Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'strew'

English Word: strew

Key Russian Translations:

• Разбрасывать [rəzˈbrɑsɨvətʲ] - [Informal; Used for scattering objects in a casual or widespread manner]
• Рассеивать [rəsˈsʲejɪvətʲ] - [Formal; Used in contexts involving dispersion, such as light or particles]
• Посыпать [pɐˈsɨpətʲ] - [Informal; Plural contexts, e.g., sprinkling multiple items]

Frequency: Medium - This verb is moderately common in everyday Russian, particularly in descriptive or narrative contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти" (to go).

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1/B2) - Learners at this level should grasp the basic conjugations, though the perfective/imperfective aspects may pose challenges for beginners. For "разбрасывать," it's B1; for "рассеивать," it's B2 due to more abstract usages.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Разбрасывать: [rəzˈbrɑsɨvətʲ]

Рассеивать: [rəsˈsʲejɪvətʲ]

Посыпать: [pɐˈsɨpətʲ]

Note on Разбрасывать: The stress falls on the second syllable, and the 'ы' sound can be tricky for English speakers as it's a back vowel not common in English; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To scatter or spread things loosely over a surface.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Разбрасывать - Used in informal settings for carelessly scattering objects, such as toys or leaves in a garden.
• Рассеивать - Applied in more formal or scientific contexts, like dispersing light or crowds.

Usage Examples:

• Она разбрасывала цветы по всей комнате, чтобы создать праздничную атмосферу.

  She strewed flowers all over the room to create a festive atmosphere.

• Ветер рассеивал листья по улице во время осенней прогулки.

  The wind strewed leaves along the street during the autumn walk.

• Дети посыпали конфетами торт, делая его еще ярче.

  The children strewed candies on the cake, making it even brighter.

• Фермер рассеивал семена по полю, надеясь на богатый урожай.

  The farmer strewed seeds across the field, hoping for a bountiful harvest.

• Во время ремонта рабочие разбрасывали инструменты, что создавало хаос.

  During the repair, the workers strewed tools around, creating chaos.

Secondary Meaning: To spread or distribute something abstractly, like ideas or confusion.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Рассеивать - Used metaphorically for dispersing intangible things, such as doubts or information.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь рассеивала страхи аудитории, объясняя сложные концепции просто.

  His speech strewed away the audience's fears by explaining complex concepts simply.

• Слухи начали рассеиваться по городу, сея панику.

  Rumors began to strew through the city, sowing panic.

• Учитель рассеивал знания среди учеников, используя интересные примеры.

  The teacher strewed knowledge among the students using engaging examples.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Разбрасывать" and "Рассеивать" are imperfective verbs, while "Посыпать" can be both imperfective and perfective ("Посыпать" vs. "Посыпать" in perfective form like "Посыпать"). Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects, and they inflect irregularly in some cases.

Note: These verbs do not change based on gender in the infinitive form but do in the past tense. They are regular in most aspects but require attention to vowel shifts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Распространять (rasprost ranyat') - More formal, implies wider distribution.
  • Бросать (brosat') - Informal, emphasizes throwing rather than scattering.
  • Разбрасывать - Similar to "strew," but can imply carelessness.
• Antonyms:
  • Собирать (sobirat') - To gather or collect.
  • Убирать (ubirat') - To clean up or tidy.

Related Phrases:

• Разбрасывать вещи по дому - To strew things around the house; often used in contexts of messiness.
• Рассеивать свет - To scatter light; refers to diffusing illumination in physics or everyday descriptions.
• Посыпать солью - To strew with salt; a common culinary phrase for seasoning food.

Usage Notes:

The English verb "strew" most closely aligns with "разбрасывать" for everyday scattering, but choose "рассеивать" for more abstract or formal contexts to match the precise nuance. Be mindful of the aspect in Russian: use imperfective for ongoing actions (e.g., "разбрасывать" for habitual strewing) and perfective forms like "разбросать" for completed actions. In informal speech, "разбрасывать" is preferred, but avoid it in professional settings where "рассеивать" might be more appropriate.

• Grammar tip: Always pair with prepositions like "по" (across) for spatial contexts, e.g., "разбрасывать по земле."
• Multiple translations: Opt for "посыпать" when dealing with granular substances, as it conveys a lighter, more controlled action.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the aspect, using imperfective when perfective is needed. For example, incorrectly saying "Я разбрасывал" (I was strewing) instead of "Я разбросал" (I have strewn) for a completed action. Correct usage: Error - "Он рассеивал страх всегда" (implying ongoing, but if meant as finished: Он рассеял страх). Explanation: Russian requires aspect agreement; check the context to select the right form to avoid ambiguity in tense.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like "разбрасывать" can evoke themes of chaos or abundance, as seen in folk tales where characters strew seeds or treasures, symbolizing generosity or disorder. This reflects the Russian literary tradition in works by authors like Pushkin, where scattering elements often represent fate or natural forces.

Related Concepts:

• Распределение (raspredeleniye)
• Беспорядок (besporyadok)
• Посев (posev)