Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'smash'

English Word: smash

Key Russian Translations:

• разбить [rɐzˈbʲitʲ] - [Informal, Verb; Used for breaking something with force]
• удар [uˈdar] - [Formal, Noun; Refers to a forceful impact or collision]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations, especially in contexts like sports or accidents, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'to go').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but verb conjugations may require practice. For 'удар' as a noun, it's A2 for beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разбить: [rɐzˈbʲitʲ]

удар: [uˈdar]

Note on разбить: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'b' sound is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers. A soft 'b' similar to 'by' in 'beyond'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Verb: To break something with force

Translation(s) & Context:

• разбить - Used in informal or everyday contexts, such as accidentally breaking an object; common in spoken language.

Usage Examples:

• Я случайно разбил окно. (Ya sluchayno razbil okno.)

  I accidentally smashed the window.

• Дети разбили вазу во время игры. (Deti razbili vazu vo vremya igry.)

  The children smashed the vase while playing.

• Взрыв разбил все стекла в доме. (Vzryv razbil vse stekla v dome.)

  The explosion smashed all the windows in the house.

• Он разбил телефон, упав на него. (On razbil telefon, upav na nego.)

  He smashed his phone by falling on it.

Noun: A forceful impact or collision

Translation(s) & Context:

• удар - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as in sports (e.g., tennis smash) or accidents; more neutral and precise.

Usage Examples:

• Его удар был слишком сильным. (Yego udar byl slishkom sil'nym.)

  His smash was too powerful.

• В теннисе важна точность удара. (V tennise vazhna tochnost' udara.)

  In tennis, the accuracy of the smash is crucial.

• Автомобильный удар повредил машину. (Avtomobil'nyy udar povredil mashinu.)

  The car smash damaged the vehicle.

• Этот удар эхом разнёсся по залу. (Etot udar ekhom raznyosya po zalu.)

  That smash echoed through the hall.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'разбить' (a verb, imperfective aspect), it follows the standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. It is irregular in some forms due to its perfective nature. Below is a basic conjugation table for present tense (as an imperfective verb, but 'разбить' is perfective; its imperfective counterpart is 'разбивать').

For 'удар' (a masculine noun, 2nd declension), it has standard noun inflections:

Note: 'удар' is invariable in gender and does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • разбить: ломать (lamat') - Similar but implies breaking into pieces; often used interchangeably in casual speech.
  • удар: толчок (tolchok) - A push or jolt; used in physical contexts like accidents.
• Antonyms:
  • разбить: собрать (sobrati) - To assemble or put together, opposite of breaking.
  • удар: защита (zashchita) - Protection or defense, contrasting a forceful impact.

Related Phrases:

• Разбить сердце - A phrase meaning "to break someone's heart"; used in emotional contexts.
• Удар молнии - "Lightning strike"; refers to a sudden, powerful event in weather or metaphorically.
• Нанести удар - "To deliver a blow"; common in sports or confrontations, implying a strategic smash.

Usage Notes:

'Разбить' is a perfective verb, ideal for completed actions, while its imperfective form 'разбивать' is for ongoing processes. English speakers should note that Russian verbs often require aspect choice based on context. For 'удар', it's a neutral noun but can carry intensity in sports like tennis. Choose 'разбить' for informal smashing and 'удар' for formal impacts; avoid direct translation without considering Russian aspect and case systems.

Common Errors:

• Confusing verb aspects: Learners might use 'разбить' for ongoing actions, e.g., saying "Я разбиваю окно" when meaning "I am smashing the window" (correct: "Я разбиваю окно" for imperfective, but for perfective, use for completed: Incorrect: "Я разобью окно сейчас" vs. Correct: "Я разбиваю окно" for ongoing). Explanation: Russian requires aspect distinction; use imperfective for descriptions.
• Misdeclining nouns: Saying "удара" in nominative case instead of genitive, e.g., "У меня удар" (wrong; should be "У меня есть удар" for possession). Correct: Use proper case like genitive for possession.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'разбить сердце' are common in literature and music, reflecting emotional depth in relationships, similar to English idioms. 'Удар' in sports contexts, like in hockey or tennis, ties into Russia's sporting heritage, such as in Soviet-era athletics, where precision and force were emphasized.

Related Concepts:

• Ломать (lamat') - To break.
• Столкновение (stolknoveniye) - Collision.
• Разрушение (razrusheniye) - Destruction.