Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'write'

English Word: write

Key Russian Translations:

• писать [pʲɪˈsatʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective; Used for ongoing or habitual writing actions]
• написать [nɐˈpʲɪsatʲ] - [Formal or Informal, Perfective; Used for completed writing actions]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday Russian communication, especially in educational, professional, and casual contexts)

Difficulty: A1 for basic forms (Beginner level, as it's a fundamental verb); B1 for full conjugations (Intermediate, due to aspectual differences between "писать" and "написать")

Pronunciation (Russian):

писать: [pʲɪˈsatʲ]

Note on писать: The initial "п" is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like a soft "p" followed by a "y" glide. Stress is on the second syllable.

написать: [nɐˈpʲɪsatʲ]

Note on написать: Similar palatalization on "п"; the prefix "на-" adds a nasal quality, and stress shifts to the third syllable in some inflected forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To produce written material (e.g., composing text, letters, or notes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• писать - Used in informal or everyday contexts for ongoing writing, such as journaling or drafting emails.
• написать - Applied in formal contexts for completed actions, like finishing an essay or a message.

Usage Examples:

• Я пишу письмо своей бабушке каждое воскресенье. (Ya pishu pismo svoyey babushke kazhdoe voskresen'ye.)

  English: I write a letter to my grandmother every Sunday. (This example shows the imperfective aspect in a habitual context.)

• Он написал книгу о русской истории за один год. (On napisał knigu o russkoy istorii za odin god.)

  English: He wrote a book about Russian history in one year. (Illustrates the perfective aspect for a completed task.)

• Мы пишем эссе для университета. (My pishu essee dlya universiteta.)

  English: We are writing essays for university. (Demonstrates plural subject and ongoing action in an educational setting.)

• Она написала сообщение в соцсетях. (Ona napisać soobshcheniye v sotssetyakh.)

  English: She wrote a message on social media. (Shows modern, informal digital usage.)

• Дети пишут в тетрадях во время урока. (Deti pishu v tetradyakh vo vremya uroka.)

  English: The children are writing in their notebooks during class. (Highlights routine, educational context with instrumental case.)

To inscribe or record something (e.g., writing on a surface)

Translation(s) & Context:

• писать - Informal for actions like doodling or taking notes.
• написать - For permanent or formal recording, like signing a document.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, напишите свой адрес на конверте. (Pozhaluysta, napishite svoy adres na konverte.)

  English: Please write your address on the envelope. (Emphasizes a direct, imperative command in a practical scenario.)

• Я пишу заметки на полях книги. (Ya pishu zametki na polyakh knigi.)

  English: I am writing notes in the margins of the book. (Shows ongoing action in a reading or studying context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "писать" (imperfective) and "написать" (perfective) are first-conjugation verbs in Russian. They follow regular patterns but require attention to aspects, tenses, and personal endings. "Писать" is used for incomplete actions, while "написать" is for complete ones.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive or future forms but adjust in the past tense based on subject gender and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сочинять (sochinyat' - more literary, implying creative writing; often used for composing stories or poems)
  • записывать (zapisyvat' - focuses on recording or noting down, e.g., in a diary)
• Antonyms:
  • читать (chitat' - to read)
  • стирать (stirat' - to erase or delete, in the context of written text)

Related Phrases:

• писать письмо (pisat' pismo) - To write a letter; Common in personal communication.
• написать статью (napisat' stat'yu) - To write an article; Often used in journalistic or academic contexts.
• писать в блокнот (pisat' v bloknot) - To write in a notebook; Informal for jotting down ideas.

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like "писать" and "написать" are aspectual pairs, where "писать" denotes ongoing processes and "написать" indicates completion. English speakers should choose based on context: use "писать" for habits (e.g., "I write daily") and "написать" for finished tasks (e.g., "I wrote the email"). Be mindful of formal vs. informal settings; "писать" is versatile, but aspect errors are common among learners. Always consider the grammatical case of objects, such as accusative for direct objects.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspects: Learners often use "писать" for completed actions, e.g., saying "Я писать книгу" instead of "Я написал книгу" (correct: "Я написал книгу"). Explanation: This mixes imperfective with perfective; use "написать" for finished events to avoid implying an ongoing process.

• Overlooking conjugation: Forgetting to change endings, e.g., saying "Я писать" instead of "Я пишу". Correct: "Я пишу"; This stems from not practicing verb endings, which are essential in Russian sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, writing (e.g., "писать") holds historical significance, linked to literary traditions like those of Pushkin or Tolstoy. It often symbolizes intellectual pursuit or personal expression, especially in letters, which remain a valued form of communication despite digital advances, evoking a sense of tradition and emotional depth.

Related Concepts:

• читать (chitat' - to read)
• редактировать (redaktirovat' - to edit)
• печатать (pechatat' - to print or type)