Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'trample'

English Word: trample

Key Russian Translations:

• топтать [ˈtopətʲ] - [Informal, Verb; commonly used in everyday contexts]
• попирать [pɐˈpʲirətʲ] - [Formal, Verb; used in literary or official contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in general conversation and literature, but not as common as basic verbs like "идти" or "говорить".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and basic verb aspect in Russian, which can vary by translation.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

топтать: [ˈtopətʲ] (Stress on the first syllable; the "т" is pronounced softly as in "table".)

попирать: [pɐˈpʲirətʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; note the palatalized "пʲ" sound, which is a common feature in Russian verbs.)

Note on топтать: This verb has a rolling "р" in some regional accents, but standard pronunciation uses a clear [r]. Be cautious with the imperfective aspect in speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To step on or crush something heavily underfoot (Verb, literal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• топтать - Used in informal settings, such as describing someone walking over grass or trampling in a crowd.
• попирать - Applied in more formal or metaphorical contexts, like trampling rights or ideas.

Usage Examples:

• Он топчет траву в парке. (He is trampling the grass in the park.)

  Translation: He is trampling the grass in the park. (This example shows the verb in present tense, imperfective aspect, in a casual outdoor scenario.)

• Дети топтали цветы во дворе. (The children were trampling the flowers in the yard.)

  Translation: The children were trampling the flowers in the yard. (Illustrates plural subject and past tense usage in a domestic context.)

• В толпе люди попирают чужие границы. (In the crowd, people are trampling on others' boundaries.)

  Translation: In the crowd, people are trampling on others' boundaries. (This uses the formal verb in a metaphorical sense, highlighting social interactions.)

• Не топчи грязь на ковре! (Don't trample mud on the carpet!)

  Translation: Don't trample mud on the carpet! (Demonstrates imperative form for commands in everyday life.)

• Солдаты попирали землю во время марша. (The soldiers were trampling the ground during the march.)

  Translation: The soldiers were trampling the ground during the march. (Shows the verb in a historical or military context with past tense.)

2. To treat something with contempt or disregard (Verb, figurative sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• попирать - Often used in formal writing or speeches to describe trampling on rights or traditions.
• топтать - Less common in this sense but can be used informally for emotional disregard.

Usage Examples:

• Тираны попирают права людей. (Tyrants trample on people's rights.)

  Translation: Tyrants trample on people's rights. (This example uses the verb in a political context with direct object.)

• Он топчет чужие чувства. (He tramples on others' feelings.)

  Translation: He tramples on others' feelings. (Illustrates informal usage in interpersonal relationships.)

• Война попирает человеческие ценности. (War tramples on human values.)

  Translation: War tramples on human values. (Shows the verb with abstract nouns in a broader thematic context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "топтать" (an imperfective verb), it follows standard first-conjugation patterns with variations for aspect, tense, and person. "Попирать" is also imperfective and conjugates similarly.

Both verbs are irregular in some aspects due to Russian's aspect system; they do not have perfective forms without prefixes (e.g., "потоптать" for a completed action). Nouns related to "trample" like "топот" (trampling sound) are invariable in gender but inflect for case and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • давить (davit' - to press or crush; more forceful, often used for physical pressure)
  • затаптывать (zataptyvat' - to trample down; implies covering or extinguishing)
• Antonyms:
  • уважать (uvazhat' - to respect; opposite in figurative senses)
  • щадить (shchadit' - to spare or avoid harming)

Related Phrases:

• топтать ногами - (To trample with feet; used for literal physical actions, e.g., in protests.)
• попирать традиции - (To trample on traditions; a common phrase in cultural or historical discussions.)
• топтать по головам - (To trample over heads; metaphorical for being ruthless in achieving goals.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "топтать" is more colloquial and directly corresponds to the everyday use of "trample" in English, while "попирать" aligns with formal or abstract contexts. Always consider the aspect: use imperfective for ongoing actions and add prefixes for perfective forms (e.g., "потоптать" for a completed trample). In spoken language, "топтать" might be preferred in informal settings, but "попирать" is better for written essays. When choosing between translations, opt for "топтать" if the context is physical and "попирать" if it's metaphorical, to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "топтать" in formal writing, e.g., saying "Он топчет права" instead of "Он попирает права".
  Correct: "Он попирает права" (He tramples on rights). Explanation: "Топтать" sounds too casual for abstract concepts, leading to a mismatch in tone.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb aspect, e.g., using "топтать" for a completed action without a prefix.
  Correct: Use "потоптать" for "to have trampled". Explanation: Russian verbs require aspect specification, which English learners often overlook, resulting in unclear tense usage.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "попирать традиции" often appear in discussions of historical events, such as revolutions or social changes, reflecting a deep-seated value for tradition and respect for heritage. This can evoke strong emotions, as trampling on cultural norms is seen as a serious transgression in literature and media.

Related Concepts:

• давление (davleniye - pressure)
• унижение (unizheniye - humiliation)
• топот (topot - trampling sound)