', it may edge toward B2 due to transitive forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

взорваться: [vzɐˈrvaʦə]

взрывать: [vzɐˈrʲvatʲ]

Note on взорваться: This verb has a stressed vowel in the root, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rolled 'r' sound; in casual speech, it may soften in unstressed positions. Variations exist in dialects, but standard pronunciation is as above.

Note on взрывать: Pay attention to the palatalized 'тʲ' sound, which is common in Russian verbs but absent in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To burst or shatter violently, as in a physical explosion.

Translation(s) & Context:

• взорваться - Used in contexts involving sudden physical destruction, such as bombs or accidents; informal and vivid in descriptions.
• взрывать - Used when an external force causes the explosion; more formal in scientific or military contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Взрыв произошёл в старом здании, и оно взорвалось в мгновение ока.

  The explosion happened in the old building, and it exploded in an instant. (This example shows the verb in a past tense context describing a sudden event.)

• Террористы попытались взрывать мост, но их план провалился.

  The terrorists tried to explode the bridge, but their plan failed. (Illustrates transitive use in a security-related scenario.)

• Во время эксперимента баллон взорвался из-за высокого давления.

  During the experiment, the balloon exploded due to high pressure. (Demonstrates everyday scientific usage with intransitive form.)

• Если не осторожничать, газовый баллон может взорваться в любой момент.

  If you're not careful, the gas cylinder can explode at any moment. (Shows potential future tense in a warning context.)

Meaning 2: To show sudden anger or emotion, as in an emotional outburst.

Translation(s) & Context:

• взорваться - Metaphorical use for emotional explosions; common in informal conversations about arguments or frustration.

Usage Examples:

• Он взорвался от злости, когда услышал новости.

  He exploded with anger when he heard the news. (This highlights the verb in an emotional context, showing sudden rage.)

• Во время спора она внезапно взорвалась и начала кричать.

  During the argument, she suddenly exploded and started shouting. (Illustrates use in interpersonal conflicts.)

• Дети иногда взрываются слезами из-за мелких проблем.

  Children sometimes explode into tears over minor issues. (Demonstrates metaphorical extension to emotional reactions in family settings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'взорваться' and 'взрывать' are verbs, so they follow Russian conjugation patterns for imperfective and perfective aspects. 'Взорваться' is perfective (completed action), while 'взрывать' is imperfective (ongoing or repeated action). Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender.

Note: These verbs are irregular in their roots due to the prefix 'вз-', but they follow standard patterns for reflexive (-ся) and transitive forms. They do not change in gender or case directly, as they are verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вспыхнуть (for emotional bursts; less intense than взорваться)
  • разрушить (for physical destruction, but more general)
  • вспылить (specifically for sudden anger, often in informal contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • успокоиться (to calm down)
  • сохраниться (to remain intact)

Related Phrases:

• Взрыв бомбы - Explosion of a bomb (Refers to a physical blast in news or historical contexts.)
• Взорваться от смеха - To explode with laughter (An idiomatic expression for uncontrollable laughter.)
• Взрывать тишину - To break the silence (Used metaphorically in literary or dramatic settings to indicate a sudden disruption.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'взорваться' and 'взрывать' correspond closely to the English 'explode' but emphasize aspect: perfective for completed actions and imperfective for ongoing ones. Use 'взорваться' for reflexive or intransitive scenarios (e.g., something explodes on its own), and 'взрывать' for active causation. Be mindful of formal vs. informal contexts—'взрывать' is better for written or professional language, while 'взорваться' suits casual speech. English learners should note that Russian verbs require agreement in person and number, which can affect sentence structure.

• When choosing between translations, opt for 'взорваться' in emotional contexts to convey immediacy.
• Grammar note: Always pair with appropriate prepositions, e.g., 'от' for causes like anger.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the perfective and imperfective aspects. For example, they might incorrectly use 'взорвался' (perfective past) when describing an ongoing process, saying: "Он взорвался каждый день" (meaning "He exploded every day"), which implies repeated completed actions but might not fit if the intent is habitual. Correct usage: "Он взрывал каждый день" for imperfective habitual action. Another error is omitting the reflexive '-ся' in 'взорваться', leading to ungrammatical sentences like "Он взорвал" instead of "Он взорвался" for intransitive explode. Always check the context to ensure the verb aspect matches the English intent.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'взорваться' can carry connotations from historical events, such as World War II bombings or the Chernobyl disaster, where explosions symbolize chaos and resilience. Metaphorically, it's often used in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy) to depict emotional turmoil, reflecting Russia's emphasis on expressive, dramatic language in storytelling.

Related Concepts:

• взрыв
• разрушение
• вспышка
• эмоциональный срыв