Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'subtract'

English Word: subtract

Key Russian Translations:

• вычитать /vɨˈtʃʲitətʲ/ - [Formal, Mathematical or technical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in educational, mathematical, and scientific discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic verb conjugation and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вычитать: /vɨˈtʃʲitətʲ/

Note on вычитать: The stress falls on the second syllable; the 'ы' sound can be challenging for English speakers, similar to a short 'i' in "bit". Be mindful of the soft 'тʲ' which affects the preceding vowel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To deduct or remove a quantity from another in mathematics or general contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вычитать - Used in formal or technical settings, such as calculations or accounting, to indicate subtraction of numbers or values.

Usage Examples:

• Чтобы вычесть 5 из 10, просто используйте формулу: 10 - 5 = 5.

  To subtract 5 from 10, simply use the formula: 10 - 5 = 5.

• В бухгалтерии мы всегда вычитаем расходы из доходов для расчёта прибыли.

  In accounting, we always subtract expenses from income to calculate profit.

• Учитель попросил учеников вычесть один угол из другого в геометрической задаче.

  The teacher asked the students to subtract one angle from another in the geometry problem.

• Если вы вычтете налог из зарплаты, вы увидите чистый доход.

  If you subtract the tax from your salary, you'll see the net income.

• В повседневной жизни люди часто вычитают проценты из суммы, чтобы понять скидку.

  In everyday life, people often subtract percentages from an amount to understand the discount.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

вычитать is a verb of the first conjugation in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns but has some irregularities in certain forms. It is an imperfective verb, often used for ongoing or repeated actions.

Note: The verb changes based on gender in the past tense (e.g., вычитал for masculine, вычитала for feminine). It remains regular in other aspects.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: отнимать (to take away, more general), вычитывать (to subtract repeatedly or in detail)
• Antonyms: прибавлять (to add), суммировать (to sum up)

Explanation: отнимать is a common synonym but can be used in broader contexts beyond math, while вычитывать implies a more iterative process.

Related Phrases:

• вычитать из суммы - Subtract from the amount (Used in financial contexts to deduct values.)
• вычитать проценты - Subtract percentages (Common in shopping or tax calculations.)
• вычитать время - Subtract time (For scheduling or timing adjustments.)

Usage Notes:

вычитать directly corresponds to the English "subtract" in mathematical and formal contexts, but it's less common in casual speech where simpler terms like отнять might be used. Always consider the context: use it for precise calculations in education or business. If the action is one-time, вычесть (perfective form) might be more appropriate. English learners should note that Russian verbs require aspect agreement, so pair it with imperfective constructions for ongoing actions.

• When choosing between translations, opt for вычитать in technical writing but отнимать in everyday dialogue.
• Grammar tip: It must agree with the subject in person, number, and gender in past tense.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing the imperfective (вычитать) with the perfective (вычесть), leading to incorrect aspect usage. For example, English speakers might say "Я вычитал сумму" when describing a completed action, which is correct, but they often forget to use вычесть for a finished subtraction: Incorrect: "Я вычитаю задачу сейчас" (implies ongoing); Correct: "Я вычту задачу сейчас" for a one-time action. Another error is mispronouncing the soft consonants, which can alter meaning—ensure the 'тʲ' is softened.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, mathematical precision like subtraction is emphasized in education from an early age, reflecting the historical importance of sciences in Soviet-era schooling. Terms like вычитать are neutral and don't carry strong cultural connotations, but they underscore Russia's emphasis on logical and analytical thinking in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• сложение (addition)
• умножение (multiplication)
• деление (division)