Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'squirm'

English Word: squirm

Key Russian Translations:

• извиваться /ɪzˈvʲi.və.t͡sə/ - [Informal, often used for twisting or wriggling movements due to discomfort or embarrassment]
• корчиться /kɐrˈt͡ɕi.t͡sə/ - [Informal, typically implies more intense, painful writhing]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations about physical reactions, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти" – to go)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2 on CEFR scale; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context-specific usage; for 'извиваться', B1; for 'корчиться', B2 due to its emotional nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

извиваться: /ɪzˈvʲi.və.t͡sə/

Note on извиваться: The stress is on the second syllable; be cautious with the palatalized 'в' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the ending.

корчиться: /kɐrˈt͡ɕi.t͡sə/

Note on корчиться: Pronounce the 'ч' as a soft, palatal affricate; this word often conveys intensity, so practice with native audio for emotional inflection.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To wriggle, twist, or move the body in an uncomfortable or embarrassed way

Translation(s) & Context:

• извиваться - Used in casual contexts to describe fidgeting or squirming due to awkwardness, e.g., in social situations.
• корчиться - Applied in contexts involving physical pain or extreme discomfort, such as injury or emotional distress.

Usage Examples:

• Он извивается на стуле во время неловкой беседы. (He squirms in his chair during an awkward conversation.)

  English: He squirms in his chair during an awkward conversation.

• Дети извиваются от нетерпения, ожидая подарков. (The children squirm with impatience while waiting for gifts.)

  English: The children squirm with impatience while waiting for gifts. This shows the verb in a playful, informal context.

• Она корчится от боли в спине после долгого дня. (She squirms in pain from her back after a long day.)

  English: She squirms in pain from her back after a long day. Here, it highlights physical discomfort.

• Мужчина извивается, пытаясь выбраться из толпы. (The man squirms, trying to get out of the crowd.)

  English: The man squirms, trying to get out of the crowd. Demonstrates usage in a crowded or confined space.

• Ребёнок корчится на кровати, страдая от жара. (The child squirms on the bed, suffering from fever.)

  English: The child squirms on the bed, suffering from fever. This example varies the structure to show imperative or descriptive forms.

Secondary Meaning: Figurative use, e.g., to feel uneasy or shift uncomfortably in a metaphorical sense

Translation(s) & Context:

• извиваться - In figurative contexts, like squirming under scrutiny, often in informal or literary Russian.

Usage Examples:

• Под его взглядом она невольно извивается. (Under his gaze, she involuntarily squirms.)

  English: Under his gaze, she involuntarily squirms. This illustrates emotional unease.

• Аудитория извивается, слыша критику. (The audience squirms upon hearing the criticism.)

  English: The audience squirms upon hearing the criticism. Shows group dynamics.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'извиваться' and 'корчиться' are reflexive verbs (ending in '-ся'), which are common in Russian for actions affecting the subject. They follow imperfective aspect patterns and conjugate irregularly in some forms. Below is a table for key inflections:

Note: These verbs do not change in the infinitive form and are invariant in some aspects, but always require the reflexive particle '-ся' for correct usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вертеться (/vʲɪrˈtʲe.t͡sə/) - Similar to squirming but more about spinning or fidgeting; often used interchangeably in casual contexts.
  • крутиться (/kruˈtʲi.t͡sə/) - Implies rotating or twisting, with a slight emphasis on circular motion.
• Antonyms:
  • замереть (/zəˈmʲe.rʲɪtʲ/) - To freeze or become still, contrasting the movement of squirming.
  • успокоиться (/uˈspɐ.kɐ.ɪ.t͡sə/) - To calm down or settle, indicating the opposite of restless wriggling.

Related Phrases:

• Извиваться от стыда - (To squirm with shame; used in contexts of embarrassment or guilt.)
• Корчиться от боли - (To writhe in pain; common in medical or emotional descriptions.)
• Извиваться в объятиях - (To squirm in an embrace; implies discomfort in close physical contact.)

Usage Notes:

'Squirm' corresponds closely to 'извиваться' for everyday awkwardness and 'корчиться' for more intense discomfort. In Russian, these verbs are often used in informal settings; choose 'извиваться' for lighter contexts and 'корчиться' for dramatic ones. Be mindful of the reflexive '-ся' ending, which is essential for the verb's meaning. Grammar note: These are imperfective verbs, so they describe ongoing actions rather than completed ones.

• When translating from English, consider the emotional intensity; overuse of 'корчиться' might exaggerate the situation.
• In formal writing, opt for descriptive phrases if these verbs feel too colloquial.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget the reflexive '-ся' particle, e.g., saying 'извивать' instead of 'извиваться', which changes the meaning to 'to twist something else'. Correct usage: Always include '-ся' for self-referential actions.

• Error: Using 'корчиться' for minor discomfort, e.g., "Я корчусь от голода" (incorrectly implying extreme pain).
  Correct: "Я извиваюсь от голода" (more appropriate for fidgeting hunger).
  Explanation: 'Корчиться' connotes severe agony, so reserve it for intense scenarios to avoid overstating.
• Error: Confusing with non-reflexive verbs like 'крутить', leading to incorrect sentences.
  Correct: Use the full reflexive form in conjugations.
  Explanation: This mistake alters the verb's intransitive nature.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'извиваться' and 'корчиться' often appear in literature and films to depict emotional repression or physical endurance, such as in works by Dostoevsky, where characters 'squirm' under moral dilemmas. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on expressing inner turmoil through physical metaphors.

Related Concepts:

• тревога (trevoga) - Anxiety, often leading to squirming behaviors.
• беспокойство (bespokojstvo) - Restlessness, a state that might cause one to squirm.
• движение (dvizhenie) - Movement, as a broader category encompassing squirming actions.