Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shatter'

English Word: shatter

Key Russian Translations:

• разбить [razˈbʲitʲ] - [Informal, Used for physical breaking of objects]
• разрушить [rɐˈzruʂɨtʲ] - [Formal, Used for more abstract or structural destruction]
• сокрушить [sɐˈkruʂɨtʲ] - [Formal, Implies forceful or violent shattering]

Frequency: Medium (The verb 'shatter' is commonly used in everyday contexts like accidents or descriptions, but not as frequent as basic verbs in Russian conversations.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context, but accessible to learners with basic Russian grammar knowledge. 'Разбить' is easier at A2, while 'сокрушить' might reach B2 due to its nuance.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разбить: [razˈbʲitʲ]

Note on разбить: The stress falls on the second syllable ('bʲitʲ'). Be careful with the palatalized 'bʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. It sounds softer than in English.

разрушить: [rɐˈzruʂɨtʲ]

Note on разрушить: The 'ʂ' sound is a retroflex fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'she', but more guttural. Stress on the third syllable.

сокрушить: [sɐˈkruʂɨtʲ]

Note on сокрушить: Similar to 'разрушить', the 'ʂ' sound is key; this word often conveys emotional intensity in speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To break suddenly into many small pieces (e.g., glass or brittle objects).

Translation(s) & Context:

• разбить - Commonly used in informal contexts for physical objects, such as in everyday accidents or descriptions.
• сокрушить - Used in more dramatic or forceful contexts, like in literature or emotional narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Окно разбилось от сильного ветра.

  The window shattered from the strong wind.

• Мальчик случайно разбил вазу на кухне.

  The boy accidentally shattered the vase in the kitchen.

• Во время землетрясения сокрушило многие здания.

  During the earthquake, many buildings were shattered.

• Её сердце разбилось от новости.

  Her heart shattered from the news (metaphorical use).

2. To destroy or disrupt completely (e.g., hopes, structures, or systems).

Translation(s) & Context:

• разрушить - Formal and abstract, often in professional or historical contexts, like politics or science.
• разбить - Can be used informally for emotional or minor disruptions.

Usage Examples:

• Война разрушила весь город.

  The war shattered the entire city.

• Его планы на поездку разрушились из-за дождя.

  His travel plans were shattered because of the rain.

• Критика разрушила её уверенность в себе.

  The criticism shattered her self-confidence.

• Авария разрушила мост за считанные секунды.

  The accident shattered the bridge in seconds.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations like 'разбить', 'разрушить', and 'сокрушить' are verbs, which follow Russian conjugation patterns. Russian verbs are conjugated based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These are imperfective verbs in their base form, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. 'Разбить' is perfective, indicating a completed action.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive or future forms but do in the past tense. If the verb is used in imperfective aspects (e.g., разбивать), it follows similar patterns but emphasizes process over completion.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Ломать (lamat') - More general breaking, often less violent.
  • Разбивать (razbivat') - Imperfective form, implying ongoing action.
  • Крушить (krushit') - Similar to сокрушить, with a focus on crushing force.
• Antonyms:
  • Строить (stroit') - To build or construct.
  • Собирать (sobirat') - To gather or assemble.
  • Восстанавливать (vosstanavlivat') - To restore or repair.

Related Phrases:

• Разбить сердце - (To break someone's heart; used in emotional contexts to describe deep disappointment.)
• Разбить вдребезги - (To shatter to pieces; emphasizes complete destruction, often literally or figuratively.)
• Сокрушить врага - (To crush the enemy; common in military or competitive scenarios, implying total defeat.)

Usage Notes:

When translating 'shatter' to Russian, choose 'разбить' for physical, everyday scenarios (e.g., glass breaking), as it aligns closely with informal English use. 'Разрушить' is better for abstract or large-scale destruction, like shattering dreams or structures, due to its formal tone. Be mindful of aspect: Russian verbs distinguish between perfective (completed action) and imperfective (ongoing). For example, use perfective 'разбить' for a one-time event. In spoken Russian, context dictates word choice—avoid 'сокрушить' in casual conversations as it sounds dramatic. English learners should practice verb conjugations to handle gender and number variations accurately.

Common Errors:

• Confusing perfective and imperfective aspects: Learners might use 'разбить' when 'разбивать' is needed for an ongoing action. Error: "Я разбить окно каждый день" (incorrect). Correct: "Я разбиваю окно каждый день" (I shatter the window every day). Explanation: 'Разбить' is perfective and implies completion, so it's unsuitable for habitual actions.

• Misapplying gender in past tense: English speakers often forget to change the verb for gender. Error: "Она разбил окно" (She shattered the window, using masculine form). Correct: "Она разбила окно". Explanation: Past tense verbs in Russian agree with the subject's gender.

• Overusing formal words: Beginners might default to 'сокрушить' for all contexts. Error: Using it in a simple story. Correct: Opt for 'разбить' in casual narratives. Explanation: This can make speech sound unnatural or overly intense.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'разбить' or 'сокрушить' often appear in literature and folklore to symbolize emotional or societal upheaval, such as in stories by Tolstoy or in Soviet-era narratives about war. For instance, 'разбить сердце' is a common idiom reflecting the Russian emphasis on deep emotional expression, influenced by historical events like revolutions, where 'shattering' motifs represent loss and resilience.

Related Concepts:

• Ломать (Breaking in a general sense)
• Крушение (Catastrophe or crash)
• Взрыв (Explosion, often leading to shattering)