When learning Russian, you may come across the verbs двигать (dvigat’) and толкать (tolkat’). While both can be translated to mean “move” or “push” in English, they are used in different contexts and have unique nuances. Understanding these differences can significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension of the Russian language.

Understanding Двигать (dvigat’)

The verb двигать (dvigat’) primarily means “to move” in the sense of shifting something from one place to another. It is often used when referring to the act of moving objects, parts of the body, or even abstract concepts like moving forward in life.

двигать – to move (something)
Он начал двигать мебель в своей комнате.
(He started moving the furniture in his room.)

двигаться – to move oneself, to be in motion
Дети начали двигаться в такт музыке.
(The children started moving to the rhythm of the music.)

Usage in Different Contexts

двигать вперёд – to move forward
Мы должны двигать вперёд, несмотря на трудности.
(We must move forward despite the difficulties.)

двигать назад – to move backward
Он осторожно двигал назад машину.
(He was carefully moving the car backward.)

двигать руками – to move one’s hands
Во время разговора он постоянно двигал руками.
(He kept moving his hands while talking.)

Understanding Толкать (tolkat’)

The verb толкать (tolkat’) means “to push” and is used when you are applying force to move something or someone away from you. It carries a more physical connotation compared to двигать.

толкать – to push
Он решил толкать дверь, а не тянуть её.
(He decided to push the door rather than pull it.)

толкаться – to push each other, to jostle
Люди начали толкаться в очереди за билетами.
(People started jostling in the queue for tickets.)

Usage in Different Contexts

толкать тележку – to push a cart
Она устала толкать тележку по супермаркету.
(She got tired of pushing the cart around the supermarket.)

толкать речь – to deliver a speech (colloquial)
Он долго толкал речь на собрании.
(He delivered a long speech at the meeting.)

толкать вперед – to push forward (metaphorically)
Технологии толкают вперед прогресс общества.
(Technologies push the progress of society forward.)

Comparing Двигать and Толкать

While both verbs involve the concept of moving something, the context and method of movement differ significantly.

двигать often implies a more general sense of moving something, whether it’s shifting furniture or progressing in life. It’s more about the act of changing position rather than the force used.

толкать specifically involves applying force to push something away from you. It is more physical and direct, often implying a sense of effort or struggle.

Examples of Incorrect Usage

To help solidify your understanding, here are examples of incorrect usage and their corrected forms:

Incorrect: Он начал толкать мебель в своей комнате.
Correct: Он начал двигать мебель в своей комнате.
(He started moving the furniture in his room.)

Incorrect: Мы должны толкать вперёд, несмотря на трудности.
Correct: Мы должны двигать вперёд, несмотря на трудности.
(We must move forward despite the difficulties.)

Incorrect: Он решил двигать дверь, а не тянуть её.
Correct: Он решил толкать дверь, а не тянуть её.
(He decided to push the door rather than pull it.)

Additional Vocabulary and Context

Here are a few more related words and expressions that can help you better understand and use двигать and толкать:

передвигать – to rearrange, to move around
Она любит передвигать мебель в своей комнате.
(She likes to rearrange the furniture in her room.)

подталкивать – to nudge, to push slightly
Он начал подталкивать меня к принятию решения.
(He started nudging me towards making a decision.)

толкаться – to jostle, to push each other
Дети начали толкаться на детской площадке.
(The children started jostling at the playground.)

подвинуть – to move slightly, to shift
Можно подвинуть стул ближе к столу?
(Can you move the chair closer to the table?)

сдвигать – to shift, to move together
Мы должны сдвигать столы для вечеринки.
(We need to move the tables together for the party.)

выдвигать – to push out, to nominate
Он решил выдвигать свою кандидатуру на выборах.
(He decided to nominate himself for the elections.)

Practice Makes Perfect

To fully grasp the differences between двигать and толкать, it’s essential to practice using them in different contexts. Try creating your own sentences using these verbs and related vocabulary. Engage in conversations with native speakers, and pay attention to how they use these words in daily communication. Over time, you’ll develop an intuitive understanding of when to use each verb correctly.

By mastering the nuances of двигать and толкать, you’ll not only expand your vocabulary but also improve your overall fluency in Russian. Happy learning!