Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shear'

English Word: shear

Key Russian Translations:

• стричь [ˈstrʲit͡ɕ] - [Verb, Informal, used for cutting or trimming hair, wool, etc.]
• срезать [sˈrʲezatʲ] - [Verb, Formal, used for cutting off something sharply, e.g., branches or excess material]
• ножницы [ˈnoʐnʲit͡sɨ] - [Noun, Plural, refers to cutting tools like shears or scissors]

Frequency: Medium (e.g., 'стричь' is common in everyday contexts like hairdressing or agriculture, while 'срезать' is more situational)

Difficulty: B1 for 'стричь' and 'срезать' (intermediate, due to verb conjugations); A2 for 'ножницы' (beginner, as it's a basic noun)

Pronunciation (Russian):

стричь: [ˈstrʲit͡ɕ]

Note on стричь: The 'ч' sound is a soft, palatalized fricative, similar to 'ch' in 'church' but more guttural; stress is on the first syllable.

срезать: [sˈrʲezatʲ]

Note on срезать: The 'рʲ' indicates a palatalized 'r', which can be challenging for English speakers; stress is on the second syllable.

ножницы: [ˈnoʐnʲit͡sɨ]

Note on ножницы: The 'ж' is a voiced fricative like 's' in 'measure'; it's a plural form, so pronunciation remains consistent across uses.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a verb: To cut or trim with shears (e.g., wool, hair)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стричь - Used in informal or everyday contexts, such as animal husbandry or personal grooming.
• срезать - Applied in more precise or formal scenarios, like pruning plants or removing excess material.

Usage Examples:

• Я стригу овец каждую весну. (I shear the sheep every spring.)

  I shear the sheep every spring.

• Ему нужно срезать ветки с дерева. (He needs to shear the branches from the tree.)

  He needs to shear the branches from the tree.

• Стричь волосы в салоне - это расслабляющий процесс. (Shearing hair at the salon is a relaxing process.)

  Shearing hair at the salon is a relaxing process.

• Она срезала лишнюю ткань с платья. (She sheared off the excess fabric from the dress.)

  She sheared off the excess fabric from the dress.

• Мои ножницы используются для стрижки травы в саду. (My shears are used for shearing the grass in the garden.)

  My shears are used for shearing the grass in the garden.

As a noun: A tool for cutting (e.g., shears or scissors)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ножницы - Commonly used for handheld cutting tools in domestic or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Эти ножницы идеальны для стрижки металла. (These shears are perfect for shearing metal.)

  These shears are perfect for shearing metal.

• В моем наборе инструментов есть большие ножницы для сада. (In my tool set, there are large shears for the garden.)

  In my tool set, there are large shears for the garden.

• Ножницы должны быть острыми, чтобы эффективно стричь. (The shears need to be sharp to shear effectively.)

  The shears need to be sharp to shear effectively.

• Я купил новые ножницы для стрижки волос. (I bought new shears for shearing hair.)

  I bought new shears for shearing hair.

• Эти ножницы используются в мастерской для точной стрижки. (These shears are used in the workshop for precise shearing.)

  These shears are used in the workshop for precise shearing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'стричь' (verb, imperfective): This is an irregular verb in the first conjugation group. It follows patterns for verbs ending in -чь, with variations in present tense.

Note: Past tense: стриг (masc.), стригла (fem.), стригли (plur.).

For 'срезать' (verb, perfective): Regular verb; infinitive: срезать; past: срезал, etc.

For 'ножницы' (noun, feminine plural, inanimate): This noun is always plural and does not change in nominative case. Genitive: ножниц, Dative: ножницам, etc. It is indeclinable in some contexts due to its plural-only nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for стричь: резать (to cut), подстригать (to trim)
• Synonyms for срезать: отрезать (to cut off)
• Synonyms for ножницы: кусачки (nippers)
• Antonyms for стричь: расти (to grow)
• Antonyms for срезать: прикреплять (to attach)

Related Phrases:

• стрижка овец - Sheep shearing; a common agricultural practice in rural Russia.
• срезать угол - To cut a corner; used metaphorically for taking shortcuts.
• ножницы для ткани - Fabric shears; essential for sewing and tailoring.

Usage Notes:

'Стричь' is the most direct translation for the verb 'to shear' in contexts like hair or wool, but it's informal; opt for 'срезать' in technical or precise situations. 'Ножницы' corresponds to 'shears' as a noun, but note that Russian often uses plural forms for tools. English speakers should be aware of aspect differences: 'стричь' is imperfective (ongoing action), while 'срезать' is perfective (completed action). Choose based on context to match natural Russian expression.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'стричь' interchangeably with 'срезать' without considering aspect. Incorrect: Я стриг ветку (implies ongoing, but might not fit). Correct: Я срезал ветку (for a completed action). Explanation: Russian verbs have perfective and imperfective pairs; mixing them can alter the meaning.
• Error: Treating 'ножницы' as singular. Incorrect: Эта ножница (wrong, as it's always plural). Correct: Эти ножницы. Explanation: 'Ножницы' is a plural-only noun, so always use plural agreements in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'стричь' is often associated with traditional practices like sheep shearing in rural areas, symbolizing preparation for winter. Additionally, hair shearing has historical connotations in folklore, where cutting hair might represent a rite of passage or loss, as seen in Russian fairy tales.

Related Concepts:

• волосы (hair)
• садоводство (gardening)
• инструменты (tools)