Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lean'

English Word: lean

Key Russian Translations:

• наклоняться [nəkləˈnʲɪt͡sə] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts for physical inclining]
• худой [ˈxudəj] - [Adjective, Neutral, Describes physical slimness or thinness]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily conversations and literature, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations for "наклоняться" and adjective declensions for "худой" in Russian grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

наклоняться: [nəkləˈnʲɪt͡sə]

Note on наклоняться: This is a reflexive verb, so the pronunciation may vary slightly in different forms; pay attention to the soft "нʲ" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

худой: [ˈxudəj]

Note on худой: The initial "х" is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch"; it's pronounced from the back of the throat.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To incline, bend, or lean physically (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• наклоняться - Used in contexts involving physical movement, such as leaning on an object or bending forward; common in informal or descriptive narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Он наклоняется над столом, чтобы лучше увидеть мелкие детали.

  He leans over the table to see the small details better.

• Девушка наклоняется к окну, чтобы подышать свежим воздухом.

  The girl leans towards the window to breathe in some fresh air.

• Ветер заставляет дерево наклоняться в сторону.

  The wind makes the tree lean to one side.

• Он наклоняется, чтобы прошептать секрет на ухо другу.

  He leans in to whisper a secret into his friend's ear.

Meaning 2: Thin, slim, or lacking fat (Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• худой - Applied to people or objects to describe a lean physique; often used in neutral or positive contexts, but can imply frailty.

Usage Examples:

• Этот спортсмен всегда был худым и подтянутым.

  This athlete has always been lean and toned.

• Ее худой силуэт выделялся на фоне толпы.

  Her lean silhouette stood out against the crowd.

• Диета сделала его худым, но здоровым.

  The diet made him lean but healthy.

• Худой кот бродил по улице в поисках еды.

  The lean cat wandered the street in search of food.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "наклоняться" (verb): This is a reflexive verb that follows the pattern of imperfective verbs in Russian. It conjugates based on tense, aspect, and person. Note that it is irregular in some forms due to its reflexive suffix "-ся".

For "худой" (adjective): This adjective declines based on gender, number, and case. It is a standard hard-stem adjective.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Для "худой": стройный (stroynyy) - Slim and graceful, often with a positive connotation.
  • Для "наклоняться": опираться (opirat'sya) - To lean on something for support, with a slight nuance of reliance.
• Antonyms:
  • Для "худой": толстый (tolstyi) - Fat or thick, implying the opposite of leanness.
  • Для "наклоняться": выпрямляться (vypryamlyat'sya) - To straighten up, contrasting physical inclining.

Related Phrases:

• худой как щепка - Literally "lean as a splinter"; used to describe someone extremely thin; English explanation: A colloquial expression for being very skinny, often humorously.
• наклоняться к кому-то - To lean towards someone; English explanation: Implies getting closer for intimacy or secrecy in conversation.

Usage Notes:

"Lean" as a verb corresponds closely to "наклоняться" in physical contexts, but English speakers should note that Russian verbs often require reflexive forms like "-ся" for actions affecting the subject. For the adjective "худой", it's neutral but can carry negative undertones if overused; prefer "стройный" for positive slimness. In formal writing, ensure correct case agreement with nouns. When choosing between translations, use "наклоняться" for dynamic actions and "худой" for static descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Ошибка: Using "наклонять" without the reflexive "-ся" (e.g., saying "Он наклоняет" instead of "Он наклоняется").
  Правильно: "Он наклоняется" – Explanation: Russian reflexive verbs like this require the "-ся" suffix; omitting it changes the meaning to "to incline something else," which is incorrect here.
• Ошибка: Declining "худой" incorrectly in sentences (e.g., "у худой человека" instead of "у худого человека").
  Правильно: "у худого человека" – Explanation: Adjectives must agree in case, gender, and number with the noun; beginners often forget genitive forms.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "худой" can evoke historical contexts, such as during famines or wartime, where leanness symbolized hardship. For instance, in 19th-century literature by authors like Tolstoy, "худой" often describes characters facing poverty, adding a layer of social commentary to its usage.

Related Concepts:

• стройный (stroynyy) - Related to body shape and slimness.
• опираться (opirat'sya) - Connected to physical support and leaning actions.
• тело (telo) - General term for body, linking to physical descriptions.