Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lacerate'

English Word: lacerate

Key Russian Translations:

• раздирать (/rəzˈdʲirətʲ/) - [Formal, Imperfective aspect; used in ongoing actions]
• разорвать (/rəzɐrˈvatʲ/) - [Formal, Perfective aspect; used for completed actions]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly encountered in medical, literary, or descriptive contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb aspects and conjugations. For 'раздирать', it's imperfective, while 'разорвать' is perfective, adding nuance.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

раздирать: /rəzˈdʲirətʲ/

разорвать: /rəzɐrˈvatʲ/

Note on раздирать: The 'дʲ' sound is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to 'dy' in 'due' but softer. Pay attention to stress on the second syllable.

Note on разорвать: Stress falls on the third syllable; common in perfective verbs, and the 'в' ending indicates action completion.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To tear or cut roughly, especially flesh or tissue (e.g., in a violent or accidental manner)

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'раздирать' - Used in contexts describing ongoing tearing, such as in medical descriptions or emotional states (e.g., metaphorical use for inner turmoil).
• 'разорвать' - Applied to sudden, completed actions, like in accidents or literature.

Usage Examples:

• Волк раздирал добычу своими клыками. (The wolf was tearing the prey with its fangs.)

  English: The wolf was lacerating the prey with its fangs. (This shows imperfective aspect in a natural, animalistic context.)

• Он случайно разорвал рубашку о колючую проволоку. (He accidentally tore his shirt on the barbed wire.)

  English: He accidentally lacerated his shirt on the barbed wire. (Illustrates perfective aspect for a one-time event.)

• Ветер раздирал парус, делая плавание опасным. (The wind was tearing the sail, making the voyage dangerous.)

  English: The wind was lacerating the sail, making the voyage dangerous. (Demonstrates use in environmental or metaphorical contexts.)

• Боль раздирала его душу после потери. (Pain was tearing at his soul after the loss.)

  English: Pain was lacerating his soul after the loss. (Figurative use, common in literary Russian.)

• Доктор объяснил, как разорвать ткань, чтобы извлечь осколок. (The doctor explained how to tear the tissue to extract the shard.)

  English: The doctor explained how to lacerate the tissue to extract the shard. (Medical context with perfective aspect.)

To cause deep emotional or psychological wounds (metaphorical extension)

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'раздирать' - Often used metaphorically for emotional distress, in formal or literary settings.

Usage Examples:

• Воспоминания раздирали её сердце каждый вечер. (Memories were tearing at her heart every evening.)

  English: Memories were lacerating her heart every evening. (Emphasizes ongoing emotional pain.)

• Его слова разорвали нашу дружбу навсегда. (His words tore our friendship apart forever.)

  English: His words lacerated our friendship forever. (Perfective for a decisive break.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Раздирать' is an imperfective verb, while 'разорвать' is its perfective counterpart. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a conjugation table for both:

Note: These verbs follow standard first conjugation patterns but require attention to aspectual pairs. They do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: рвать (/rʲatʲ/) - Similar but more general; used for simple tearing. Difference: 'Рвать' is less violent than 'раздирать'.
• рвать на части (/rʲatʲ na tʂastʲi/) - Means to tear to pieces; more emphatic.
• Antonyms: заживлять (/zəʐɨˈvlʲatʲ/) - To heal or mend. Context: Used in recovery scenarios, opposite of causing wounds.
• склеивать (/sklʲeɪˈvatʲ/) - To glue or bind together.

Related Phrases:

• Раздирать рану - (To aggravate a wound; English: Often used in medical contexts to describe worsening an injury.)
• Разорвать в клочья - (To tear to shreds; English: Implies complete destruction, e.g., in arguments or physical damage.)
• Раздирать душу - (To torment the soul; English: A metaphorical phrase for deep emotional distress.)

Usage Notes:

Russian translations of 'lacerate' like 'раздирать' and 'разорвать' emphasize verb aspects, which English lacks. Use 'раздирать' for ongoing processes (e.g., in descriptions) and 'разорвать' for completed actions. In formal contexts, such as medical or literary writing, these are preferred over simpler synonyms. Be cautious with metaphorical uses, as they carry emotional weight in Russian culture. When choosing between translations, consider the context: imperfective for habits or states, perfective for results.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'раздирать' when a perfective verb is needed, e.g., saying "Я раздирал бумагу" instead of "Я разорвал бумагу" for a one-time action. Correct: Я разорвал бумагу. Explanation: This confuses aspect, making the sentence sound like an ongoing process rather than a completed event.

• Error: Mispronouncing the palatalized 'дʲ' in 'раздирать' as a hard 'd', which alters the word's clarity. Correct: Practice the soft sound as in 'yes'. Explanation: In Russian, palatalization is crucial for proper pronunciation and comprehension.

• Error: Overusing in metaphorical contexts without cultural sensitivity, e.g., translating 'lacerate' directly as 'раздирать' in light-hearted speech. Correct: Reserve for serious contexts. Explanation: This can make speech overly dramatic, as Russian speakers might opt for milder terms in casual talk.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature and folklore, words like 'раздирать' often appear in contexts of suffering or heroism, such as in works by Tolstoy or Pushkin, where physical laceration symbolizes emotional or spiritual torment. This reflects a cultural emphasis on endurance and the human condition, making such vocabulary poignant in storytelling.

Related Concepts:

• рана (wound)
• кровь (blood)
• боль (pain)
• заживление (healing)