Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'peel'

English Word: peel

Key Russian Translations:

• чистить [ˈʧʲɪsʲtʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for removing skin from fruits or vegetables]
• кожура [kɐˈʐurə] - [Noun, Feminine, Singular, Refers to the outer skin or rind]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like cooking or food preparation, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'eat').

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary for verbs; B1 for noun inflections, as it involves basic conjugation and declension rules under CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

чистить: [ˈʧʲɪsʲtʲɪtʲ]

Note on чистить: The stress falls on the first syllable. Be careful with the palatalized 'ч' sound, which is softer than in English 'ch'. Variations may occur in dialects, but standard Russian uses this form.

кожура: [kɐˈʐurə]

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

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a verb, to remove the outer skin or layer (e.g., from fruit or vegetables).

Translation(s) & Context:

• чистить - Used in informal, everyday contexts like kitchen tasks; common in spoken Russian for peeling produce.

Usage Examples:

• Я всегда чищу яблоко перед тем, как съесть. (Ya vsegda chishu yabloko pered tem, kak s"est'.)

  I always peel an apple before eating it. (Shows basic imperative use in daily routines.)

• Дети любят чистить апельсины на пикнике. (Deti lyubyat chistit apelsiny na piknike.)

  Children love peeling oranges at a picnic. (Illustrates use in a recreational, group setting.)

• Не забудь почистить картошку для супа. (Ne zabud' pochistit kartoshku dlya supa.)

  Don't forget to peel the potatoes for the soup. (Demonstrates imperative form in cooking instructions.)

• Она аккуратно чистила банан, чтобы не повредить мякоть. (Ona akkuratno chistila banan, chtoby ne povredit myakot'.)

  She carefully peeled the banana so as not to damage the flesh. (Highlights careful, precise action in a sentence.)

Meaning 2: As a noun, the outer skin or rind of fruit or vegetables.

Translation(s) & Context:

• кожура - Used in formal and informal contexts, often in discussions about food waste or preparation; can be pluralized for multiple items.

Usage Examples:

• Кожура апельсина богата витаминами. (Kozhura apelsina bogata vitaminami.)

  The peel of an orange is rich in vitamins. (Emphasizes nutritional context.)

• Не ешь кожуру лимона, она горькая. (Ne yes' kozhuru limona, ona gorkaya.)

  Don't eat the peel of the lemon; it's bitter. (Advisory context in everyday conversation.)

• Соберите кожуру от фруктов для компоста. (Sobirayte kozhuru ot fruktov dlya komposta.)

  Collect the peels from fruits for compost. (Environmental or practical usage.)

• Кожура банана использовалась в народной медицине. (Kozhura banana ispol'zovalas' v narodnoy meditsine.)

  Banana peels were used in folk medicine. (Historical or cultural reference.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For чистить (verb, first conjugation):

This is a regular verb that follows standard patterns. It is an imperfective verb, often paired with perfective forms like 'очистить' for completed actions.

For кожура (noun, feminine, first declension):

This noun is regular and declines based on case and number. It is invariable in gender but changes in plural forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Очищать (ochishchat') - More formal, implies thorough cleaning.
  • Снимать кожу (snyat' kozhu) - Literal phrase for removing skin, used interchangeably in some contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Оставлять (ostavlivat') - To leave or keep intact, e.g., not peeling.

Related Phrases:

• Снимать кожуру с фруктов (Snyat' kozhuru s fruktov) - To remove the peel from fruits; used in cooking instructions.
• Кожура цитрусовых (Kozhura tsitrusovykh) - Citrus peel; often refers to zest in recipes.
• Чистить овощи (Chistit ovoshchi) - To peel vegetables; a common phrase in daily life.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'peel' as a verb corresponds most closely to 'чистить' in informal Russian contexts, especially for food, but 'очистить' might be preferred for perfective aspects. As a noun, 'кожура' is straightforward but can vary by regional dialects—e.g., in some areas, it's used metaphorically for waste. Choose 'чистить' for everyday speech and be mindful of verb aspects in sentences. Grammatically, ensure proper conjugation based on subject; for nouns, always decline according to case for natural flow.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'чистить' without considering aspect, e.g., saying "Я чистю яблоко" when a completed action is meant. Correct: Use 'очистить' for finished tasks, like "Я очистил яблоко". Explanation: Russian verbs have aspect pairs; mixing them can confuse tense.
• Mistake: Forgetting to decline 'кожура', e.g., saying "Я ем кожура" instead of "Я ем кожуру". Correct: "Я ем кожуру" in accusative. Explanation: Nouns must agree in case, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'кожура' from fruits like apples or potatoes is often reused in traditional remedies or composting, reflecting a historical emphasis on resourcefulness. For instance, in rural areas, banana peels ('кожура банана') might be used in homemade fertilizers, symbolizing sustainable living practices rooted in Soviet-era frugality.

Related Concepts:

• Овощи (ovoshchi) - Vegetables
• Фрукты (frukty) - Fruits
• Компост (kompost) - Compost