Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sinew'

English Word: sinew

Key Russian Translations:

• сухожилие /sʊˈxɐʐɨlʲɪjɛ/ - [Formal, Anatomical contexts]
• мышца /ˈmɨʂt͡sə/ - [Informal, when emphasizing strength or muscle fibers]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in medical, anatomical, or literary contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and vocabulary related to biology, but not overly complex for learners at this level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сухожилие: /sʊˈxɐʐɨlʲɪjɛ/ (Note the stress on the third syllable; the 'ж' sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers—similar to the 's' in 'measure'.)

мышца: /ˈmɨʂt͡sə/ (Stress on the first syllable; the 'щ' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, akin to 'sh' in 'shesh'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in dialects.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A tough, fibrous tissue (tendon) that connects muscle to bone, often symbolizing strength or resilience.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сухожилие - Used in formal, scientific, or medical discussions about human anatomy.
• мышца - Applied in broader contexts, such as describing physical strength in everyday or metaphorical language.

Usage Examples:

• В человеческом теле сухожилия играют ключевую роль в движении.

  In the human body, sinews play a key role in movement.

• Его сухожилие было повреждено во время тренировки, что вызвало боль.

  His sinew was injured during the workout, causing pain.

• Мышцы и сухожилия спортсмена были в отличной форме после долгих тренировок.

  The athlete's muscles and sinews were in excellent shape after extensive training.

• В поэзии сухожилие часто метафорически обозначает внутреннюю силу человека.

  In poetry, sinew is often metaphorically used to denote a person's inner strength.

• Лекарь осмотрел мышцу, чтобы убедиться, что сухожилие не повреждено.

  The doctor examined the muscle to ensure the sinew was not damaged.

Meaning 2: Figurative sense, referring to the essential or strengthening part of something (e.g., in literature or rhetoric).

Translation(s) & Context:

• сухожилие - Used in metaphorical or literary contexts to imply core strength.

Usage Examples:

• Сухожилие нации — это её культура и традиции.

  The sinew of the nation is its culture and traditions.

• В этой книге сухожилие сюжета — конфликт между героями.

  In this book, the sinew of the plot is the conflict between the characters.

• Его речь обрела сухожилие благодаря эмоциональным примерам.

  His speech gained sinew through emotional examples.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. 'Сухожилие' is a neuter noun of the third declension, which follows standard patterns for Russian nouns. 'Мышца' is a feminine noun of the first declension. Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender.

Note: These forms are regular, but learners should be cautious with prepositional and genitive cases, as they often indicate possession or location.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • связка (svyazka) - Often used interchangeably in medical contexts, but more specific to ligaments.
  • волокно (volokno) - Refers to fibers, with a slight emphasis on material strength.
• Antonyms:
  • слабость (slabost') - Implies weakness, contrasting the strength aspect of sinew.

Related Phrases:

• Сухожилие руки (sinew of the hand) - Refers to the tendons in the hand; used in anatomical descriptions.
• Мышца и сухожилие (muscle and sinew) - A common phrase in fitness or health contexts, emphasizing physical structure.
• Крепкое сухожилие (strong sinew) - Idiomatic for resilience or durability in metaphorical use.

Usage Notes:

When translating 'sinew' to Russian, prefer 'сухожилие' for precise anatomical references, as it directly corresponds to the English term for tendons. 'Мышца' is better for broader discussions of muscle groups. Be mindful of context: in formal writing or medical scenarios, use the nominative case by default, but inflect according to sentence structure. English learners often confuse 'sinew' with 'muscle', so clarify that 'сухожилие' is more specific. In metaphorical uses, ensure the phrase fits the poetic or rhetorical tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'мышца' when 'сухожилие' is needed, e.g., saying "мышца" for a tendon injury instead of "сухожилие". Correct: Use "сухожилие повреждено" (sinew is damaged). Explanation: This confuses tendons with muscles; always check the exact anatomical term.

• Error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., using "сухожилие" in genitive as "сухожилие" instead of "сухожилия". Correct: "Боль в сухожилии" should be "Боль в сухожилии" in prepositional case. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers might overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, 'sinew' (translated as 'сухожилие') often symbolizes the unyielding strength of the human spirit or national resilience, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on endurance through hardship. This usage highlights cultural values of fortitude in the face of adversity.

Related Concepts:

• кости (bones)
• суставы (joints)
• сила (strength)