Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scrap'

English Word: scrap

Key Russian Translations:

• обломок [ɐˈblomək] - [Informal, Singular, Used for physical fragments or pieces]
• хлам [xlam] - [Informal, Plural possible, Used for junk or discarded items]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like recycling or repairs, but not as frequent as basic nouns in casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage, varying slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обломок: [ɐˈblomək] (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers)

Note on обломок: Pay attention to the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables, common in Russian; it sounds more like "uh-BLO-muhk" in fast speech.

Audio: []

хлам: [xlam] (A guttural 'х' sound, similar to the Scottish 'ch' in "loch", with no stress variation)

Note on хлам: The 'х' is aspirated; beginners often confuse it with 'к', making it sound like "clam".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A small piece or fragment of something, often discarded (e.g., scrap metal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обломок - Used in informal contexts for physical breakage, such as in mechanics or after an accident.
• хлам - Applied in everyday situations involving clutter or worthless items, like in household cleaning.

Usage Examples:

• Я нашел обломок старой машины в гараже. (I found a scrap of an old car in the garage.)

  This example shows the noun in a singular, nominative context, describing a physical fragment.

• Этот хлам нужно выкинуть, чтобы освободить место. (This scrap needs to be thrown out to free up space.)

  Here, it's used in a plural implied sense for junk, in an imperative sentence for action-oriented advice.

• Обломки от взрыва были разбросаны повсюду. (Scraps from the explosion were scattered everywhere.)

  Demonstrates the word in a plural form within a descriptive narrative about an event.

• Не накапливай хлам в квартире; это вредно для здоровья. (Don't accumulate scrap in the apartment; it's bad for health.)

  Illustrates advice in a domestic setting, emphasizing negative connotations.

• Из обломков мы собрали новый механизм. (From the scraps, we assembled a new mechanism.)

  Shows resourceful usage in a creative or repair context, highlighting genitive case.

Meaning 2: To discard or abandon something (as a verb, though 'scrap' is primarily a noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хлам (in phrases like "выбросить хлам") - Informal, for getting rid of useless items.

Usage Examples:

• Мы решили выбросить этот хлам из подвала. (We decided to scrap this junk from the basement.)

  Verbally implies discarding; shows the noun in an object role within a decision-making sentence.

• Не стоит сохранять обломки; лучше их сдать на переработку. (Don't keep the scraps; it's better to scrap them for recycling.)

  Contrasts keeping versus discarding, in an advisory tone.

• Этот проект превратился в хлам, так что мы его отменили. (This project turned into scrap, so we scrapped it.)

  Metaphorical use for abandoning a failed endeavor.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns. 'Обломок' is a masculine noun with regular declension, while 'хлам' is masculine and can be indeclinable in some contexts.

Note: 'Хлам' is less variable and often treated as indeclinable in modern informal Russian, making it simpler for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • фрагмент (fragment) - More neutral and precise, often used in scientific contexts.
  • мусор (trash) - Similar to хлам, but implies waste more broadly.
• Antonyms:
  • целое (whole) - Refers to something complete and undamaged.
  • новое (new) - Contrasts with discarded or worn-out items.

Related Phrases:

• Собрать обломки - (To gather scraps) - Used in contexts of cleanup after destruction.
• Выбросить хлам - (To throw out junk) - A common phrase for decluttering spaces.
• Хлам на чердаке - (Scrap in the attic) - Refers to accumulated useless items in storage.

Usage Notes:

'Scrap' as 'обломок' or 'хлам' doesn't have a perfect one-to-one match in Russian; choose based on context—'обломок' for physical pieces and 'хлам' for worthless junk. Be mindful of formality: 'хлам' is very informal and might offend in polite settings. Grammatically, always decline nouns according to case, as Russian sentence structure demands it. For English learners, start with nominative forms and build up to full declensions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'обломок' without declension, e.g., saying "в обломок" instead of "в обломке". Correct: Always adjust for prepositional case. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so this error can make sentences grammatically incorrect.
• Mistake: Confusing 'хлам' with 'мусор' and using it interchangeably; e.g., "Этот хлам на улице" when 'мусор' is more appropriate for street waste. Correct: 'Хлам' implies personal junk, while 'мусор' is for general trash. Explanation: This leads to imprecise meaning and potential misunderstanding in context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'хлам' often reflect a practical, resource-conscious mindset due to historical scarcity. For instance, during Soviet times, people repurposed scraps ('обломки') creatively, symbolizing resilience and frugality, which is still evident in DIY culture today.

Related Concepts:

• мусор
• отходы
• лом