Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scorch'

English Word: scorch

Key Russian Translations:

• обжечь [ɐbˈʐetɕ] - [Formal, Verb; Used in contexts involving burning or charring surfaces]
• опалить [ɐpɐˈlʲitʲ] - [Informal; Used when describing quick, surface-level burning, e.g., in everyday accidents]
• обуглить [ɐbʊˈɡlʲitʲ] - [Formal; Often applied to deeper charring, like in fire-related scenarios]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, technical descriptions, and everyday language, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to burn").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of verb conjugations and perfective aspects, which can vary by translation).

Pronunciation (Russian):

обжечь: [ɐbˈʐetɕ]

опалить: [ɐpɐˈlʲitʲ]

обуглить: [ɐbʊˈɡlʲitʲ]

Note on обжечь: The 'ж' sound [ʐ] is a voiced fricative, which can be tricky for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in "measure." Stress falls on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To burn or char the surface of something (Verb, often perfective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обжечь - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as describing damage from heat or fire.
• опалить - Informal, for quick burns in accidental situations, like in cooking or outdoor activities.

Usage Examples:

• Солнце обожгло листья на деревьях во время засухи.

  The sun scorched the leaves on the trees during the drought.

• Он опалил руку, прикоснувшись к горячему утюгу.

  He scorched his hand by touching the hot iron.

• Пожар обуглил забор, оставив чёрные отметины.

  The fire scorched the fence, leaving black marks.

• В жару асфальт опалился, и теперь на нём трещины.

  In the heat, the asphalt scorched and now has cracks.

Meaning 2: A mark or area that has been burned (Noun form, less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обугленный - Used as an adjective for describing burned areas, in formal reports or descriptions.
• выжженный - Contextual for landscapes or larger areas affected by fire.

Usage Examples:

• На обугленном поле ничего не растёт после лесного пожара.

  On the scorched field, nothing grows after the forest fire.

• Выжженный след от молнии был виден на земле.

  The scorched mark from the lightning was visible on the ground.

• Обугленный металл выглядел так, будто его только что вытащили из печи.

  The scorched metal looked as if it had just been pulled from the furnace.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like "обжечь" and "опалить," these are perfective verbs in Russian, meaning they describe completed actions. They follow standard conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. "Обуглить" is also perfective and conjugates similarly.

For adjectives like "обугленный," it declines as a regular short adjective: Nominative Singular: обугленный; Genitive: обугленного; etc. No inflections for unchangeable forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • выжечь (Similar to scorch but implies more complete burning; used in contexts like deforestation)
  • прожечь (Focuses on burning through materials, e.g., fabric)
• Antonyms:
  • охладить (To cool, opposite of heating or burning)
  • заморозить (To freeze, contrasting with thermal damage)

Related Phrases:

• обжечься - A reflexive form meaning "to get burned oneself"; often used in safety contexts, e.g., "Не обожгись об горячую сковороду" (Don't scorch yourself on the hot pan).
• обугленный край - Meaning "scorched edge," as in describing damaged materials; common in descriptions of fire aftermath.
• выжечь подчистую - An idiomatic phrase meaning "to scorch completely," implying total destruction, often in metaphorical use for clearing land.

Usage Notes:

Russian translations of "scorch" like "обжечь" are perfective verbs, which emphasize the completion of an action—unlike English, where "scorch" can be more neutral. Choose "обжечь" for formal or precise contexts, such as scientific or literary descriptions, while "опалить" suits informal, everyday scenarios. Be mindful of aspect: pair with imperfective verbs like "жарить" (to fry) for ongoing actions. In plural or group contexts, ensure correct conjugation to match subject gender and number.

Common Errors:

• Mistaking aspect: English learners often use "обжечь" when an imperfective like "жарить" is needed for ongoing action. Error: "Я обжечь хлеб" (incorrect, as it implies completion). Correct: "Я обжёг хлеб" for past completed action.
• Overgeneralizing conjugation: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense, e.g., saying "Она обжёг" instead of "Она обожгла" for feminine subjects. This can confuse native speakers and alter meaning.
• Confusing with similar verbs: Mixing up "обжечь" and "опалить"; the latter is less intense, so using "опалить" for deep burns might understate the situation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "обжечь" often appear in folklore and literature related to fire and nature, such as in stories of forest fires or traditional blacksmithing. They can symbolize destruction or renewal, as seen in poems by Pushkin, where scorched landscapes represent resilience amid hardship.

Related Concepts:

• пожар (fire)
• выжигание (burning off, as in agricultural practices)
• термический ожог (thermal burn)