Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'upholster'

English Word: upholster

Key Russian Translations:

• обивать [ɐˈbʲivətʲ] - [Formal, used in contexts related to furniture making or professional upholstery]
• обтягивать [ɐbˈtʲaɡʲivətʲ] - [Informal, often used for lighter or metaphorical upholstery tasks]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in specialized contexts like interior design or crafts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian verb conjugations and vocabulary related to household or professional activities. For "обивать", it's B2; for "обтягивать", it's also B2 due to similar structures.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обивать: [ɐˈbʲivətʲ]

обтягивать: [ɐbˈtʲaɡʲivətʲ]

Note on обивать: The stress falls on the second syllable ("bʲiv"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'bʲ' sound. This verb often varies slightly in informal speech.

Note on обтягивать: Pronunciation may soften in rapid speech, with emphasis on the 'tʲa' syllable; be mindful of the hard 'gʲ' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To cover furniture with fabric, padding, or other materials (primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обивать - Typically used in formal or professional settings, such as describing furniture restoration.
• обтягивать - Often in informal contexts, like DIY projects or metaphorical uses (e.g., covering something loosely).

Usage Examples:

• Мы обиваем старый диван новой тканью, чтобы он выглядел как новый.

  We are upholstering the old sofa with new fabric so it looks like new.

• Мебельный мастер обтягивает стулья кожей для клиента.

  The furniture craftsman is upholstering the chairs with leather for the client.

• В мастерской они обивают кресла специальной пеной для комфорта.

  In the workshop, they are upholstering the armchairs with special foam for comfort.

• Иногда люди обтягивают подушки improvised материалами на даче.

  Sometimes people upholster cushions with improvised materials at the dacha (country house).

• Чтобы обновить интерьер, я обиваю стенку обоями, похожими на ткань.

  To update the interior, I am upholstering the wall with wallpaper that looks like fabric.

Metaphorical or extended meaning (e.g., to cover or protect something figuratively)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обтягивать - Used metaphorically in informal speech, such as covering ideas or concepts.

Usage Examples:

• В книге автор обтягивает сложные темы простыми примерами.

  In the book, the author upholsters complex topics with simple examples (i.e., makes them more accessible).

• Дизайнер обивает проект дополнительными деталями для лучшей презентации.

  The designer is upholstering the project with additional details for a better presentation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "обивать" and "обтягивать" are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have specific inflections based on tense, aspect, and person. "Обивать" is imperfective, while related perfective forms exist (e.g., "обить").

Note: These verbs are regular but can have aspectual pairs (e.g., perfective "обить" for "обивать"), which unchanged nouns or adjectives might not have.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: обтягивать (similar but often less formal), драпировать (to drape or cover decoratively) - Note: "драпировать" implies a more artistic approach.
• Antonyms: снимать обивку (to remove upholstery) - Used when stripping coverings.

Related Phrases:

• Обивка мебели - Refers to the process or material of upholstery; commonly used in furniture contexts.
• Обтягивать тканью - A phrase meaning "to cover with fabric," often in DIY or crafting scenarios.
• Мебельная обивка - Means "furniture upholstery," a fixed phrase in interior design discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Обивать" directly corresponds to the English "upholster" in professional contexts, emphasizing the action of adding padding or fabric to furniture. It is typically used in the imperfective aspect to describe ongoing processes. Choose "обтягивать" for more casual or metaphorical uses, as it can imply a looser fit. Be aware of Russian's aspect system: pair with perfective forms like "обить" for completed actions. In formal writing, these verbs often appear in technical or descriptive texts rather than everyday speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "обивать" interchangeably with "обтягивать" without considering context. Incorrect: "Я обтягиваю мебель как обивать." (This mixes forms awkwardly.) Correct: "Я обиваю мебель." Explanation: "Обивать" is more precise for upholstery; "обтягивать" should be used only if the context is informal.
• Error: Forgetting verb inflections in sentences. Incorrect: "Он обивать стул." (Missing conjugation.) Correct: "Он обивает стул." Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, upholstery and furniture craftsmanship have historical roots in traditional woodworking and home decor, especially in rural or "dacha" settings. Words like "обивать" evoke images of Soviet-era furniture restoration, symbolizing resourcefulness and DIY culture amid economic constraints.

Related Concepts:

• Мебель (furniture)
• Декор (decoration)
• Ремонт (repair)