Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scour'

English Word: scour

Key Russian Translations:

• чистить [ˈtʃɪstʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, used for cleaning or scrubbing]
• искать [ɪˈskatʲ] - [Informal, used for searching or examining thoroughly]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts like cleaning or research, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B1 for чистить (Intermediate, due to verb conjugations); A2 for искать (Elementary, as it's a regular verb)

Pronunciation (Russian):

чистить: [ˈtʃɪstʲɪtʲ]

Note on чистить: The stress falls on the first syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Audio: []

искать: [ɪˈskatʲ]

Note on искать: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'к' is not palatalized, making it easier for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To clean or scrub thoroughly (e.g., removing dirt from surfaces)

Translation(s) & Context:

• чистить - Used in formal or everyday contexts for physical cleaning, such as household chores.

Usage Examples:

• Я чищу раковину в ванной. (Ya chishu rakovinu v vannoy.)

  I am scouring the sink in the bathroom.

• Она чистит овощи перед приготовлением. (Ona chistit ovoshchi pered prigotovleniyem.)

  She is scouring the vegetables before cooking.

• Мы чистим дом каждое воскресенье. (My chistim dom kazhdoe voskresen'ye.)

  We scour the house every Sunday.

• Дети чистят свои игрушки после игры. (Deti chistyat svoi igrushki posle igry.)

  The children scour their toys after playing.

Meaning 2: To search or examine thoroughly (e.g., looking for something intensively)

Translation(s) & Context:

• искать - Used in informal contexts for searching, such as online or in physical spaces.

Usage Examples:

• Я ищу информацию в интернете. (Ya ishchu informatsiyu v internte.)

  I am scouring the internet for information.

• Они ищут потерянный ключ по всему дому. (Oni ishchut poterzannyy klyuch po vsemu domu.)

  They are scouring the entire house for the lost key.

• Мы ищем лучшие предложения в магазинах. (My ishchem luchshie predlozheniya v magazinakh.)

  We are scouring the stores for the best deals.

• Она ищет работу в крупных компаниях. (Ona ishchet rabotu v krupnykh kompaniyakh.)

  She is scouring major companies for a job.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For чистить (verb, infinitive): This is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns. It means "to clean" and inflects based on tense, aspect, and person.

For искать (verb, infinitive): This is also a first-conjugation verb with regular inflections, meaning "to search." It follows similar patterns but is imperfective.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: мыть (myt' - for cleaning, but more general); скрести (skresti - for scrubbing intensely)
• Antonyms: загрязнять (zagryaznyat' - to dirty or pollute)

Related Phrases:

• Чистить зубы - Brushing teeth; used in daily hygiene routines.
• Искать работу - Job hunting; common in professional contexts.
• Тщательно чистить поверхности - Thoroughly scouring surfaces; emphasizes deep cleaning.

Usage Notes:

чистить is the most direct equivalent for "scour" in cleaning contexts and is often used in formal or neutral settings, while искать fits searching scenarios. Choose based on context: use чистить for physical actions and искать for investigative ones. Be mindful of aspect in Russian verbs; чистить is imperfective, implying ongoing action, which aligns well with the thorough nature of "scour."

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse чистить with мыть (to wash), but чистить implies more intensive scrubbing. Incorrect: "Я мою раковину" (if scouring is meant). Correct: "Я чищу раковину." Explanation: Мыть is for general washing, while чистить involves removing dirt deeply.
• For искать, a common error is using it without proper conjugation, e.g., saying "Я искать" instead of "Я ищу." Correct form: Always conjugate based on subject for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, чистить is often associated with meticulous housekeeping, reflecting the value placed on cleanliness in daily life, especially in urban apartments. For искать, it ties into the Russian emphasis on thoroughness in problem-solving, as seen in literature like Dostoevsky's works where characters "scour" for truth.

Related Concepts:

• Мыть
• Скрести
• Обшаривать