Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pull'

English Word: pull

Key Russian Translations:

• тянуть [ˈtʲanʊtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts for physical pulling]
• тащить [ˈtaʂʲitʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for dragging or pulling with effort, often implying struggle]
• рывок [ˈrɨvək] - [Noun, Neutral, Used for a sudden pull or tug]

Frequency: Medium (Common in conversational Russian, especially in physical or metaphorical contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти" – to go)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and noun declensions. For "тянуть" and "тащить" as verbs: B1; for "рывок" as a noun: A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тянуть: [ˈtʲanʊtʲ]

тащить: [ˈtaʂʲitʲ]

рывок: [ˈrɨvək]

Note on тянуть: The initial "тʲ" sound is a soft 't', which can be challenging for English speakers; practice with native audio to distinguish it from a hard 't'. Variations in stressed vowels may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To exert force to move something towards oneself (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тянуть - Used in casual, everyday situations, such as pulling a door or an object; Informal, common in spoken language.
• тащить - Used when the action involves effort or resistance, like pulling a heavy load; Informal, often in physical labor contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я тяну дверь, чтобы открыть её. (Ya tyanyu dver', chtoby otkryt' yeyo.)

  I am pulling the door to open it. (This example shows the verb in a simple present tense context.)

• Не тащи сумку так сильно, она порвётся! (Ne tashchi sumku tak sil'no, ona porvyotsya!)

  Don't pull the bag so hard, it will tear! (Illustrates use in a warning scenario with implied effort.)

• Дети тянут верёвку в игре. (Deti tyanut' vervoku v igre.)

  The children are pulling the rope in the game. (Demonstrates playful, group context.)

• Он тащит телегу по полю. (On tashchit' telegu po polyu.)

  He is pulling the cart through the field. (Shows metaphorical or rural usage.)

• Тяни за ручку, и я помогу. (Tyanu za ruchku, i ya pomogu.)

  Pull the handle, and I'll help. (Used in collaborative or instructional settings.)

Meaning 2: A sudden or forceful tug (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• рывок - Used for a quick, sharp pull, often in sports, mechanics, or metaphors; Neutral, applicable in formal and informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Сделай рывок, чтобы вытащить удочку. (Sdelai ryvok, chtoby vyatashchit' udochku.)

  Make a pull to yank out the fishing rod. (This shows the noun in an action-oriented context.)

• Его рывок был слишком резким. (Yego ryvok byl slishkom rezkim.)

  His pull was too abrupt. (Illustrates use in describing intensity.)

• Рывок в спорте требует силы. (Ryvok v sporte trebuyet sily.)

  A pull in sports requires strength. (Demonstrates metaphorical use in athletic contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "тянуть" and "тащить" (verbs), these are imperfective verbs that follow regular conjugation patterns in Russian. They change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Рывок" is a masculine noun that declines according to standard patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Влечь (vlech') - Similar to тянуть, but often more formal or poetic.
  • Тяга (tyaga) - Noun form, synonymous with pull as attraction.
• Antonyms:
  • Толкать (tolkat') - To push.
  • Отталкивать (ottalkivat') - To repel or push away.

Related Phrases:

• Тянуть за рукав (Tyanut' za rukav) - To pull by the sleeve; used metaphorically for getting someone's attention.
• Рывок вперед (Ryvok vperyod) - A pull forward; common in motivational or sports contexts, meaning a surge of effort.
• Тащить на себе (Tashchit' na sebe) - To pull on oneself; implies carrying a burden, often in everyday expressions.

Usage Notes:

"Pull" in English often corresponds to "тянуть" in Russian for general actions, but choose "тащить" when emphasizing effort or resistance. Be mindful of context: "тянуть" can also mean "to draw out" in time (e.g., prolonging something), which might not align with the English "pull." In formal writing, opt for more precise synonyms like "влечь." Verbs like these are aspectually imperfective, so pair with perfective forms (e.g., "вытянуть") for completed actions.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "тянуть" and "тащить," using "тянуть" for all pulling actions. Error: "Я тяну тяжелый ящик" (when it should be "тащить" for emphasis on effort). Correct: "Я тащу тяжелый ящик." Explanation: "Тащить" conveys struggle, while "тянуть" is more neutral.

• Misconjugating verbs in past tense, e.g., saying "Я тянул" incorrectly in a feminine context. Correct: Use gender-appropriate forms like "Я тянула" for females. Explanation: Russian verbs agree with the subject's gender in the past tense.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "тянуть лямку" (an idiomatic expression meaning to pull the strap, or endure hard labor) reflect historical agricultural roots, emphasizing resilience and collective effort in rural life. This adds a layer of cultural depth, where "pull" can symbolize perseverance in literature and proverbs.

Related Concepts:

• Тяга (tyaga) - Attraction or traction
• Сила (sila) - Force or strength
• Движение (dvizheniye) - Movement