Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'squeeze'

English Word: squeeze

Key Russian Translations:

• сжать [ˈsʐatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in physical or metaphorical contexts]
• сжатие [sʐɐˈtʲijə] - [Noun, Neutral, Refers to the act or state of compression]
• стиснуть [stʲɪˈsnutʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Often used for tighter or more intense squeezing]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in descriptions of physical actions or crowded situations)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic verb conjugations and noun declensions for accurate use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сжать: [ˈsʐatʲ]

сжатие: [sʐɐˈtʲijə]

стиснуть: [stʲɪˈsnutʲ]

Note on сжать: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure', which can be challenging for English speakers; stress on the first syllable.

Note on стиснуть: Pronounce with a soft 'т' before the 'и', and ensure the 'сн' cluster is crisp; common in more emphatic contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Verb: To press something firmly, especially from opposite sides.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сжать - Used in everyday physical contexts, such as squeezing an object or in metaphorical expressions like emotional pressure.
• стиснуть - Applied in more formal or intense scenarios, like squeezing tightly in a crowd or emotional restraint.

Usage Examples:

• Он сжал лимон, чтобы выжать сок. (He squeezed the lemon to extract the juice.)

  He squeezed the lemon to extract the juice. (Demonstrates basic transitive verb use in a literal context.)

• Девушка стиснула руку матери в моменте страха. (The girl squeezed her mother's hand in a moment of fear.)

  The girl squeezed her mother's hand in a moment of fear. (Shows emotional or metaphorical application.)

• В толпе люди сжали друг друга, чтобы не потеряться. (In the crowd, people squeezed each other to not get lost.)

  In the crowd, people squeezed each other to not get lost. (Illustrates use in crowded or spatial contexts.)

• Он стиснул зубы, выдерживая боль. (He squeezed his teeth together, enduring the pain.)

  He squeezed his teeth together, enduring the pain. (Emphasizes intensity in idiomatic expressions.)

Noun: An act of pressing or a state of being crowded.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сжатие - Refers to the physical act of compression, often in technical or scientific contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Сжатие воздуха в шинах важно для безопасности. (The squeezing of air in tires is important for safety.)

  The squeezing of air in tires is important for safety. (Used in technical or mechanical contexts.)

• В поезде было сжатие из-за переполненности. (There was a squeeze in the train due to overcrowding.)

  There was a squeeze in the train due to overcrowding. (Applies to crowded situations.)

• Медики изучили сжатие мышц во время упражнений. (Doctors studied the squeeze of muscles during exercises.)

  Doctors studied the squeeze of muscles during exercises. (Scientific or health-related usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like "сжать" and "стиснуть", these are imperfective verbs that follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. "Сжать" is often used in its perfective form. Nouns like "сжатие" are neuter and decline regularly.

Note: "Сжатие" is invariable in terms of gender but declines by case as shown. Verbs like "сжимать" are regular but may have spelling changes in certain forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • стиснуть (Similar to сжать but implies greater force; used in more dramatic contexts)
  • сдавить (To compress or crush, often with pressure from all sides)
• Antonyms:
  • ослабить (To loosen or relax)
  • разжать (To unclench or release)

Related Phrases:

• сжать в кулаке - (To clench in a fist; used metaphorically for holding onto something tightly, e.g., power or secrets)
• стиснуть зубы - (To grit one's teeth; implies enduring hardship or pain stoically)
• сжатие сердца - (Heart squeeze; a poetic expression for emotional pain or anxiety)

Usage Notes:

"Squeeze" corresponds most directly to "сжать" in casual, physical contexts, but "стиснуть" is preferred for formal or intense situations. Be mindful of the aspect in Russian verbs: use imperfective forms like "сжимать" for ongoing actions and perfective like "стиснуть" for completed ones. In crowded scenarios, "сжатие" can imply discomfort, which aligns with English idioms. When choosing between translations, consider the context's formality and intensity to avoid awkward phrasing.

• Grammar tip: Verbs must agree with subject in person, number, and gender in past tense.
• Context guide: In metaphorical uses, "сжать" is versatile, but always pair it with appropriate prepositions like "в" (in) for objects.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "сжать" with "сдавить", using "сдавить" when "сжать" is more appropriate for lighter pressure. For example:

• Error: *Он сдавил лимон для сока. (Incorrectly implies crushing.)
• Correct: Он сжал лимон для сока. (Proper for gentle squeezing.)
• Explanation: "Сдавить" suggests more damage, so use it only for stronger compression to maintain accuracy and nuance.
• Another error: Forgetting verb aspect, e.g., using perfective "стиснуть" for habitual actions, which should be imperfective.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "сжать в кулаке" often symbolize resilience or control in literature and proverbs, reflecting themes of endurance in harsh environments, such as those depicted in Russian folklore or Soviet-era stories. This can add emotional depth when translating English expressions of determination.

Related Concepts:

• давить (To press down)
• сжиматься (To contract)
• теснота (Crowdedness)