Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'try'

English Word: try

Key Russian Translations:

• попробовать [pə.prɐ.'ba.vətʲ] - [Informal, Used for one-time attempts or tasting]
• пытаться [pɨ.'tatʲ.sə] - [Formal, Used for ongoing or repeated efforts]
• стараться [sta.'rat͡sə] - [Informal, Implies effort and persistence]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday conversation and written Russian)

Difficulty: B1 for 'попробовать' (Intermediate, as it involves basic verb conjugation); B2 for 'пытаться' (Upper Intermediate, due to imperfective aspect nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

попробовать: [pə.prɐ.'ba.vətʲ]

пытаться: [pɨ.'tatʲ.sə]

стараться: [sta.'rat͡sə]

Note on попробовать: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ba'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to vowel reduction in unstressed positions.

Note on пытаться: The 'ы' sound is a unique Russian vowel, similar to a tense 'i' in English, and the verb often requires the imperfective aspect for ongoing actions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To attempt to do something for the first time or experimentally.

Translation(s) & Context:

• попробовать - Typically used in contexts involving tasting, testing, or a single attempt, such as in casual daily life or cooking scenarios.
• пытаться - Used when the attempt is repeated or part of a process, often in more formal or narrative contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я попробую приготовить этот рецепт сегодня вечером.

  I will try to cook this recipe tonight.

• Она пытается выучить новый язык, несмотря на трудности.

  She is trying to learn a new language despite the difficulties.

• Давай попробуем пойти в этот ресторан; я слышал, там вкусно.

  Let's try going to this restaurant; I've heard it's delicious.

• Он старается улучшить свои навыки, но прогресс медленный.

  He is trying to improve his skills, but the progress is slow.

• Мы попробовали новый маршрут, но он оказался слишком длинным.

  We tried a new route, but it turned out to be too long.

2. To make an effort to achieve something (more persistent sense).

Translation(s) & Context:

• стараться - Best for contexts emphasizing ongoing effort, such as in education or personal development, often with emotional connotation.
• пытаться - Suitable for formal descriptions of attempts in challenging situations.

Usage Examples:

• Дети стараются сделать уроки вовремя.

  The children are trying to do their homework on time.

• Она пытается найти работу в большом городе.

  She is trying to find a job in the big city.

• Мы стараемся поддерживать здоровый образ жизни.

  We are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Он пытается изменить свою привычку, но это трудно.

  He is trying to change his habit, but it's difficult.

• Студенты стараются понять сложный материал.

  The students are trying to understand the complex material.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'попробовать' is a perfective verb (indicating completion), while 'пытаться' and 'стараться' are imperfective (indicating ongoing action).

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms but follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'попробовать' is invariant in its base form but changes with gender and number in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • испытывать (to test or experience) - Often used in scientific or emotional contexts, with a nuance of deeper involvement.
  • делать попытку (to make an attempt) - More literal and formal, emphasizing action over emotion.
• Antonyms:
  • избегать (to avoid) - Implies steering clear of an action entirely.
  • отказываться (to refuse) - Used when rejecting an attempt outright.

Related Phrases:

• попробовать удачу - To try one's luck; often used in gambling or risky situations.
• пытаться вникнуть - To try to understand deeply; common in educational or professional contexts.
• стараться изо всех сил - To try one's best; emphasizes maximum effort in challenging scenarios.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'try' doesn't have a direct one-to-one equivalent, so selection depends on context: use 'попробовать' for quick, experimental tries (e.g., tasting food), 'пытаться' for persistent efforts (e.g., solving a problem), and 'стараться' for emotional or determined attempts. Be mindful of aspect: perfective verbs like 'попробовать' focus on completion, while imperfective ones like 'пытаться' describe processes. In formal writing, opt for 'пытаться' to convey ongoing action, and in casual speech, 'попробовать' is more natural. Grammar note: These verbs require the infinitive or conjugated forms based on subject agreement.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'попробовать' for ongoing actions, e.g., saying "Я попытаюсь каждый день" instead of "Я буду пытаться каждый день." Correct: 'попробовать' is perfective and not suitable for repeated actions; use 'пытаться' for imperfective continuity. Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian verb aspects, leading to tense mismatches.

• Error: Confusing stress patterns, e.g., mispronouncing 'попробовать' with stress on the wrong syllable. Correct: Stress on 'ba' as [pə.prɐ.'ba.vətʲ]. Explanation: This can alter meaning or make the word sound unnatural to native speakers.

• Error: Overusing 'стараться' in neutral contexts, e.g., "Я стараюсь есть" instead of "Я пытаюсь есть." Correct: 'стараться' implies emotional effort; use 'пытаться' for straightforward attempts. Explanation: This can make the sentence sound overly dramatic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of 'trying' often ties to resilience and perseverance, influenced by historical contexts like the Soviet era's emphasis on effort in adversity. Phrases like 'попробовать удачу' reflect a cultural acceptance of risk-taking, as seen in folklore and modern media, where attempting new things is celebrated despite potential failure.

Related Concepts:

• успех (success)
• провал (failure)
• усилие (effort)