Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'jettison'

English Word: jettison

Key Russian Translations:

• Выбросить [/vɨˈbrosʲɪtʲ/] - [Formal, often used in contexts involving discarding for safety, e.g., in aviation or shipping]
• Отказаться от [/ɐt.kɐˈzasʲɪt͡sə ɐt/] - [Informal, general abandonment or rejection]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in technical, nautical, or everyday discard contexts, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual usage; for 'Выбросить', it may be slightly more challenging due to perfective aspect, while 'Отказаться от' is straightforward for intermediate learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Выбросить: /vɨˈbrosʲɪtʲ/

Отказаться от: /ɐt.kɐˈzasʲɪt͡sə ɐt/

Note on Выбросить: The stress falls on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft 's' sound (/sʲ/), which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To throw or drop something from a vehicle (e.g., aircraft or ship) to lighten the load.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Выбросить - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as emergencies in transportation.

Usage Examples:

• Во время шторма капитан приказал выбросить лишний груз за борт.

  During the storm, the captain ordered to jettison the excess cargo overboard.

• Экипаж самолёта был вынужден выбросить багаж, чтобы набрать высоту.

  The aircraft crew had to jettison the baggage to gain altitude.

• В космической миссии иногда приходится выбросить оборудование для баланса.

  In space missions, it's sometimes necessary to jettison equipment for balance.

• Моряки решили выбросить ненужные предметы, чтобы спасти судно.

  The sailors decided to jettison unnecessary items to save the ship.

Meaning 2: To abandon or discard something as unnecessary or burdensome in a general sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Отказаться от - Used in everyday or informal contexts, such as giving up ideas or possessions.

Usage Examples:

• Компания решила отказаться от устаревших технологий ради инноваций.

  The company decided to jettison outdated technologies for the sake of innovation.

• Он отказался от плохих привычек, чтобы улучшить свою жизнь.

  He chose to jettison bad habits to improve his life.

• В проекте мы отказались от ненужных элементов, чтобы сэкономить время.

  In the project, we decided to jettison unnecessary elements to save time.

• Она отказалась от старой мебели во время переезда.

  She opted to jettison the old furniture during the move.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both key translations are verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Выбросить' is a perfective verb (indicating completion), while 'Отказаться от' is reflexive and also perfective.

For 'Выбросить' (to jettison):

For 'Отказаться от' (to refuse/abandon): This is a reflexive verb, so it includes the particle 'ся'. It follows standard conjugation patterns but is irregular in some forms due to the reflexive ending.

Example: Откажусь (I will refuse) - No major inflections for the preposition 'от', which remains unchanged.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Сбросить (sbrosit') - Similar to jettison, but more about dropping weight; often interchangeable in technical contexts.
  • Отвергнуть (otvergnyt') - Implies rejection with more emotional weight.
• Antonyms:
  • Сохранить (soxranit') - To preserve or keep.
  • Удержать (uderzhat') - To hold onto or retain.

Related Phrases:

• Выбросить за борт - Jettison overboard; used in nautical contexts to mean discarding items into the sea for safety.
• Отказаться от идеи - To jettison an idea; common in decision-making or brainstorming.
• Сбросить балласт - To jettison ballast; a phrase from aviation or sailing, implying lightening a load.

Usage Notes:

'Jettison' corresponds most closely to 'Выбросить' in literal, physical contexts (e.g., emergencies), and to 'Отказаться от' in metaphorical ones (e.g., abandoning plans). In Russian, always consider the aspect: 'Выбросить' is perfective, so it's for completed actions. Use formal language in professional settings. When choosing between translations, opt for 'Выбросить' if the action involves physical discarding, and 'Отказаться от' for abstract abandonment. Note that Russian verbs often require prepositions, like 'от' in 'Отказаться от', which has no direct English equivalent.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'Выбросить' without the correct aspect, e.g., confusing it with the imperfective 'Выбрасывать' for ongoing actions. Correct: Выбросить (completed action) vs. Выбрасывать (ongoing). Explanation: English speakers might overlook Russian's aspect system, leading to tense mismatches.
• Mistake: Omitting the reflexive particle in 'Отказаться от', saying just 'Отказать'. Correct: Always include 'ся' for reflexive verbs. Explanation: This changes the meaning entirely, as 'Отказать' means 'to refuse someone else'.
• Mistake: Translating directly without context, e.g., using 'Выбросить' for emotional abandonment. Correct: Use 'Отказаться от' instead. Explanation: 'Jettison' can be metaphorical, but Russian requires precise verb choice to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of 'jettisoning' unwanted elements is often reflected in literature, such as in works by Tolstoy or modern sci-fi, where characters must discard possessions or ideas for survival. This ties into themes of resilience during historical events like wars, emphasizing practicality over sentimentality.

Related Concepts:

• Эвакуация (evakuatsiya) - Evacuation
• Спасение (spaseniye) - Rescue
• Балласт (ballast) - Ballast, often related in nautical contexts