Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'whittle'

English Word: whittle

Key Russian Translations:

• вырезать [vɨˈrɛzətʲ] - [Informal, often used in everyday or crafting contexts]
• строгать [strɐˈɡatʲ] - [Informal, typically for shaving or planing wood]
• урезать [uˈrɛzətʲ] - [Formal or metaphorical, for reducing or cutting down]

Frequency: Medium - These verbs are moderately common in contexts like woodworking, crafting, or metaphorical discussions, but not as frequent as everyday verbs like "делать" (to do).

Difficulty: B1-Intermediate for "вырезать" and "строгать"; B2-Upper Intermediate for "урезать" due to its metaphorical usage and potential for irregular contexts in Russian grammar.

Pronunciation (Russian):

вырезать: [vɨˈrɛzətʲ]

Note on вырезать: The stress is on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making the 't' sound palatalized.

строгать: [strɐˈɡatʲ]

Note on строгать: Pronounce the 'г' as a voiced fricative; this verb has variations in speed and emphasis in casual speech.

урезать: [uˈrɛzətʲ]

Note on урезать: The initial 'у' is a prefix that can alter stress; it's often used in more formal or business contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To carve or shape wood with a knife (Literal meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вырезать - Used in hands-on, creative contexts like woodworking or sculpture; common in informal settings.
• строгать - Applied when shaving or smoothing wood surfaces; often in practical or DIY scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Он вырезает красивые фигурки из дерева в свободное время.

  He whittles beautiful figures out of wood in his free time.

• Дети учатся строгать деревянные игрушки на уроке мастерства.

  Children are learning to whittle wooden toys in the craftsmanship class.

• В мастерской он осторожно вырезает детали для модели корабля.

  In the workshop, he carefully whittles parts for the ship model.

• Строгать ножом – это традиционное ремесло в русских деревнях.

  Whittling with a knife is a traditional craft in Russian villages.

To reduce or cut down gradually (Metaphorical meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• урезать - Used in abstract contexts like budgets or plans; suitable for formal or professional discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство решило урезать расходы на программу в следующем году.

  The government decided to whittle down expenses on the program next year.

• Менеджер урезает штат сотрудников, чтобы оптимизировать компанию.

  The manager is whittling the staff to optimize the company.

• В переговорах они урезали предложения до минимума.

  In negotiations, they whittled the proposals down to the minimum.

• Экономисты урезают прогнозы роста из-за инфляции.

  Economists are whittling growth forecasts due to inflation.

• Она урезает свои траты, чтобы сэкономить на поездку.

  She is whittling her expenses to save for a trip.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ("вырезать", "строгать", "урезать") are verbs of the first conjugation in Russian, which generally follow regular patterns but have specific inflections based on tense, aspect, and person. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects, and these can vary.

For "вырезать" (imperfective: вырезать; perfective: вырезать [same form, but context-dependent]):

"Строгать" follows a similar pattern but is irregular in some dialects. "Урезать" is invariable in its perfective form and does not change drastically.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: резать (rezat' - to cut), лепить (lepit' - to shape, for creative contexts), сокращать (sokrašat' - to reduce, for metaphorical use)
• Note: "Резать" is more general and can imply a quicker action, while "сокращать" is preferred in formal reductions.
• Antonyms: увеличивать (uveličivat' - to increase), добавлять (dobavljat' - to add)

Related Phrases:

• Вырезать из дерева - To whittle from wood; refers to carving wooden objects in traditional crafts.
• Строгать ножом - To whittle with a knife; common in DIY or survival skills contexts.
• Урезать бюджет - To whittle the budget; used in financial or planning discussions to mean cutting funds.

Usage Notes:

Choose "вырезать" or "строгать" for literal whittling, as they align closely with physical actions, but "строгать" implies smoother, shaving motions. "Урезать" is ideal for metaphorical uses like reducing sizes or amounts, similar to English idioms. Be aware of Russian's aspect system: use imperfective for ongoing actions (e.g., я вырезаю) and perfective for completed ones. In formal contexts, opt for "урезать" over informal alternatives to match professional tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing the verb aspects, e.g., using "вырезать" when a perfective form is needed. Incorrect: "Я вырезаю весь день" (implying ongoing without completion). Correct: "Я вырежу фигурку" for a finished action. Explanation: Russian requires aspect distinction to convey temporality accurately.

• Error: Overusing "урезать" in literal contexts. Incorrect: "Он урезает дерево" (sounds odd, as it implies cutting down metaphorically). Correct: "Он вырезает из дерева." Explanation: Reserve "урезать" for abstract reductions to avoid misuse in physical scenarios.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, whittling or carving wood ("вырезать") is tied to folk traditions, such as creating matryoshka dolls or decorative items, often seen in rural areas. This reflects a historical emphasis on handmade crafts, symbolizing patience and resourcefulness in Slavic heritage.

Related Concepts:

• резьба по дереву (wood carving)
• скульптура (sculpture)
• экономия (economy, for metaphorical whittling)