Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'reap'

English Word: reap

Key Russian Translations:

• жать (/ʐatʲ/) - [Formal, used in agricultural contexts]
• убирать урожай (/uˈbʲirətʲ uˈraʐaj/) - [Informal, common in everyday speech]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not frequently used in modern Russian conversation but appear in agricultural or metaphorical contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage, with "жать" being slightly more challenging due to its imperfective aspect.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жать: /ʐatʲ/ (The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English.)

убирать урожай: /uˈbʲirətʲ uˈraʐaj/ (Stress on the second syllable of 'убирать' and the third of 'урожай'. The 'й' in 'урожай' is a palatal approximant.)

Note on жать: Be careful with the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making the preceding consonant palatalized.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Literal meaning: To cut and gather a crop, as in agriculture.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жать - Used in formal or rural contexts when referring to harvesting grains with a sickle or machine.
• убирать урожай - More general and informal, applied to any crop harvesting, often in modern or everyday scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Фермеры жнут пшеницу каждое лето, чтобы собрать урожай. (Farmers reap wheat every summer to gather the harvest.)

  Translation: Farmers reap wheat every summer to gather the harvest.

• В деревне мы убираем урожай вручную, как наши предки. (In the village, we reap the harvest by hand, just like our ancestors.)

  Translation: In the village, we reap the harvest by hand, just like our ancestors.

• Осенью жатва становится самым важным событием для местных жителей. (In autumn, the reaping becomes the most important event for local residents.)

  Translation: In autumn, the reaping becomes the most important event for local residents.

• Машины помогают убирать урожай быстрее, чем раньше. (Machines help reap the harvest faster than before.)

  Translation: Machines help reap the harvest faster than before.

• После дождя жать становится сложнее из-за мокрой почвы. (After the rain, reaping becomes more difficult due to the wet soil.)

  Translation: After the rain, reaping becomes more difficult due to the wet soil.

Figurative meaning: To gain or receive as a consequence of one's actions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жать плоды (to reap the fruits) - Used metaphorically in formal writing or speeches for rewards from efforts.
• получать вознаграждение (to reap rewards) - Informal equivalent in motivational or business contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Трудолюбивые студенты жнут плоды своих усилий в виде хороших оценок. (Hard-working students reap the fruits of their efforts in the form of good grades.)

  Translation: Hard-working students reap the fruits of their efforts in the form of good grades.

• Бизнесмены часто получают вознаграждение за смелые решения. (Businessmen often reap rewards for bold decisions.)

  Translation: Businessmen often reap rewards for bold decisions.

• Жатва успеха требует терпения и настойчивости. (Reaping success requires patience and persistence.)

  Translation: Reaping success requires patience and persistence.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "жать" (an imperfective verb), it follows the standard Russian verb conjugation pattern. It is irregular in some aspects due to its root. Below is a conjugation table for the present tense:

For "убирать урожай" (a phrase), "убирать" is a verb that conjugates regularly:

"Урожай" is a masculine noun that declines as follows: Nominative - урожай, Genitive - урожая, etc. It is invariant in plural forms for most cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • собирать (gather) - More general term, often interchangeable in literal contexts.
  • скосить (mow) - Specifically for cutting grass or crops.
• Antonyms:
  • сажать (plant) - The opposite action in agriculture.
  • терять (lose) - In figurative senses, contrasting with gaining rewards.

Related Phrases:

• жатва урожая - (Harvest season) - Refers to the period of reaping crops.
• жать плоды труда - (Reap the fruits of labor) - A common idiomatic expression for enjoying the results of hard work.
• убирать поздний урожай - (Reap a late harvest) - Used for delayed rewards or seasonal extensions.

Usage Notes:

"Жать" is primarily used in literal agricultural contexts and is less common in everyday speech, while "убирать урожай" is more versatile. English users should note that Russian verbs often require aspect (imperfective like "жать" for ongoing actions). Choose "жать" for formal or poetic language, and "убирать урожай" for informal settings. Be mindful of case agreements, e.g., the object must be in the accusative case.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "жать" in non-agricultural contexts, e.g., saying "Я жну награду" instead of "Я получаю награду".
  Correct: "Я получаю награду" (I reap the reward). Explanation: "Жать" is too literal; opt for "получать" for figurative meanings to avoid confusion.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "я жат" instead of "я жну".
  Correct: "я жну". Explanation: Russian verbs have specific endings; always conjugate based on person and number.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, reaping (жатва) is tied to traditional harvest festivals like those in rural areas, symbolizing abundance and hard work. It often appears in folklore and literature, such as in works by Tolstoy, representing the cyclical nature of life and the rewards of perseverance.

Related Concepts:

• урожай (harvest)
• посев (sowing)
• труд (labor)