Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'uncover'

English Word: uncover

Key Russian Translations:

• открывать /ɐtˈkrɨvətʲ/ - [Informal, Everyday use]
• раскрывать /rɐˈskrɨvətʲ/ - [Formal, Often in contexts involving secrets or investigations]

Frequency: Medium (Common in both spoken and written Russian, especially in narrative or descriptive contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for "открывать"; B2 for "раскрывать", as it involves more nuanced contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

открывать: /ɐtˈkrɨvətʲ/

Note on открывать: The stress falls on the second syllable ("krɨ"). This verb is a first-conjugation verb, and the 'в' sound can soften in fast speech.

Audio: []

раскрывать: /rɐˈskrɨvətʲ/

Note on раскрывать: Stress on the second syllable ("skrɨ"). Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects, with a more emphatic 'r' sound in some areas.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To remove a cover or lid from something, revealing what's underneath.

Translation(s) & Context:

• открывать - Used in everyday, literal contexts, such as uncovering an object; informal and common in daily conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Он открыл коробку и обнаружил сюрприз. (He uncovered the box and found a surprise.)

  He uncovered the box and found a surprise.

• Дети открыли старый сундук в подвале. (The children uncovered an old chest in the basement.)

  The children uncovered an old chest in the basement.

• Врач открыла рану, чтобы обработать её. (The doctor uncovered the wound to treat it.)

  The doctor uncovered the wound to treat it.

• Мы открыли крышку колодца во время ремонта. (We uncovered the well cover during the repair.)

  We uncovered the well cover during the repair.

Meaning 2: To reveal or expose something hidden, such as a secret or truth.

Translation(s) & Context:

• раскрывать - Used in more formal or investigative contexts, such as in journalism or detective stories; implies a deeper revelation.

Usage Examples:

• Журналист раскрыл коррупционный скандал. (The journalist uncovered a corruption scandal.)

  The journalist uncovered a corruption scandal.

• Расследование раскрыло правду о преступлении. (The investigation uncovered the truth about the crime.)

  The investigation uncovered the truth about the crime.

• Её письмо раскрыло семейные тайны. (Her letter uncovered family secrets.)

  Her letter uncovered family secrets.

• Учёные раскрыли древние артефакты в раскопках. (Scientists uncovered ancient artifacts in the excavations.)

  Scientists uncovered ancient artifacts in the excavations.

• Друзья раскрыли его планы на вечеринку. (Friends uncovered his plans for the party.)

  Friends uncovered his plans for the party.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "открывать" and "раскрывать" are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns for conjugation. They are imperfective verbs, often paired with perfective counterparts like "открыть" and "раскрыть". Below is a conjugation table for "открывать" in the present tense; "раскрывать" follows a similar pattern.

For "раскрывать", the present tense is: я раскрываю, ты раскрываешь, etc. These verbs do not have irregular forms, but aspect changes (imperfective to perfective) are common in Russian to indicate completion.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: раскрывать (similar but more formal), обнажать (to expose literally or figuratively), выявлять (to reveal or detect)
• Antonyms: скрывать (to hide), утаивать (to conceal, often with intent)

Note: "Выявлять" is often used in scientific or investigative contexts, while "скрывать" implies deliberate hiding and is common in everyday language.

Related Phrases:

• Открыть правду (To uncover the truth) - A common phrase used in contexts of revelation or confession.
• Раскрыть тайну (To uncover a secret) - Implies exposing hidden information, often in storytelling or mysteries.
• Открыть завесу (To uncover the veil) - Metaphorical for revealing something obscured, like in historical or cultural discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Uncover" translates most directly to "открывать" for literal actions and "раскрывать" for figurative ones. Choose "открывать" in informal settings, such as daily conversations, while "раскрывать" is better for formal writing or when emphasizing exposure of secrets. Be mindful of verb aspect in Russian: use the imperfective form for ongoing actions and perfective for completed ones (e.g., "открыть" for a finished uncovering). This vocabulary often pairs with nouns like "тайна" (secret) or "коробка" (box) to form natural phrases.

Common Errors:

• Common Error: Confusing "открывать" with "открыть" and using the wrong aspect. For example, learners might say "Я открываю дверь вчера" (incorrect, as it mixes imperfective with past tense).

  Correct Usage: "Я открыл дверь вчера" (I uncovered the door yesterday) – Use perfective for completed actions.

• Common Error: Overusing "раскрывать" in casual contexts, making speech sound overly formal. For instance, "Я раскрываю еду" instead of "Я открываю еду".

  Correct Usage: "Я открываю еду" (I uncover the food) – Reserve "раскрывать" for deeper revelations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "раскрыть тайну" often appear in literature and folklore, such as in fairy tales by Pushkin, where uncovering secrets symbolizes truth and resolution. This reflects a cultural emphasis on revelation as a path to understanding, contrasting with English idioms that might focus more on privacy.

Related Concepts:

• скрывать (to hide)
• обнаруживать (to discover)
• выявлять (to detect or reveal)