Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shut'

English Word: shut

Key Russian Translations:

• закрыть [zɐˈkrɨtʲ] - [Formal, General use for closing doors, windows, or objects]
• захлопнуть [zɐxlɐˈpnutʲ] - [Informal, Implies a forceful or sudden shutting, e.g., slamming a door]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and written Russian, especially in contexts involving actions with objects)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations, but the basic forms are straightforward for learners with basic Russian knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

закрыть: [zɐˈkrɨtʲ]

Note on закрыть: The stress falls on the second syllable ("kry"), which is a common feature in Russian perfective verbs. Be mindful of the soft 't' sound, represented by the palatalized 'tʲ'.

захлопнуть: [zɐxlɐˈpnutʲ]

Note on захлопнуть: Stress is on the third syllable ("pnut"), and the 'kh' sound is guttural, similar to the Scottish 'loch'. This verb often conveys emphasis or emotion.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To close something, e.g., a door or window (Primary meaning as a verb).

Translation(s) & Context:

• закрыть - Used in formal or neutral contexts, such as everyday instructions or descriptions; common in both spoken and written Russian.
• захлопнуть - Used in informal or expressive contexts, often implying speed or force; suitable for storytelling or emotional dialogue.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, закройте дверь, чтобы не было сквозняка. (Pozhaluysta, zakroyte dver', chtoby ne bylo skvozn'yaka.)

  Please shut the door to avoid a draft. (This example shows formal politeness in a household setting.)

• Он захлопнул окно от неожиданного шума. (On zakhlyopnul okno ot neozhidannogo shuma.)

  He shut the window because of the unexpected noise. (Illustrates an informal, reactive context with emphasis on suddenness.)

• Дети всегда забывают закрыть шкаф после игры. (Deti vsegda zabytayut zakryt' shkaf posle igry.)

  The children always forget to shut the closet after playing. (Demonstrates habitual action in a family or daily routine scenario.)

• Ветер так сильно захлопнул калитку, что все переполошились. (Veter tak sil'no zakhlyopnul kalitku, chto vse perepoloshilis'.)

  The wind shut the gate so forcefully that everyone got startled. (Shows usage in a narrative with environmental elements.)

• Я закрыл книгу и положил её на стол. (Ya zakryl knigu i polozhil yeyo na stol.)

  I shut the book and put it on the table. (Highlights the verb in a simple, everyday action involving objects.)

As an adjective, meaning closed (e.g., shut door).

Translation(s) & Context:

• закрытый - Used to describe something in a closed state; common in descriptive language.

Usage Examples:

• Дверь была закрытая, так что никто не мог войти. (Dver' byla zakrytaya, tak chto nikto ne mog voyti.)

  The door was shut, so no one could enter. (Adjectival use in a security or access context.)

• Закрытый магазин не принимает посетителей по вечерам. (Zakrytyy magazin ne prinimaet posetiteley po vecheram.)

  The shut store doesn't accept visitors in the evenings. (Shows commercial or business-related usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, with "закрыть" being a perfective verb and "захлопнуть" also perfective. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. "Закрыть" has imperfective counterparts like "закрывать" for ongoing actions. Below is a table for key inflections of "закрыть" (as an example; "захлопнуть" follows similar patterns but is less common).

For adjectives like "закрытый", it inflects by gender, number, and case: закрытый (masc.), закрытая (fem.), закрытое (neut.), закрытые (plur.). It remains unchanged in some fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Запереть (zaperet') - More specific to locking; used when security is implied.
  • Затворить (zatvorit') - Formal, often literary, for shutting gates or doors.
• Antonyms:
  • Открыть (otkryt') - To open.
  • Раскрыть (raskryt') - To uncover or open fully.

Related Phrases:

• Закрыть глаза (Zakryt' glaza) - To close one's eyes; often used metaphorically for ignoring something.
• Захлопнуть дверь перед носом (Zakhlyopnut' dver' pered nosom) - To slam the door in someone's face; implies rejection in social interactions.
• Закрытый клуб (Zakrytyy klub) - A shut or exclusive club; refers to members-only access in cultural contexts.

Usage Notes:

Russian translations of "shut" like "закрыть" are perfective verbs, focusing on the completion of an action, unlike English which can be more neutral. Choose "закрыть" for general, polite contexts and "захлопнуть" for informal or emphatic ones. Be aware of aspect: pair with imperfective forms (e.g., закрывать) for ongoing actions. In formal writing, "закрыть" aligns closely with English, but in spoken Russian, context dictates word choice to avoid sounding abrupt.

Common Errors:

• Mistaking aspect: Learners often use "закрыть" for ongoing actions, e.g., saying "Я закрыл дверь" when meaning "I am shutting the door." Correct: Use imperfective "закрывать" for ongoing processes. Error example: "Я закрыл дверь сейчас" (incorrect for present continuous); Correct: "Я закрываю дверь сейчас."
• Overusing "захлопнуть": Beginners might use it interchangeably with "закрыть," leading to unintended emphasis, e.g., "Захлопни окно" sounding rude. Correct: Opt for "Закрой окно" in neutral situations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "захлопнуть дверь" can symbolize abrupt endings or conflicts, often seen in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy). This reflects a broader emphasis on emotional expression in interpersonal interactions, where shutting something forcefully might indicate frustration or decisiveness.

Related Concepts:

• Открыть (otkryt')
• Затвор (zatvor)
• Дверь (dver')