Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hamper'

English Word: hamper

Key Russian Translations:

• корзина [kɐrˈzʲinə] - [Common noun, Informal/Neutral]
• помешать [pɐˈmʲeʂətʲ] - [Verb, Formal/Neutral, Used in contexts of obstruction]

Frequency: Medium (The noun form is more common in everyday contexts, while the verb form appears in business or descriptive language.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; the noun is straightforward for A2 learners, but the verb requires understanding of aspect in Russian verbs.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

корзина: [kɐrˈzʲinə]

помешать: [pɐˈmʲeʂətʲ]

Note on помешать: The pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, with the 'ш' sound softening; pay attention to the stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A basket or container for carrying items, often for gifts, laundry, or picnics (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• корзина - Used in everyday contexts for physical baskets; common in shopping or household discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил красивую корзину для подарков на день рождения. (I bought a nice hamper for birthday gifts.)

  Translation: I bought a nice hamper for birthday gifts. This example shows the noun in a festive context.

• В этой корзине лежат чистые полотенца. (This hamper contains clean towels.)

  Translation: This hamper contains clean towels. Here, it demonstrates the hamper in a domestic setting.

• Корзина для пикника должна быть прочной. (The picnic hamper needs to be sturdy.)

  Translation: The picnic hamper needs to be sturdy. This illustrates its use in outdoor activities.

• Она упаковала еду в корзину и пошла на прогулку. (She packed food into the hamper and went for a walk.)

  Translation: She packed food into the hamper and went for a walk. This shows a practical, everyday application.

Meaning 2: To hinder or obstruct something (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• помешать - Used in situations involving interference or delay; appropriate in formal or professional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его действия помешали успеху проекта. (His actions hampered the project's success.)

  Translation: His actions hampered the project's success. This example highlights obstruction in a work environment.

• Плохая погода помешала нашему путешествию. (Bad weather hampered our trip.)

  Translation: Bad weather hampered our trip. Here, it shows external factors causing hindrance.

• Бюрократия может помешать быстрому развитию бизнеса. (Bureaucracy can hamper rapid business growth.)

  Translation: Bureaucracy can hamper rapid business growth. This demonstrates use in socio-economic discussions.

• Её страх помешал ей принять важное решение. (Her fear hampered her from making an important decision.)

  Translation: Her fear hampered her from making an important decision. This illustrates personal or psychological barriers.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For корзина (feminine noun, 1st declension):

For помешать (verb, perfective aspect):

This is a perfective verb. It conjugates irregularly in some forms. Base infinitive: помешать. Past tense: помешал (masc.), помешала (fem.), etc. It does not change in the infinitive or imperative forms as predictably as regular verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • корзина: ящик (box) - More general for containers.
  • помешать: мешать (to interfere) - Less formal, imperfective aspect; тормозить (to hinder) - Used in mechanical or progress-related contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • помешать: помочь (to help) - Direct opposite in action contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Пикник в корзине - (Picnic in a hamper; refers to a traditional outdoor meal setup.)
• Помешать планам - (To hamper plans; used for disrupting intentions.)
• Корзина для мусора - (Waste hamper; a common household item.)

Usage Notes:

When translating 'hamper' as a noun, 'корзина' is the most direct equivalent, but ensure context specifies the type (e.g., gift or laundry). For the verb, 'помешать' implies a completed action, so pair it with perfective aspects in Russian sentences. English users should note that Russian verbs have aspects (perfective vs. imperfective), which affect nuance—use 'мешать' for ongoing hindrance. Choose based on formality: 'помешать' for neutral/formal, 'задержать' for delays.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'корзина' without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "в корзина" instead of "в корзине".
  Correct: Always decline based on sentence role; explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case with prepositions and verbs.
• Mistake: Confusing 'помешать' with 'мешать' and using it for ongoing actions.
  Correct: Use 'помешать' for completed events; explanation: This leads to aspect mismatches, making the sentence sound unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, a 'корзина' for picnics or gifts often evokes traditions like Soviet-era outings or modern celebrations, symbolizing hospitality. The verb 'помешать' might reflect historical contexts of bureaucracy in Russia, where external factors frequently 'hamper' progress, as seen in literature like Dostoevsky's works.

Related Concepts:

• ящик (box)
• мешать (to interfere)
• тормоз (brake or obstacle)