Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hunk'

English Word: hunk

Key Russian Translations:

• кусок [ˈkusək] - [Informal, Singular, Used for physical objects like food or material]
• блок [blok] - [Formal, Singular, Used in technical or architectural contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations but not as frequent as basic nouns like "дом").

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary, suitable for beginners as it follows basic noun patterns, but context-dependent usage may require intermediate practice).

Pronunciation (Russian):

кусок: [ˈkusək]

Note on кусок: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'о' in the middle softens to a schwa sound in casual speech, which is common in Russian phonetics.

блок: [blok]

Note on блок: Pronounced with a hard 'л' sound; no major variations, but be aware of regional accents in Russia that might slightly alter vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A large piece or chunk of something (e.g., food, material)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кусок - Used in informal daily contexts, such as describing food portions or breaking objects.
• блок - Used in more formal or technical settings, like construction or electronics.

Usage Examples:

• Я отрезал большой кусок хлеба для бутерброда. (I cut a large hunk of bread for the sandwich.)

  Translation: I cut a large hunk of bread for the sandwich. This example shows the word in a casual, everyday food-related context.

• Этот блок бетона слишком тяжелый, чтобы поднять. (This hunk of concrete is too heavy to lift.)

  Translation: This hunk of concrete is too heavy to lift. Here, it demonstrates usage in a physical, construction-related scenario.

• В пироге был огромный кусок шоколада. (The pie had a huge hunk of chocolate in it.)

  Translation: The pie had a huge hunk of chocolate in it. This illustrates the word in a descriptive, culinary context.

• Она взяла кусок ткани для шитья платья. (She took a hunk of fabric for sewing the dress.)

  Translation: She took a hunk of fabric for sewing the dress. This shows application in a creative or household setting.

• Блок льда растаял на солнце. (The hunk of ice melted in the sun.)

  Translation: The hunk of ice melted in the sun. This example highlights a natural, environmental usage.

Meaning 2: An attractive or muscular man (informal, slang usage)

Translation(s) & Context:

• красотка (for a handsome man, though typically feminine; use with caution) - Informal, slang, in social or pop culture contexts.
• мачо - Informal, used for a stereotypical tough or attractive male figure.

Usage Examples:

• Этот актер - настоящий мачо в фильме. (This actor is a real hunk in the movie.)

  Translation: This actor is a real hunk in the movie. This demonstrates slang in entertainment contexts.

• В парке я увидела парня, который выглядел как красавец. (In the park, I saw a guy who looked like a hunk.)

  Translation: In the park, I saw a guy who looked like a hunk. This shows informal, observational usage.

• Его называют мачо из-за мускулов. (They're calling him a hunk because of his muscles.)

  Translation: They're calling him a hunk because of his muscles. This example covers physical description in casual talk.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For nouns like "кусок" and "блок", which are masculine nouns in Russian, they follow standard declension patterns for the third declension.

"кусок" is a regular masculine noun with no irregularities:

"блок" follows a similar pattern as a masculine noun:

Both words are invariable in terms of gender and do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • фрагмент (fragment) - More neutral, used for smaller pieces.
  • кусокок (piece, variant form) - Slight nuance for irregular shapes.
• Antonyms:
  • порошок (powder) - For finely divided substances.
  • жидкость (liquid) - Opposite in state of matter.

Related Phrases:

• большой кусок хлеба (big hunk of bread) - A common phrase for describing portions in meals; implies abundance.
• отломить кусок (to break off a hunk) - Used in contexts of sharing or dividing objects; conveys action.
• кусок мяса (a hunk of meat) - Often in culinary discussions; highlights quantity in recipes.

Usage Notes:

"Hunk" translates most directly to "кусок" in Russian for physical objects, but choose based on context: use "блок" for structured items like building materials. It's informal, so avoid in formal writing. Grammatically, as a noun, it requires correct case agreement with prepositions (e.g., "of" might translate to genitive case). When referring to people (e.g., an attractive man), "мачо" is slang and culturally specific, so use cautiously in polite conversations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кусок" in plural without context, e.g., saying "кусоков" when a singular form is needed. Correct: Check the sentence structure for case; for example, incorrect: "Я ем кусоков" (wrong plural usage). Right: "Я ем кусок хлеба" (I eat a hunk of bread). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, number, and gender.
• Error: Confusing with feminine nouns, e.g., treating "кусок" as feminine. Correct: It's masculine, so adjectives must agree (e.g., "большой кусок", not "большая кусок"). Explanation: This is a common mistake for English speakers unfamiliar with Russian gender rules.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "кусок" often appear in everyday proverbs or sayings related to scarcity and abundance, such as in folktales where a "big hunk" symbolizes prosperity. This reflects historical contexts of resource management in Russia, where portion sizes in food were culturally significant.

Related Concepts:

• фрагмент
• блокнот
• материал