Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shrubbery'

English Word: shrubbery

Key Russian Translations:

• кустарник [kʊˈstarnʲɪk] - [Formal, Singular]
• заросли кустарников [zɐˈroslʲi kʊˈstarnʲɪkɐf] - [Informal, Plural, Used in descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in literature, gardening discussions, and everyday language about nature, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp basic noun forms, but understanding contextual usage may require familiarity with Russian declensions.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кустарник: [kʊˈstarnʲɪk]

заросли кустарников: [zɐˈroslʲi kʊˈstarnʲɪkɐf]

Note on кустарник: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A collection of shrubs or bushes, often in a garden or natural setting.

Translation(s) & Context:

• кустарник - Used in formal or botanical contexts to refer to a single shrub or small grouping, e.g., in landscaping descriptions.
• заросли кустарников - Applied in informal or narrative contexts for denser, wilder areas of shrubs.

Usage Examples:

• В саду растёт густой кустарник, который защищает дом от ветра.

  In the garden, a dense shrubbery grows, which protects the house from the wind.

• Мы прогуливались по парку, где заросли кустарников создавали тенистые аллеи.

  We walked through the park, where the shrubbery created shady alleys.

• Кустарник в нашем дворе нуждается в обрезке, чтобы лучше цвести весной.

  The shrubbery in our yard needs pruning to bloom better in the spring.

• Заросли кустарников вдоль реки предоставляют убежище для птиц и мелких животных.

  The shrubbery along the river provides shelter for birds and small animals.

• Дизайнер посадил кустарник вокруг фонтана, чтобы добавить естественности ландшафту.

  The designer planted shrubbery around the fountain to add naturalness to the landscape.

Secondary Meaning: Figurative or metaphorical use, e.g., referring to overgrown or neglected areas.

Translation(s) & Context:

• заросли кустарников - In metaphorical contexts, such as describing untamed or wild environments in literature.

Usage Examples:

• Его заброшенный сад превратился в заросли кустарников, символизирующие забытые воспоминания.

  His neglected garden turned into shrubbery, symbolizing forgotten memories.

• В старом районе города заросли кустарников скрывают забытые тропинки.

  In the old part of the city, shrubbery hides forgotten paths.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. "Кустарник" is a masculine noun (second declension), which follows regular patterns in Russian. It changes based on case, number, and gender. "Заросли кустарников" involves a plural form and can vary more complexly.

Note: "Заросли" is a plural-only noun and follows its own declension patterns, making it less flexible but common in descriptive phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • кусты (bushes; more general and informal)
  • заросли (overgrowth; emphasizes density)
• Antonyms:
  • лужайка (lawn; open, grassy area)
  • пустыня (desert; barren, lacking vegetation)

Synonyms like "кусты" are interchangeable in casual speech but may lack the specificity of "кустарник" in formal contexts.

Related Phrases:

• густой кустарник - Dense shrubbery; used to describe thick, protective growth.
• заросли вдоль дороги - Shrubbery along the road; common in travel or environmental descriptions.
• посадить кустарник - To plant shrubbery; a phrase for gardening activities, implying maintenance.

Usage Notes:

• Russian translations like "кустарник" directly correspond to the English "shrubbery" in botanical or landscaping contexts, but they are more precise in terms of gender and case, which English lacks. Always adjust for grammatical agreement in sentences.
• Use "заросли кустарников" for plural or wild settings to avoid sounding overly formal; it's ideal for narrative or poetic language.
• In spoken Russian, these words are common in rural or environmental discussions, but in urban contexts, opt for simpler synonyms to match the audience's familiarity.
• When choosing between translations, consider the number: "кустарник" for singular items and "кустарники" for multiples to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кустарник" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я видел кустарник" when it should be "Я видел кустарник" in accusative, but forgetting to change in prepositional phrases like "об кустарнике" instead of "о кустарнике".

Correct: "Я говорил о кустарнике" (I talked about the shrubbery). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement; beginners often overlook this, leading to confusion in prepositions.

• Error: Treating "заросли кустарников" as singular, e.g., using it without proper plural agreement. Correct: Avoid phrases like "эта заросли" (incorrect); use "эти заросли" for plural.

  Explanation: English speakers might not intuitively handle Russian's plural-only nouns, so practice declension tables to build accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, shrubbery like "кустарник" often appears in literature and folklore as symbols of resilience or hidden beauty, such as in stories by Chekhov where overgrown gardens represent neglected rural life. This reflects Russia's vast natural landscapes, where such vegetation is both practical (for privacy) and poetic (for evoking mystery).

Related Concepts:

• дерево (tree)
• цветник (flower bed)
• лес (forest)