Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'run'

English Word: run

Key Russian Translations:

• бежать [bʲɪˈʐatʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective; Used for ongoing or repeated running actions]
• побежать [pɐˈbʲɛʐatʲ] - [Formal or Neutral, Perfective; Used for a single, completed running action]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday conversation and literature)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary; Basic verb conjugations are straightforward, but aspect differences may challenge beginners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бежать: [bʲɪˈʐatʲ]

Note on бежать: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in English 'measure'. Stress is on the second syllable.

побежать: [pɐˈbʲɛʐatʲ]

Note on побежать: The prefix 'по-' adds a perfective aspect; pronounce the 'о' as a short 'o' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To move swiftly on foot, often for exercise or escape.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бежать - In informal contexts like daily routines or sports; implies an ongoing action.
• побежать - In situations requiring a quick start, such as emergencies; implies completion.

Usage Examples:

• Я бегу в парк каждый утро. (I run to the park every morning.)

  This example shows the imperfective aspect for habitual action.

• Дети бегают по двору. (The children are running around the yard.)

  Illustrates plural subjects and informal, playful context.

• Он побежал за автобусом. (He ran for the bus.)

  Demonstrates perfective aspect for a sudden, completed action.

• Мы бежим марафон вместе. (We are running a marathon together.)

  Used in a group activity or event setting.

• Не бегай так быстро, ты устанешь! (Don't run so fast, you'll get tired!)

  Advisory context with imperative form.

Meaning 2: To operate or function (e.g., a machine).

Translation(s) & Context:

• работать - In technical or metaphorical contexts; e.g., for machines or systems.

Usage Examples:

• Эта машина не бежит гладко. (This machine doesn't run smoothly.) Wait, correction: Эта машина не работает гладко. (This machine doesn't run smoothly.)

  Here, 'бежать' is not ideal; 'работать' is used for machinery.

• Программа бежит без ошибок. (The program runs without errors.) Wait, more accurately: Программа работает без ошибок. (The program runs without errors.)

  Shows adaptation for tech contexts, avoiding direct 'run' translation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'бежать' and 'побежать' are verbs, and Russian verbs change based on aspect, tense, person, and number. 'Бежать' is imperfective, while 'побежать' is perfective. They follow standard first conjugation patterns with some irregularities.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive or future forms but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бежать быстро (to run quickly) - Emphasizes speed.
  • спешить (to hurry) - Similar but less specific to running.
• Antonyms:
  • идти (to walk) - Slower pace.
  • остановиться (to stop) - Ceasing movement.

Related Phrases:

• Бежать наперегонки - To run a race; A competitive running activity, often among children.
• Бежать сломя голову - To run headlong; Implies reckless speed, used in urgent or foolish situations.
• Побежать на помощь - To run for help; In emergency contexts, emphasizing quick response.

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like 'бежать' and 'побежать' are aspectual pairs, where 'бежать' denotes ongoing actions and 'побежать' denotes completed ones. Unlike English 'run', which doesn't distinguish aspect, choose based on context: use imperfective for descriptions or habits, and perfective for results. Be mindful of formality; 'бежать' is neutral but can feel informal, while 'побежать' fits narratives. In spoken Russian, these verbs often pair with adverbs for clarity, e.g., 'быстро' (quickly).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'бежать' when a perfective aspect is needed, e.g., saying "Я бегу вчера" instead of "Я побежал вчера" (I ran yesterday). Correct: "Я побежал вчера." Explanation: Imperfective doesn't fit past completed actions; use perfective for specificity.

• Error: Confusing with 'идти' (to walk), leading to misuse like "Я бегу домой медленно" when 'идти' is more appropriate for slow movement. Correct: "Я иду домой медленно." Explanation: 'Бежать' implies speed, so reserve it for actual running to avoid unnatural phrasing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, running (бежать) often appears in folklore and literature as a symbol of pursuit or escape, such as in fairy tales where characters run from danger. It's also prominent in sports like track and field, reflecting Russia's athletic heritage, such as in the Olympics.

Related Concepts:

• спорт (sport)
• атлетика (athletics)
• движение (movement)