Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'keep'

English Word: keep

Key Russian Translations:

• Сохранять [səxrɐˈnʲætʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in contexts of preserving or maintaining something over time]
• Держать [ˈdʲerʐətʲ] - [Informal/Formal, Verb, Used for physically holding or retaining objects, people, or abstract concepts]
• Хранить [ˈxranʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Often used in archival or protective senses, similar to 'keep' in storage contexts]

Frequency: High - The English word 'keep' is commonly encountered in everyday English, and its Russian equivalents like 'сохранять' and 'держать' are frequently used in Russian conversations, literature, and media.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as the verbs involve understanding Russian verb conjugations and contextual nuances. For 'сохранять', it may lean towards B2; for 'держать', it could be A2 if basic, but B1 overall due to imperfective aspects.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Сохранять: [səxrɐˈnʲætʲ]

Note on Сохранять: The stress is on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft 'н' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the 'х' to a more guttural sound.

Держать: [ˈdʲerʐətʲ]

Note on Держать: The initial 'д' is palatalized, and the 'ж' is a voiced fricative; practice with native audio to master the rolling 'р' sound.

Хранить: [ˈxranʲɪtʲ]

Note on Хранить: The 'х' is a voiceless fricative, similar to Scottish 'ch' in 'loch'; this word is often used in formal contexts and has minimal phonetic variations.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To retain or maintain something (e.g., keep something safe)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Сохранять - Used in formal or professional contexts, such as keeping records or maintaining health.
• Хранить - Applied in contexts involving storage or preservation, like keeping secrets or archives.

Usage Examples:

• Я стараюсь сохранять спокойствие в стрессовых ситуациях. (Ya starayus' sokhranyat' spokoystvo v stressovykh situatsiyakh.)

  I try to keep calm in stressful situations.

• Она хранит семейные реликвии в старом сундуке. (Ona khranit semeynyye relikvii v starom sunduke.)

  She keeps family heirlooms in an old chest.

• Мы должны сохранять традиции для будущих поколений. (My dolzhny sokhranyat' traditsii dlya budushchikh pokoleniy.)

  We must keep traditions for future generations.

• Он хранит воспоминания о детстве в фотографиях. (On khranit vospominaniya o detstve v fotografiyakh.)

  He keeps memories of his childhood in photographs.

Meaning 2: To hold or possess something physically (e.g., keep an object)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Держать - Common in everyday, informal contexts, such as holding a door or keeping a pet.
• Сохранять - Less common here, but used if implying ongoing possession.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, держите дверь открытой для меня. (Pozhaluysta, derzhite dver' otkrytoy dlya menya.)

  Please keep the door open for me.

• Дети держат воздушных змеев на ветру. (Deti derzhat vozdukhnykh zmeev na vetru.)

  The children keep kites in the wind.

• Я держу ключи в кармане, чтобы не потерять. (Ya derzhu klyuchi v karmane, chtoby ne poteryat'.)

  I keep the keys in my pocket so I don't lose them.

• Она держит обещание, данное друзьям. (Ona derzhit obeshchaniye, dannoye druz'yam.)

  She keeps the promise made to her friends.

• Держите книгу открытой на этой странице. (Derzhite knigu otkrytoy na etoy stranitse.)

  Keep the book open on this page.

Meaning 3: A fortified tower or stronghold (e.g., in a castle)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Башня (Bashnya) - Used in historical or architectural contexts for a castle keep.

Usage Examples:

• Средневековый замок имеет высокую башню, известную как донжон. (Srednevekovyy zamok imeet vysokuyu bashnyu, izvestnuyu kak donzhon.)

  The medieval castle has a high keep, known as the donjon.

• Башня крепости использовалась для обороны. (Bashnya kreposti ispol'zovalas' dlya oborony.)

  The keep of the fortress was used for defense.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'сохранять' and 'держать', both are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they express ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns with irregularities in certain aspects.

Form	Сохранять (To keep/preserve)	Держать (To hold/keep)
Infinitive	Сохранять	Держать
Present Tense (1st person singular)	Сохраняю	Держу
Present Tense (3rd person singular)	Сохраняет	Держит
Past Tense (masc. singular)	Сохранял	Держал
Future Tense (1st person singular)	Буду сохранять	Буду держать

'Башня' is a feminine noun that declines regularly: Nominative - Башня; Genitive - Башни; Dative - Башне; etc. It is invariant in plural forms for some cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for Сохранять: Поддерживать [podderzhivat'] (to maintain) - Often used interchangeably in professional contexts; Хранить [khranit'] (to store).
• Synonyms for Держать: Удерживать [uderzhivat'] (to hold back) - Emphasizes restraint; Владеть [vladet'] (to possess).
• Antonyms: Потерять [poteryat'] (to lose) - Direct opposite for both; Выбросить [vybrosit'] (to throw away).

Related Phrases:

• Сохранять тайну (Sokhranyat' taynu) - To keep a secret; Used in confidential or personal contexts.
• Держать слово (Derzhat' slovo) - To keep one's word; A common idiom for reliability.
• Хранить верность (Khranit' vernost') - To keep faith/loyalty; Often in relationships or allegiances.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'сохранять' is the best match for 'keep' when implying long-term preservation, while 'держать' suits physical or immediate holding. Choose based on context: use 'сохранять' for abstract concepts like emotions or traditions, and 'держать' for tangible items. Note that Russian verbs often require aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions), so pair with perfective forms like 'сохранить' for completed actions. This word is versatile across formal and informal settings but avoid 'держать' in very polite conversations where 'удерживать' might be preferred.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'сохранять' with 'хранить' and using them interchangeably. Incorrect: Я храню спокойствие (implies static storage). Correct: Я сохраняю спокойствие (for maintaining over time). Explanation: 'Хранить' is for safekeeping objects, while 'сохранять' is for processes.
• Error: Overusing 'держать' in abstract contexts. Incorrect: Я держу традиции (sounds literal, like physically holding). Correct: Я сохраняю традиции. Explanation: Use 'сохранять' for non-physical 'keep' to avoid awkwardness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'держать слово' (to keep one's word) emphasize honor and reliability, rooted in historical values from Slavic traditions and Soviet-era emphasis on collective promises. This reflects a cultural priority on personal integrity in social and familial contexts.

Related Concepts:

• Поддерживать (Podderzhivat') - To support or maintain.
• Владеть (Vladet') - To own or possess.
• Защищать (Zashchishchat') - To protect, often linked to keeping something safe.