Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'take'

English Word: take

Key Russian Translations:

• взять [vzʲatʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Perfective aspect; used for completed actions]
• брать [braʲtʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective aspect; used for ongoing or habitual actions]
• взимать [vzʲɪˈmatʲ] - [Formal, Specific to taking payments or fees]

Frequency: High - 'Take' is a common verb in everyday English and has frequent equivalents in Russian conversations.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - The verb forms involve aspectual distinctions (perfective vs. imperfective), which can be challenging for learners; for 'взять' and 'брать', the difficulty is similar, but mastering inflections requires practice.

Pronunciation (Russian):

взять: [vzʲatʲ]

брать: [braʲtʲ]

взимать: [vzʲɪˈmatʲ]

Note on взять: The initial 'вз' sound is a voiceless labiodental fricative followed by a palatalized 'з', which can be tricky for English speakers; it softens in fast speech.

Note on брать: The 'р' is a trilled 'r', common in Russian; practice with native audio to master the rolling sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To take (physically or literally)

Translation(s) & Context:

• взять - Used in contexts of physically seizing or accepting something, such as taking an object; common in everyday informal speech.
• брать - Used for ongoing actions, like repeatedly taking items; suitable in narratives or descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Я взял книгу с полки. (Ya vzyal knigu s polki.)

  I took the book from the shelf. (Shows a completed action in a simple context.)

• Он всегда берёт такси в дождь. (On vsegda berët taksi v dozh'.)

  He always takes a taxi in the rain. (Illustrates habitual action with imperfective aspect.)

• Дети взяли игрушки и ушли играть. (Deti vzyali igrushki i ushli igrat'.)

  The children took the toys and went to play. (Demonstrates plural subject and action sequence.)

• Она берёт сумку каждый день. (Ona berët sumku kazhdyy den'.)

  She takes her bag every day. (Emphasizes routine in daily life.)

• Мы взяли билеты на поезд заранее. (My vzyali bilety na poezd zaranee.)

  We took the tickets for the train in advance. (Context of planning and formal action.)

To take (in the sense of consuming or enduring)

Translation(s) & Context:

• взимать - Used specifically for taking fees or payments, e.g., in business; formal and administrative contexts.
• брать - For enduring or accepting, like taking criticism; informal in emotional scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Магазин взимает плату за доставку. (Magazin vzimaet plat'u za dostavku.)

  The store charges a fee for delivery. (Formal context involving financial transactions.)

• Он берёт критику близко к сердцу. (On berët kritik'u blizko k serdtsu.)

  He takes criticism to heart. (Emotional context, showing personal impact.)

• Я взяла на себя ответственность. (Ya vzyala na sebya otvetstvennost'.)

  I took on the responsibility. (Illustrates assuming a role or burden.)

• Они берут время, чтобы обдумать решение. (Oni berut vremya, chtoby obdumavat' resheniye.)

  They take time to think through the decision. (Ongoing process in decision-making.)

• Взимать налог – это обязанность государства. (Vzimat' nalog – eto obyazannost' gosudarstva.)

  Taking taxes is the state's duty. (Formal, institutional usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'взять' and 'брать', these are verbs with aspectual pairs in Russian. 'Взять' is perfective, while 'брать' is imperfective. Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, person, number, and gender. Below is a table for key inflections:

'Взимать' follows a similar pattern as an imperfective verb and does not have irregularities. These verbs are conjugated regularly based on Russian conjugation classes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • захватить (zahvatit') - Similar to 'take' in forceful contexts; implies seizing.
  • получить (poluchit') - For receiving or taking possession; often interchangeable in formal settings.
• Antonyms:
  • отдать (otdat') - To give away or return.
  • оставить (ostavit') - To leave or abandon.

Related Phrases:

• взять на руки (vzyat' na ruki) - To take in one's arms; used for holding a child or object gently.
• брать на заметку (brat' na zametku) - To take note of; implies remembering for future reference.
• взимать плату (vzimat' plat'u) - To charge a fee; common in commercial contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, the choice between 'взять' (perfective) and 'брать' (imperfective) depends on whether the action is completed or ongoing, unlike English 'take' which doesn't always distinguish aspects. For formal contexts, 'взимать' is preferred for financial matters. English learners should note gender agreement in past tense forms and avoid direct word-for-word translations; always consider the verb's aspect to match the sentence's intent.

• Use 'взять' for one-time actions, e.g., in instructions or narratives.
• Grammar tip: Russian verbs often require prepositions that English doesn't, such as 'взять с собой' for 'take with you'.

Common Errors:

• Confusing perfective and imperfective aspects: English speakers might use 'взять' for ongoing actions, e.g., saying "Я взял еду каждый день" (incorrect for habit) instead of "Я беру еду каждый день" (correct). Explanation: Russian requires the imperfective for repeated actions to convey habituality.
• Overlooking gender in past tense: Saying "Она взял" (incorrect) instead of "Она взяла". Correct form: Always match the past tense ending to the subject's gender.
• Misusing in formal contexts: Using 'брать' in official documents where 'взимать' is needed, e.g., "Мы берем налог" instead of "Мы взимаем налог". This can sound informal or imprecise.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'взять на руки' (to take in arms) often carry emotional weight, such as in family settings, reflecting the value placed on physical affection and care. However, 'take' equivalents like 'взять' in bureaucratic contexts (e.g., taking bribes) can evoke historical sensitivities around corruption, stemming from Soviet-era practices.

Related Concepts:

• дать (dat') - To give
• получить (poluchit') - To receive
• захватить (zahvatit') - To seize or capture