Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'quit'

English Word: quit

Key Russian Translations:

• бросить [ˈbrosʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, used for abruptly stopping or giving up something]
• прекратить [prʲɪkraˈtʲitʲ] - [Formal, used in more structured or official contexts]
• уволиться [uˈvolʲɪt͡sə] - [Used for resigning from a job or position]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations and formal writing, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to go")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context, as per CEFR standards. For 'бросить' and 'прекратить', it's B1; for 'уволиться', it might lean towards B2 due to reflexive verb forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бросить: [ˈbrosʲɪtʲ]

прекратить: [prʲɪkraˈtʲitʲ]

уволиться: [uˈvolʲɪt͡sə]

Note on бросить: The stress falls on the first syllable; be cautious with the palatalized 'sʲ' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations may occur in fast speech.

Note on прекратить: Pronounce the 'rʲ' with a slight roll; this verb often has a more emphatic tone in formal settings.

Note on уволиться: The reflexive suffix '-ся' affects pronunciation; it's a soft ending, common in Russian reflexive verbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To stop an activity or habit

Translation(s) & Context:

• бросить - Used in informal, everyday contexts, such as quitting a bad habit.
• прекратить - Used in formal or deliberate contexts, implying a more permanent stop.

Usage Examples:

• Я бросил курить, потому что это вредно для здоровья.

  I quit smoking because it's harmful to my health.

• Она решила бросить эту работу, так как не получала удовлетворения.

  She decided to quit this job because she wasn't getting any satisfaction.

• Прекрати это делать немедленно!

  Quit doing that immediately!

• Мы прекратили игру из-за дождя.

  We quit the game because of the rain.

To resign from a job or position

Translation(s) & Context:

• уволиться - Specifically used for voluntary resignation, often in professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он уволился из компании после 10 лет работы.

  He quit the company after 10 years of work.

• Моя сестра уволилась, чтобы начать свой бизнес.

  My sister quit to start her own business.

• Если условия не изменятся, я уволюсь на следующей неделе.

  If the conditions don't change, I'll quit next week.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. Russian verbs are imperfective or perfective; 'бросить' and 'уволиться' are perfective, while 'прекратить' can be used in both aspects depending on context.

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

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отказаться (otkazat'sya) - To refuse or give up, often more formal than бросить.
  • покинуть (pokinit') - To abandon or leave, with a connotation of physical departure.
• Antonyms:
  • начать (nachat') - To start or begin.
  • продолжить (prodolzhit') - To continue.

Related Phrases:

• Бросить всё и уехать - Throw in the towel and leave (used for making a drastic decision to quit everything).
• Прекратить огонь - Cease fire (in military or conflict contexts, equivalent to quitting hostilities).
• Уволиться по собственному желанию - Resign of one's own accord (formal phrase for quitting a job voluntarily).

Usage Notes:

The English word 'quit' corresponds closely to Russian verbs like 'бросить' for informal, sudden actions, 'прекратить' for deliberate stops, and 'уволиться' for job-related resignations. Choose based on context: use 'бросить' in casual speech, but avoid it in professional settings where 'уволиться' is more appropriate. Note that Russian verbs often require an aspect (perfective for completed actions), and 'quit' might need additional words to specify what is being quit, e.g., 'quit smoking' translates to 'бросить курить'. Grammatically, reflexive verbs like 'уволиться' must agree with the subject in person and number.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'бросить' in formal contexts, e.g., saying "Я бросил работу" instead of "Я уволился с работы". Correct: Я уволился с работы. Explanation: 'Бросить' sounds too casual and implies abandoning something irresponsibly, while 'уволиться' is the standard for professional resignation.
• Mistake: Forgetting the reflexive ending in 'уволиться', e.g., saying "уволить" (which means to fire someone). Correct: Уволиться (for oneself). Explanation: Russian reflexive verbs like this require the '-ся' suffix to indicate the action is self-directed.
• Mistake: Overusing 'прекратить' for personal habits, e.g., "Я прекратил курить" might sound overly formal. Correct: Я бросил курить. Explanation: 'Прекратить' is better for processes or events, not everyday habits.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'quitting' something like a job or habit can carry implications of resilience or defeat. For instance, phrases like 'бросить всё' (quit everything) often appear in literature or media to symbolize a fresh start, influenced by historical events like the Soviet era where job changes were less common. This adds a layer of emotional weight to verbs like 'уволиться', emphasizing personal agency in a society that values perseverance.

Related Concepts:

• отказ (otkaz) - Refusal
• покинутие (pokinenie) - Abandonment
• сменить (smenit') - To change (e.g., change jobs after quitting)