Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overtake'

English Word: overtake

Key Russian Translations:

• обогнать /ɐ.bɐˈɡnatʲ/ - [Formal, Informal; Used in contexts involving motion or competition]
• перегнать /pʲɪrʲɪˈɡnatʲ/ - [Informal; Often used specifically for vehicles or surpassing in speed]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly used in everyday Russian, especially in sports, driving, and business contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "идти").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of verb conjugations and perfective aspects, which can be challenging for beginners, but manageable for intermediate learners according to CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обогнать: /ɐ.bɐˈɡnatʲ/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft 'т' sound, which is a common feature in Russian verbs.)

перегнать: /pʲɪrʲɪˈɡnatʲ/ (Emphasize the 'г' as a voiced fricative; palatalization is key here.)

Note on обогнать: Be cautious with the initial 'о' sound, which can vary slightly in fast speech to sound more like 'a'. Pronunciation may differ in regional dialects.

Note on перегнать: The prefix 'пере-' adds a sense of "across" or "over," which affects the overall rhythm.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To catch up with and pass someone or something in motion (e.g., in racing or driving).

Translation(s) & Context:

• обогнать - Used in formal and informal settings for overtaking vehicles or competitors; common in sports or traffic scenarios.
• перегнать - Informal, often for mechanical or vehicular contexts, like overtaking on the road.

Usage Examples:

• Вчера на трассе я обогнал его машину на последнем круге.

  Yesterday on the track, I overtook his car on the final lap.

• Если ты поедешь быстрее, ты сможешь перегнать автобус.

  If you drive faster, you can overtake the bus.

• В гонке легкоатлет обогнал всех соперников в финальном спринте.

  In the race, the athlete overtook all opponents in the final sprint.

• На шоссе водителю пришлось перегнать грузовик, чтобы успеть на встречу.

  On the highway, the driver had to overtake the truck to make it to the meeting on time.

Meaning 2: To surpass someone in achievement, performance, or position (e.g., in business or education).

Translation(s) & Context:

• обогнать - Formal or professional contexts, implying long-term surpassing; often used metaphorically.
• перегнать - Less common here, but can apply in competitive work scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Компания смогла обогнать конкурентов по объему продаж в прошлом году.

  The company managed to overtake its competitors in sales volume last year.

• Студент обогнал однокурсников в знаниях, изучив дополнительные материалы.

  The student overtook his classmates in knowledge by studying extra materials.

• В инновациях Китай обогнал многие развитые страны за последнее десятилетие.

  In innovations, China has overtaken many developed countries over the last decade.

• Если ты продолжишь усердно работать, ты перегнаешь коллег по карьерному росту.

  If you keep working hard, you'll overtake your colleagues in career advancement.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "обогнать" and "перегнать" are perfective verbs in Russian, meaning they express a completed action. Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These verbs are irregular in some forms due to their perfective nature and follow the first conjugation pattern.

Note: These verbs do not change in the present tense as they are perfective; instead, their imperfective counterparts ("обгонять" and "перегонять") are used for ongoing actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • обскакать (implies jumping ahead, often in a sudden manner; more informal)
  • опередить (to get ahead of, especially in time or planning)
• Antonyms:
  • отстать (to fall behind)
  • пропустить (to let pass or miss out)

Related Phrases:

• обогнать на повороте - To overtake on a turn (Used in racing; implies a strategic maneuver.)
• перегнать конкурентов - To overtake competitors (Common in business contexts; suggests surpassing in market share.)
• обогнать в развитии - To overtake in development (Often used for countries or technologies; highlights progress.)

Usage Notes:

Russian translations like "обогнать" and "перегнать" directly correspond to the English "overtake" but emphasize the perfective aspect, meaning they focus on the completion of the action. Use "обогнать" for general overtaking in motion or metaphorically in achievements, while "перегнать" is more specific to physical or vehicular surpassing. Be mindful of context: in formal writing or speech, pair these with appropriate prepositions like "на" (on) for locations. For English learners, choose based on nuance—e.g., "обогнать" for broader use and "перегнать" for literal speed. Grammar note: These are perfective, so they don't have present tense forms; use imperfective verbs like "обгонять" for ongoing actions.

Common Errors:

• Confusing perfective and imperfective forms: English learners often use "обогнать" when "обгонять" is needed for ongoing actions. Error: "Я обогнать машину сейчас" (incorrect). Correct: "Я обгоняю машину сейчас" (I am overtaking the car now). Explanation: Perfective verbs like "обогнать" imply completion, so they're unsuitable for present continuous contexts.
• Misapplying in metaphors: Learners might overuse "перегнать" in non-physical contexts. Error: "Я перегнал его в учебе" (which sounds odd). Correct: "Я обогнал его в учебе." Explanation: "Перегнать" is more literal, so stick with "обогнать" for abstract surpassing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "обогнать" often appear in contexts of competition, such as in sports or economic discussions, reflecting Russia's emphasis on resilience and advancement. For instance, during events like the Olympics or in historical narratives of the Space Race, these verbs symbolize national pride in surpassing challenges.

Related Concepts:

• догнать (to catch up)
• опережать (to be ahead of)
• конкуренция (competition)