Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shrug'

English Word: shrug

Key Russian Translations:

• пожимать плечами [IPA: pɐʐɨˈmatʲ ˈpʲɪʂəmə] - [Informal, Used to express indifference or uncertainty]
• пожатие [IPA: pɐˈʐatʲɪje] - [Formal, Noun form referring to the act of shrugging]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations but not as frequent as basic verbs like "say" or "go")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, according to CEFR; involves understanding idiomatic expressions and verb phrases, though basic forms are straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пожимать плечами: [IPA: pɐʐɨˈmatʲ ˈpʲɪʂəmə] (Stress on the second syllable of each word; the "ж" sound is a soft palatal fricative, similar to the "s" in "measure")

Note on пожимать плечами: This phrase can vary slightly in regional accents, such as in Southern Russia where the "р" might be rolled more prominently. Pay attention to the soft "ж" to avoid confusing it with "ш".

Audio: []

пожатие: [IPA: pɐˈʐatʲɪje] (Stress on the second syllable; the ending "ие" is pronounced as a soft "ye" sound)

Note on пожатие: As a noun, it maintains a neutral tone; learners often struggle with the soft consonants in Russian nouns.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a verb, to raise and lower the shoulders to express indifference, uncertainty, or dismissal.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пожимать плечами - Used in informal conversations to show a casual response, e.g., in everyday dialogues or storytelling.

Usage Examples:

• Он пожал плечами, когда его спросили о планах на вечер. (He shrugged when asked about his plans for the evening.)

  Translation: He shrugged when asked about his plans for the evening. (This example shows the verb in a simple past context, highlighting indifference.)

• Девушка пожимала плечами на каждое предложение, показывая, что ей все равно. (The girl was shrugging at every suggestion, showing that she didn't care.)

  Translation: The girl was shrugging at every suggestion, showing that she didn't care. (Demonstrates the verb in a continuous form for ongoing action.)

• В ответ на вопрос, он просто пожал плечами и улыбнулся. (In response to the question, he just shrugged and smiled.)

  Translation: In response to the question, he just shrugged and smiled. (Illustrates use in social interactions.)

• Когда разговор стал неловким, все начали пожимать плечами. (When the conversation became awkward, everyone started shrugging.)

  Translation: When the conversation became awkward, everyone started shrugging. (Shows plural or group context.)

Meaning 2: As a noun, a gesture or physical movement of shrugging the shoulders.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пожатие - Used in more formal or descriptive contexts, such as in literature or psychological discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Его пожатие плечами говорило больше, чем слова. (His shrug spoke more than words.)

  Translation: His shrug spoke more than words. (This highlights the noun in a metaphorical sense.)

• В жестах общения пожатие часто означает сомнение. (In gestures of communication, a shrug often means doubt.)

  Translation: In gestures of communication, a shrug often means doubt. (Demonstrates use in a broader cultural or analytical context.)

• Пожатие в этом фильме стало символом безразличия. (The shrug in this film became a symbol of indifference.)

  Translation: The shrug in this film became a symbol of indifference. (Shows noun usage in artistic or narrative settings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "пожимать плечами", this is a verb phrase. "Пожимать" is an imperfective verb (from the root "пожать"), and it follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. It is irregular in some aspects due to its reflexive nature when combined with "плечами".

For "пожатие", this is a neuter noun in the singular nominative case. It follows the standard second declension pattern and is invariable in gender but changes by case and number:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • махнуть рукой (mahnut' rukoj) - A dismissive gesture, often implying rejection; used in similar contexts of indifference.
  • вздохнуть (vzdohnut') - To sigh, conveying a similar sense of resignation but more verbal.
• Antonyms:
  • кивнуть (kivnut') - To nod, indicating agreement or affirmation.
  • жестикулировать активно (zhestikulyirovat' aktivno) - To gesture actively, showing enthusiasm or engagement.

Related Phrases:

• Пожать плечами в ответ (Pojat plechami v otvet) - Meaning: To shrug in response; used in dialogues to show non-verbal communication.
• Пожатие как знак безразличия (Pojatie kak znak bezrazlichiya) - Meaning: A shrug as a sign of indifference; common in psychological or social contexts.
• Махнуть плечами и уйти (Makhnut plechami i ujti) - Meaning: To shrug and walk away; a fixed expression for dismissing a situation.

Usage Notes:

"Пожимать плечами" directly corresponds to the English "to shrug" as a physical gesture, but it's more idiomatic in Russian and often implies emotional states like apathy or confusion. Use it in informal settings; for formal writing, opt for "пожатие" as a noun. Be mindful of verb aspect: the imperfective "пожимать" is for ongoing actions, while the perfective "пожать" might be used for completed ones. When choosing between translations, "пожимать плечами" is preferable for verbs, while "пожатие" fits nouns; always consider context to avoid literal translations that sound unnatural.

Common Errors:

• Error: Learners often translate "shrug" directly as "плечи пожимать" (incorrect word order), which sounds awkward in Russian.

  Correct: Use "пожимать плечами" instead. Explanation: Russian requires the verb before the object in such phrases for natural flow.

• Error: Confusing it with "вздохнуть" (to sigh), leading to misuse in contexts where a physical gesture is needed.

  Correct: Stick to "пожимать плечами" for shrugging. Explanation: "Вздохнуть" is more auditory, while "пожимать плечами" is visual; mixing them can alter the intended meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, a shrug like "пожимать плечами" is often seen as a sign of modesty or reluctance to commit, especially in social interactions. It can stem from historical influences like Soviet-era communication styles, where overt expressions were discouraged. Unlike in some Western cultures, it might be interpreted as politeness rather than rudeness.

Related Concepts:

• жестикуляция (zhestikulyatsiya) - Gesturing in general.
• выражение лица (vyrazhenie litsa) - Facial expressions.
• невербальное общение (neverbalnoye obshcheniye) - Non-verbal communication.