Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fend'

English Word: fend

Key Russian Translations:

• отражать [ɐtrɐˈʐatʲ] - [Formal, used in contexts of defense or repulsion]
• отбиваться [ɐtbʲɪˈvatʲsʲə] - [Informal, often in everyday situations involving self-protection]
• справляться [sprɐfˈlʲatʲsʲə] - [Neutral, commonly used for managing or coping alone]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in Russian literature and conversation, but not as common as basic verbs like "идти" or "делать".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage. For "отражать", it's B1; for "справляться", it might be A2 for beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

отражать: [ɐtrɐˈʐatʲ]

отбиваться: [ɐtbʲɪˈvatʲsʲə]

справляться: [sprɐfˈlʲatʲsʲə]

Note on отражать: The "ж" sound is a soft fricative, similar to the "s" in "measure", which can be challenging for English speakers; stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To defend or ward off something (e.g., fend off an attack)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отражать - Used in formal or military contexts, such as defending against physical or metaphorical threats.
• отбиваться - Informal, for personal or everyday self-defense scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Он отразил атаку врага. (He fended off the enemy's attack.)

  Translation: He fended off the enemy's attack. (This example shows the verb in a military context with direct object.)

• Девушка отбивалась от назойливого прохожего. (The girl fended off the persistent passerby.)

  Translation: The girl fended off the persistent passerby. (Illustrates informal, reflexive use in social situations.)

• Вместо того чтобы сдаться, он отразил все обвинения. (Instead of giving up, he fended off all the accusations.)

  Translation: Instead of giving up, he fended off all the accusations. (Demonstrates metaphorical usage in arguments.)

• Чтобы выжить в лесу, им пришлось отбиваться от диких животных. (To survive in the forest, they had to fend off wild animals.)

  Translation: To survive in the forest, they had to fend off wild animals. (Shows plural subject and survival context.)

Meaning 2: To manage or take care of oneself (e.g., fend for oneself)

Translation(s) & Context:

• справляться - Neutral, for self-reliance in daily life or challenges.
• защищаться [zɐʂʲɪˈʂatʲsʲə] - Overlapping with defense, but more about self-care in broader terms.

Usage Examples:

• Дети учатся справляться самостоятельно. (Children learn to fend for themselves.)

  Translation: Children learn to fend for themselves. (This highlights developmental contexts.)

• В кризисные времена люди должны уметь справляться с трудностями. (In tough times, people must know how to fend for themselves.)

  Translation: In tough times, people must know how to fend for themselves. (Shows use in abstract, emotional scenarios.)

• Она научилась защищаться в большом городе. (She learned to fend for herself in the big city.)

  Translation: She learned to fend for herself in the big city. (Illustrates urban survival and personal growth.)

• Без помощи родителей, подросток должен справляться с повседневными задачами. (Without parental help, the teenager must fend for himself with daily tasks.)

  Translation: Without parental help, the teenager must fend for himself with daily tasks. (Emphasizes independence in routine life.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Отражать" and "справляться" are imperfective verbs, meaning they express ongoing or repeated actions.

Note: These verbs are regular in most aspects but follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. "Оtbиваться" is reflexive and adds "-ся" for reflexivity, which is invariant in form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • защищать (zashchishchat') - More general protection; differs from "отражать" by implying ongoing safeguard.
  • отгонять (otgoniat') - Specifically for driving away, often used in animal or pest contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • сдаваться (sdavatsya) - To surrender or give in.
  • покоряться (pokoryat'sya) - To submit or yield.

Related Phrases:

• Отражать удар (otrazhat' udar) - To fend off a blow; used in physical or metaphorical fights.
• Справляться с проблемами (spravlyat'sya s problemami) - To fend for oneself with problems; common in self-help contexts.
• Отбиться от рук (otbitsya ot ruk) - To get out of hand (literally, to fend off from hands); implies something becoming unmanageable.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "fend" translations like "отражать" are often used in contexts requiring action against an external force, similar to English, but they must agree with the subject in person and number. Choose "отражать" for formal writing and "отбиваться" for spoken language. "Справляться" emphasizes self-reliance and is ideal for personal development scenarios. Be mindful of aspect: use imperfective for ongoing actions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "отражать" without proper conjugation, e.g., saying "Я отражает" instead of "Я отражаю".
  Correct: "Я отражаю" (I am fending off). Explanation: Russian verbs must conjugate based on subject; this error stems from treating it as an invariant English verb.
• Mistake: Confusing "отбиваться" with "отражать" in formal contexts, e.g., using "отбиваться" in a military report.
  Correct: Use "отражать" for formal defense. Explanation: "Отбиваться" sounds too casual and reflexive, potentially undermining the tone.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "справляться самостоятельно" reflect the value of resilience and self-reliance, often seen in literature such as Tolstoy's works, where characters must fend for themselves in harsh environments. This ties into Russia's historical emphasis on endurance during wars and economic hardships.

Related Concepts:

• Защита (zashchita) - Defense
• Самозащита (samozashchita) - Self-defense
• Выживание (vyzhivanie) - Survival