Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'imbibe'

English Word: imbibe

Key Russian Translations:

• впитывать [vpi'tyvətʲ] - [Formal, used for absorbing liquids or ideas metaphorically]
• пить [pʲitʲ] - [Informal, primarily for consuming liquids]
• усваивать [us'vaivatʲ] - [Formal, specific to absorbing knowledge or concepts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday and literary contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "пить")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and metaphorical usage. For "пить", it may be A2 for beginners; for "впитывать" and "усваивать", it's B1 or higher.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

впитывать: [vpi'tyvətʲ]

пить: [pʲitʲ]

усваивать: [us'vaivatʲ]

Note on впитывать: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. This verb often has a metaphorical connotation in formal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Literal Meaning: To drink or absorb a liquid

Translation(s) & Context:

• пить - Used in everyday informal contexts for consuming beverages.
• впитывать - Used in more formal or descriptive contexts, such as scientific or literary descriptions of absorption.

Usage Examples:

• Он пьёт воду, чтобы утолить жажду. (He imbibes water to quench his thirst.)

  Translation: He drinks water to quench his thirst. (This example shows "пить" in a simple, everyday context.)

• Губка впитывает влагу из воздуха. (The sponge imbibes moisture from the air.)

  Translation: The sponge absorbs moisture from the air. (Illustrates "впитывать" in a literal, physical sense.)

• Дети пьют молоко на завтрак. (Children imbibe milk for breakfast.)

  Translation: Children drink milk for breakfast. (Demonstrates "пить" with plural subjects.)

• Эта ткань быстро впитывает жидкость. (This fabric imbibes liquid quickly.)

  Translation: This fabric absorbs liquid quickly. (Shows "впитывать" in a material science context.)

• Он пьёт чай с лимоном, наслаждаясь ароматом. (He imbibes tea with lemon, enjoying the aroma.)

  Translation: He drinks tea with lemon, enjoying the aroma. (Highlights sensory aspects of "пить".)

Metaphorical Meaning: To absorb knowledge, ideas, or influences

Translation(s) & Context:

• впитывать - Common in educational or intellectual contexts, implying gradual absorption.
• усваивать - Often used in learning scenarios, focusing on internalization of information.

Usage Examples:

• Студенты впитывают знания из книг. (Students imbibe knowledge from books.)

  Translation: Students absorb knowledge from books. (This shows "впитывать" in an educational setting.)

• Она усваивает новые языки с лёгкостью. (She imbibes new languages with ease.)

  Translation: She absorbs new languages with ease. (Illustrates "усваивать" with personal development.)

• Дети впитывают культурные традиции от родителей. (Children imbibe cultural traditions from their parents.)

  Translation: Children absorb cultural traditions from their parents. (Demonstrates metaphorical use in family contexts.)

• Он усваивает уроки истории через фильмы. (He imbibes history lessons through films.)

  Translation: He absorbs history lessons through films. (Shows "усваивать" in media consumption.)

• Общество впитывает глобальные тенденции. (Society imbibes global trends.)

  Translation: Society absorbs global trends. (Highlights broader social applications of "впитывать".)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. "Впитывать" and "усваивать" are imperfective verbs, while "пить" is also imperfective but more irregular.

"Пить" is irregular in the present tense and does not change in some forms, making it slightly easier for beginners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for впитывать: поглощать [pogloshchatʲ] (to absorb), впитать [vpitatʲ] (perfective form)
• Synonyms for пить: выпивать [vypivatʲ] (to drink up, often with connotation of alcohol), потреблять [poterbljatʲ] (to consume)
• Synonyms for усваивать: осваивать [osvaivatʲ] (to master or assimilate)
• Antonyms: извергать [izvergatʲ] (to expel or vomit, opposite of absorbing)

Related Phrases:

• Впитывать информацию - To imbibe information (phrase used in educational contexts, meaning to take in knowledge deeply).
• Пить чай - To drink tea (a common informal phrase for social gatherings).
• Усваивать опыт - To imbibe experience (refers to learning from life experiences).

Usage Notes:

"Imbibe" corresponds most closely to "впитывать" in metaphorical senses, such as absorbing ideas, while "пить" is better for literal liquid consumption. Choose "усваивать" when emphasizing intellectual internalization. Be mindful of formal vs. informal contexts: "пить" is everyday speech, whereas "впитывать" suits written or academic Russian. Grammatically, these verbs require agreement with subject in person and number, and aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions) should match the context.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пить" for metaphorical absorption, e.g., saying "Я пью знания" instead of "Я впитываю знания". Correct: "пить" is for liquids only; use "впитывать" or "усваивать" for ideas. Explanation: This confuses literal and figurative meanings, leading to unnatural phrasing.
• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "Он впитывет" instead of "Он впитывает". Correct: Follow standard verb patterns as shown in the inflections table. Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian's complex conjugations, resulting in grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "пить" is often associated with social traditions like drinking tea or vodka during gatherings, reflecting hospitality and community bonds. Metaphorically, "впитывать" can evoke Russia's literary heritage, where absorbing knowledge is linked to intellectual depth, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• Поглощать
• Употреблять
• Ассимилировать