Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'run'

English Word: run

Key Russian Translations:

• бежать [bʲɪˈʐatʲ] - [Perfective verb, used for a single, completed action of running]
• бегать [bʲɪˈɡatʲ] - [Imperfective verb, used for ongoing or repeated running]
• бег [bʲɛɡ] - [Noun, refers to the act or instance of running]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts like sports, daily activities, or descriptions of movement)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, due to the need to understand Russian verb aspects; for 'бег' as a noun, it may be A2 for beginners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бежать: [bʲɪˈʐatʲ]

Note on бежать: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in English 'measure', and can be challenging for learners due to its softness.

бегать: [bʲɪˈɡatʲ]

Note on бегать: The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, pronounced like a soft 'g' in the back of the throat; pay attention to the imperfective aspect in context.

бег: [bʲɛɡ]

Note on бег: This is a simple noun with a straightforward pronunciation; the stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To move at a speed faster than a walk (verb, implying physical movement)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бежать - Used in contexts involving quick, directional movement, such as escaping or racing; common in narrative or action descriptions.
• бегать - Applied to habitual or ongoing activities, like jogging or playing; often in daily routines or sports.

Usage Examples:

• Я бегу в школу, потому что опаздываю. (Ya begu v shkolu, potomu chto opazdyvayu.)

  I am running to school because I'm late. (Shows perfective aspect for a specific action.)

• Дети любят бегать по парку летом. (Deti lyubyat begat' po parku letom.)

  Children love running in the park during summer. (Illustrates imperfective aspect for repeated activity.)

• Он бежит марафон каждый год. (On bezhit marafon kazhdyy god.)

  He runs a marathon every year. (Demonstrates perfective in a habitual but event-based context.)

• Бегать по утрам полезно для здоровья. (Begat' po utram polezno dlya zdorov'ya.)

  Running in the mornings is good for health. (Emphasizes ongoing habit.)

• Когда я бегу, я чувствую свободу. (Kogda ya begu, ya chuvstvuyu svobodu.)

  When I run, I feel free. (Highlights personal, emotional context with perfective.)

2. A period or instance of running (noun, e.g., in sports or as an activity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бег - Refers to the general concept or event of running; used in formal or informal contexts like athletics or metaphors.

Usage Examples:

• Его любимый вид спорта — бег. (Yego lyubimyy vid sporta — beg.)

  His favorite sport is running. (Basic noun usage in a declarative sentence.)

• После пробежки я всегда устал. (Posle probezhki ya vsegda ustal.)

  After a run, I'm always tired. (Incorporates 'бег' indirectly through related terms.)

• Бег в горах требует подготовки. (Beg v gorakh trebuet podgotovki.)

  Running in the mountains requires preparation. (Shows 'бег' in an adventurous context.)

• Я записался на утренний бег. (Ya zapisalsya na utrenniy beg.)

  I signed up for the morning run. (Used for scheduled events.)

• Бег помогает снять стресс. (Beg pomogaet snyat' stress.)

  Running helps relieve stress. (Abstract, health-related usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'бежать' (verb, perfective):

This is a first-conjugation verb with irregular aspects. It changes based on tense, person, and number. Below is a basic conjugation table:

Person/Number	Present/Future	Past
I (я)	бегу	бежал(а)
You (ты)	бежишь	бежал(а)
He/She/It (он/она/оно)	бежит	бежал(а)
We (мы)	бежим	бежали
You (вы)	бежите	бежали
They (они)	бегают	бежали

For 'бегать' (verb, imperfective): Similar to 'бежать' but used for ongoing actions; it has regular imperfective forms, e.g., я бегаю, ты бегаешь.

For 'бег' (noun, masculine): It is a third-declension noun and inflects by case and number. It is invariable in plural for some cases.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	бег	беги
Genitive	бега	бегов
Dative	беге	бегам
Accusative	бег	беги
Instrumental	бегом	бегами
Prepositional	беге	бегах

Note: 'Бег' as a noun is relatively straightforward but requires attention to case endings in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: мчаться (to dash quickly), бежать быстро (to run fast) - мчаться implies greater speed and urgency.
• Antonyms: идти (to walk) - Used for slower movement; ползти (to crawl) - For very slow or creeping motion.

Related Phrases:

• Бежать наперегонки (to race each other) - A phrase for competitive running, often in games or challenges.
• Быстрый бег (fast running) - Refers to sprinting or high-speed activities, implying urgency or athleticism.
• Утренний бег (morning run) - Common for routine exercise, emphasizing health and habit.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'run' often corresponds to verbs like 'бежать' or 'бегать', which are tied to the aspect system—perfective for completed actions and imperfective for ongoing ones. Choose 'бежать' for specific events (e.g., "I ran to the store") and 'бегать' for habits. The noun 'бег' is neutral and works in formal contexts like sports. Be mindful of case changes for nouns and verb conjugations based on subject; this differs from English's simpler structure.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; context dictates the best fit.
• In informal speech, 'бегать' is more common for leisure, while 'бежать' suits narratives.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'бежать' for habitual actions, e.g., saying "Я бегу каждый день" to mean "I run every day." Correct: "Я бегаю каждый день." Explanation: 'Бежать' implies a single event, while 'бегать' is for routines; this mix-up confuses aspect and can make the sentence illogical.
• Error: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., saying "Я люблю бег" in a context requiring genitive like "Я устал от бег." Correct: "Я устал от бега." Explanation: Nouns must agree in case, which English speakers often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, running (бег) is often associated with endurance and resilience, as seen in traditions like the 'banya' (sauna) followed by a cold run, symbolizing health and toughness. Historically, it ties to Soviet-era sports propaganda, where events like the Moscow Marathon promote national pride and physical fitness.

Related Concepts:

• ходить (to walk)
• спорт (sports)
• марафон (marathon)