Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scatter'

English Word: scatter

Key Russian Translations:

• рассеивать [rɐˈsʲeɪvətʲ] - [Formal, often used in scientific or literary contexts]
• разбросать [rɐzbrɐˈsatʲ] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday speech]

Frequency: Medium (This verb and its forms appear regularly in Russian literature and conversation but are not among the most common everyday words.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of verb conjugations and aspect differences, as per CEFR standards. For 'рассеивать', it's B1; for 'разбросать', it's A2 due to its imperfective/perfective pair.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

рассеивать: [rɐˈsʲeɪvətʲ]

Note on рассеивать: The stress falls on the second syllable ('се'). Be mindful of the soft 'с' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. This is an imperfective verb, often paired with perfective 'рассеять' [rɐˈsʲeɪtʲ].

разбросать: [rɐzbrɐˈsatʲ]

Note on разбросать: Stress is on the third syllable ('са'). This is a perfective verb, indicating completion, and its pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To throw or spread things in different directions, often implying dispersion.

Translation(s) & Context:

• рассеивать - Used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions (e.g., scattering particles) or metaphorical senses (e.g., scattering thoughts).
• разбросать - Applied in informal, everyday situations, like scattering toys or objects around a room.

Usage Examples:

• Ветер рассеивает листья по всей улице.

  The wind scatters leaves all over the street. (This example shows the verb in a natural environmental context.)

• Дети разбросали игрушки по комнате, и теперь всё в беспорядке.

  The children scattered toys around the room, and now everything is in disarray. (Illustrates informal use with perfective aspect.)

• Учёный рассеивает частицы в эксперименте для изучения их поведения.

  The scientist scatters particles in the experiment to study their behavior. (Demonstrates formal, scientific usage.)

• Она рассеивает семена в саду, чтобы они равномерно прорастали.

  She scatters seeds in the garden so they sprout evenly. (Shows application in agriculture or daily life.)

• Во время игры мы разбросали мячи по полю, и пришлось их собирать.

  During the game, we scattered the balls across the field, and we had to pick them up. (Highlights playful, informal context with aspectual contrast.)

Meaning 2: To disperse or spread out a group or crowd (e.g., people or ideas).

Translation(s) & Context:

• рассеивать - In metaphorical or abstract contexts, such as dispersing a crowd or ideas.
• разбросать - Less common for this meaning; typically used for physical objects.

Usage Examples:

• Полиция рассеивает толпу протестующих для восстановления порядка.

  The police scatter the crowd of protesters to restore order. (Example in a social or law enforcement context.)

• Его речь рассеивает сомнения в умах слушателей.

  His speech scatters doubts in the minds of the listeners. (Metaphorical use in intellectual discussions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'рассеивать' and 'разбросать' are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. 'Рассеивать' is imperfective, while 'разбросать' is perfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

Note: These verbs do not change irregularly but follow standard patterns for their aspects.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • рассеять (to disperse quickly; similar to рассеивать but perfective)
  • разбросить (imperfective form of разбросать; used for ongoing action)
• Antonyms:
  • собирать (to gather or collect)
  • сосредотачивать (to concentrate)

Related Phrases:

• рассеянные мысли - Scattered thoughts (Refers to unfocused or wandering ideas in casual conversation.)
• разбросать вещи - To scatter things around (Common in contexts of messiness or disorganization.)
• рассеивать внимание - To scatter attention (Used metaphorically for distraction in educational or psychological discussions.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'scatter' translations like 'рассеивать' and 'разбросать' emphasize aspect: imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective for completed ones. Choose 'рассеивать' for formal or abstract uses, such as in science, and 'разбросать' for everyday physical actions. Be aware of context; for example, in polite speech, opt for more formal verbs. English 'scatter' often aligns with 'рассеивать' in metaphorical senses, but always consider the aspect to match the intended meaning accurately.

• Grammar note: These verbs require appropriate prepositions, e.g., 'по' for direction (рассеивать по ветру - scatter to the wind).
• Multiple translations: Use 'разбросать' for immediate, finished actions, but 'рассеивать' for processes.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the aspect of these verbs, such as using the imperfective 'рассеивать' when a perfective like 'разбросать' is needed for completed actions. For example:

• Error: *Я рассеивать книги по столу. (Incorrect: Implies ongoing action without completion.)
• Correct: Я разбросал книги по столу. (Proper for a finished action.)
• Explanation: Russian requires matching verb aspect to the context; misuse can alter the sentence's meaning or make it sound unnatural.

Another common mistake is mispronouncing the stressed syllables, leading to confusion with similar words like 'рассыпать' (to spill).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'рассеивать' can carry metaphorical connotations in literature, such as in poetry by Pushkin, where scattering ideas or emotions symbolizes freedom or chaos. This reflects a broader cultural appreciation for nature and introspection, where dispersion might represent the vast Russian landscape or philosophical depth.

Related Concepts:

• дисперсия (dispersion, in scientific contexts)
• беспорядок (disorder or mess)
• сосредоточение (concentration, as an opposite concept)