Russian Translation(s) & Details for '{{nab}}'

English Word: {{nab}}

Key Russian Translations:

• схватить [sxʷɐˈtʲitʲ] - [Informal, often used in everyday contexts for sudden actions]
• задержать [zədʲɪˈʐatʲ] - [Formal, typically in legal or official scenarios]

Frequency: Medium (Common in spoken language but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to go")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage; for "схватить", it's straightforward, but "задержать" may vary by formality)

Pronunciation (Russian):

схватить: [sxʷɐˈtʲitʲ]

задержать: [zədʲɪˈʐatʲ]

Note on схватить: The initial "сх" is a voiceless palatal fricative cluster, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds similar to "sh" in "shine" but with a harder edge. Variations in stress may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To catch or seize suddenly (Primary sense of '{{nab}}' as a verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• схватить - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as grabbing an object quickly.
• задержать - Applied in more formal contexts, like law enforcement or restraining someone.

Usage Examples:

• Он схватил яблоко с тарелки. (He grabbed the apple from the plate.)

  He grabbed the apple from the plate. (Shows informal, physical action in daily life.)

• Полиция задержала подозреваемого на улице. (The police detained the suspect on the street.)

  The police detained the suspect on the street. (Illustrates formal usage in a legal context.)

• Девушка схватила сумку и побежала. (The girl seized the bag and ran.)

  The girl seized the bag and ran. (Demonstrates the verb in a narrative or action sequence.)

• Врач задержал дыхание пациента для осмотра. (The doctor held the patient's breath for examination.)

  The doctor held the patient's breath for examination. (Extends to metaphorical or medical uses.)

• Схватить момент – это ключ к успеху. (Seizing the moment is the key to success.)

  Seizing the moment is the key to success. (Idiomatic usage in motivational contexts.)

Meaning 2: To arrest or apprehend (Secondary sense, especially in contexts like crime)

Translation(s) & Context:

• задержать - Preferred in official or legal English-to-Russian translations, emphasizing restraint.
• схватить - Less formal, used when the action is sudden but not necessarily official.

Usage Examples:

• Полиция схватила вора в магазине. (The police nabbed the thief in the store.)

  The police nabbed the thief in the store. (Informal equivalent for quick arrest.)

• Агенты задержали шпиона на границе. (The agents apprehended the spy at the border.)

  The agents apprehended the spy at the border. (Formal context with legal implications.)

• Он был задержан за нарушение правил. (He was arrested for breaking the rules.)

  He was arrested for breaking the rules. (Standard legal usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "схватить" (a first-conjugation verb), it follows standard patterns with irregularities in some forms. Below is a conjugation table for present tense:

For "задержать" (another first-conjugation verb), it has similar patterns but is more regular:

Both verbs change based on tense, aspect, and mood. "Схватить" is imperfective in some forms, requiring perfective counterparts like "схватить" vs. "схвативать" for ongoing actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: поймать (to catch, more neutral); захватить (to seize, with a sense of taking control)
• Antonyms: отпустить (to release, direct opposite in physical contexts); освободить (to free, especially in formal or legal scenarios)

Note: "Захватить" implies a more aggressive action than "схватить", often used for capturing territory or objects with force.

Related Phrases:

• Схватить за руку - To grab by the hand (Used in physical altercations or urgent situations).
• Задержать на границе - To detain at the border (Common in travel or security contexts).
• Схватить момент - To seize the opportunity (An idiomatic expression for making the most of a chance).

Usage Notes:

"{{nab}}" directly translates to "схватить" in informal settings or "задержать" in formal ones. Choose "схватить" for everyday, spontaneous actions, as it conveys immediacy, while "задержать" is better for official contexts like police work. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: "схватить" is often perfective, implying completion, whereas imperfective forms like "схватывать" describe repeated actions. In sentences, ensure subject-verb agreement and consider the genitive case for objects, e.g., "схватить яблоко" (to grab the apple).

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; context dictates the best fit.
• In dialogues, "схватить" might sound too casual in professional writing.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "схватить" with "похитить" (to kidnap), using it for more severe crimes. For example:

• Error: *Он схватил ребёнка. (Intended to mean "He kidnapped the child," but this implies just grabbing, not abducting.)
• Correction: Он похитил ребёнка. (This accurately conveys kidnapping.) Explanation: "Схватить" is for temporary seizing; use "похитить" for ongoing or criminal abduction to avoid understatement.
• Error: *Задержать яблоко (Trying to say "to grab an apple," which is incorrect as "задержать" is for people or abstract concepts.)
• Correction: Схватить яблоко. Explanation: Match the verb to the context; "задержать" is for detaining entities, not objects.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like "схватить" often appear in literature and folklore to depict heroic or dramatic actions, such as in fairy tales where characters "seize" opportunities or objects. This reflects a cultural emphasis on decisiveness and quick responses in challenging situations, influenced by historical contexts like wartime stories.

Related Concepts:

• поймать
• захватить
• отпустить