Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'jolt'

English Word: jolt

Key Russian Translations:

• толчок [ˈtolʲtɕok] - [Noun, Common, Physical contexts]
• встряхнуть [fsʲˈtraxnʲutʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Action-oriented]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in descriptions of movement or surprise)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (Requires basic understanding of Russian noun and verb inflections; "толчок" is straightforward for intermediates, while "встряхнуть" may need practice with verb aspects)

Pronunciation (Russian):

толчок: [ˈtolʲtɕok]

Note on толчок: The 'ч' sound is a palatalized affricate, similar to 'ch' in "church," but softer; stress is on the first syllable.

встряхнуть: [fsʲˈtraxnʲutʲ]

Note on встряхнуть: This is a perfective verb; the 'х' is a guttural sound like 'ch' in Scottish "loch." Pronunciation varies slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A sudden, strong physical or metaphorical shock or movement.

Translation(s) & Context:

• толчок - Used in literal physical contexts, such as a vehicle or body movement; common in informal or descriptive writing.
• встряхнуть - Used for the action of shaking something suddenly, often metaphorically for invigorating or startling; applies in everyday conversations or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Автомобиль получил сильный толчок на дороге.

  The car received a strong jolt on the road.

• Его встряхнуло, когда он услышал неожиданную новость.

  It jolted him when he heard the unexpected news.

• Толчок от поезда разбудил пассажира.

  The jolt from the train woke the passenger.

• Она встряхнула бутылку, чтобы перемешать содержимое.

  She jolted the bottle to mix its contents.

• Внезапный толчок заставил всех в комнате вздрогнуть.

  The sudden jolt made everyone in the room flinch.

2. Metaphorical sense: A surprising event that causes a reaction.

Translation(s) & Context:

• толчок - In figurative contexts, like an emotional or intellectual shock; often in literature or discussions.
• встряхнуть - For metaphorical shaking up, such as in personal development or crises; used in motivational or reflective language.

Usage Examples:

• Эта книга дала мне толчок к изменению жизни.

  This book gave me a jolt to change my life.

• Встряхни себя и начни новый проект!

  Jolt yourself and start a new project!

• Толчок от критики помог ему улучшить работу.

  The jolt from criticism helped him improve his work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "толчок" (a masculine noun, 2nd declension):

For "встряхнуть" (a verb, perfective aspect, 1st conjugation):

It follows standard verb conjugation patterns. Imperfective counterpart: встряхивать. Example inflections:

• Present: встряхиваю, встряхиваешь, встряхивает, etc.
• Past: встряхнул (masc.), встряхнула (fem.), встряхнуло (neut.), встряхнули (plur.)

Note: This verb is irregular in aspect but regular in conjugation otherwise.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: удар (udar) - More forceful impact; встряска (vstryaska) - Similar to jolt but implies shaking.
• Antonyms: покой (pokoy) - Complete stillness or calm.

Related Phrases:

• Получить толчок - To receive a jolt; Used in contexts of sudden physical or emotional impact.
• Встряхнуть себя - To jolt oneself; A motivational phrase for self-improvement or awakening from inertia.
• Толчок в спину - A jolt in the back; Implies encouragement or a literal push.

Usage Notes:

"Jolt" as "толчок" corresponds closely to English in physical senses but is more neutral in Russian; use it for tangible shocks. For "встряхнуть," it's often perfective, implying a completed action, so pair it with contexts needing resolution. In formal writing, prefer "толчок" over slangier alternatives. When choosing between translations, opt for "толчок" for nouns and "встряхнуть" for verbs; be mindful of aspect in Russian verbs to match the English intent accurately.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "толчок" as a verb (e.g., saying "Я толчок машину" instead of "Я встряхнул машину"). Correct: "толчок" is a noun; use "встряхнуть" for the verb. Explanation: English "jolt" can be both noun and verb, but Russian requires separate words, leading to part-of-speech confusion.

• Error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., "толчокам" in nominative case. Correct: Use "толчок" in nominative; inflect properly as per the table above. Explanation: Learners often overlook Russian case endings, which can alter meaning in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "встряхнуть себя" are common in self-help literature or motivational speeches, reflecting a cultural emphasis on resilience and abrupt change, as seen in historical events like the Russian Revolution, where "jolts" symbolize turning points.

Related Concepts:

• Удар
• Встряска
• Шок