Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'traverse'

English Word: traverse

Key Russian Translations:

• проходить [prəˈxodʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, General, Informal]
• пересекать [pʲɪrʲɪˈsʲekətʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used for crossing paths or boundaries]

Frequency: Medium (Common in travel, navigation, and descriptive contexts, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage. For 'проходить', it's B1; for 'пересекать', it's B2 due to more specific applications)

Pronunciation (Russian):

проходить: [prəˈxodʲɪtʲ]

Note on проходить: The stress is on the second syllable; be cautious with the soft 'д' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the 'х' to a more guttural sound.

пересекать: [pʲɪrʲɪˈsʲekətʲ]

Note on пересекать: Stress on the third syllable; the 'с' is palatalized, making it sound like 'sʲ', which is a common feature in Russian verbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To travel across or through an area (e.g., as a verb in navigation or exploration)

Translation(s) & Context:

• проходить - Used in everyday contexts for passing through spaces, such as hiking or daily commutes.
• пересекать - Applied in more formal or literal scenarios, like crossing borders or lines.

Usage Examples:

• Мы проходим через лес, чтобы добраться до реки.

  We traverse through the forest to reach the river.

• Туристы пересекают горы пешком во время экспедиции.

  Tourists traverse the mountains on foot during the expedition.

• Он проходит долгий путь от дома до работы каждый день.

  He traverses a long path from home to work every day.

• Корабль пересекает океан под парусами.

  The ship traverses the ocean under sail.

Meaning 2: To cross or move over something, often metaphorically (e.g., in challenges or obstacles)

Translation(s) & Context:

• проходить - Informal, for overcoming personal or minor obstacles.
• пересекать - Formal, for significant crossings, like in sports or strategic contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Чтобы преуспеть, нужно проходить через трудности.

  To succeed, one must traverse through difficulties.

• Альпинисты пересекают пропасть с помощью верёвки.

  The climbers traverse the abyss using a rope.

• Она проходит экзамены с лёгкостью, как будто пересекает мост.

  She traverses exams with ease, as if crossing a bridge.

• Группа пересекает пустыню, борясь с жаждой.

  The group traverses the desert, fighting thirst.

• В повседневной жизни мы проходим множество мелких препятствий.

  In daily life, we traverse numerous minor obstacles.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'проходить' and 'пересекать' are Russian verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects; 'проходить' is imperfective, while a perfective counterpart like 'пройти' might be used for completed actions. 'Пересекать' is also imperfective, with 'пересечь' as its perfective form.

These verbs follow regular conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs in Russian. No irregular forms for these specific verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • обходить (obkhodit' - to go around; similar to traverse but implies circling)
  • миновать (minovat' - to pass by; less formal than пересекать)
• Antonyms:
  • останавливаться (ostanavlivat'sya - to stop)
  • избегать (izbegat' - to avoid)

Related Phrases:

• Проходить через испытания - Going through trials (Used in contexts of enduring challenges)
• Пересекать границу - Crossing the border (Common in travel or geopolitical discussions)
• Проходить путь - Traversing a path (Idiomatic for life's journey)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'проходить' is more versatile for everyday traversal, aligning closely with the general English 'traverse', while 'пересекать' is better for literal crossings, such as in geography or sports. Choose based on context: use 'проходить' for ongoing actions and 'пересекать' for decisive movements. Be mindful of aspect—imperfective for processes, perfective for completions. In formal writing, 'пересекать' might be preferred, but in casual speech, 'проходить' is more natural.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse the aspects, using 'проходить' for completed actions. Error: "Я пройти лес" (incorrect, as it's the infinitive). Correct: "Я прошел лес" (perfective past). Explanation: Russian requires aspect agreement; use perfective forms like 'пройти' for finished events.

• Mixing with similar verbs, e.g., saying 'переходить' instead of 'пересекать'. Error: "Я перехожу океан" (implies switching sides, not crossing). Correct: "Я пересекаю океан". Explanation: 'Переходить' means to cross over repeatedly or change, while 'пересекать' is for a single traverse.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'проходить через жизнь' (traversing through life) often evoke themes from literature, such as in Tolstoy's works, where journeys symbolize personal growth or existential struggles. This reflects Russia's vast landscapes, making traversal a metaphor for endurance and exploration in folklore and modern media.

Related Concepts:

• путешествовать (travel)
• исследовать (explore)
• двигаться (move)