Signification
To mention or discuss a subject
Contexte culturel
Using 'затрагивать тему' marks you as part of the 'intelligentsia'. It shows you value precise, formal language over slang. In modern Russian offices, this phrase is used to soften the blow of bad news or to introduce agenda items politely. Journalists use this phrase to remain objective. It sounds less biased than 'criticized' or 'praised'. Historically, sensitive political topics were only 'touched upon' in the safety of one's kitchen to avoid trouble.
Use with 'вскользь'
Pairing 'затронуть тему' with 'вскользь' (in passing) makes you sound like a native speaker in a formal setting.
Watch the Aspect
Use 'затронуть' for a one-time mention and 'затрагивать' for recurring discussions.
Signification
To mention or discuss a subject
Use with 'вскользь'
Pairing 'затронуть тему' with 'вскользь' (in passing) makes you sound like a native speaker in a formal setting.
Watch the Aspect
Use 'затронуть' for a one-time mention and 'затрагивать' for recurring discussions.
Softening the Blow
Use this phrase to introduce difficult feedback; it sounds less accusatory than 'I want to talk about your mistakes'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'затронуть' or 'затрагивать'.
Вчера на собрании директор _______ тему отпусков.
The sentence refers to a specific completed action in the past ('Вчера'), so the perfective past masculine form 'затронул' is required.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct usage:
The verb 'затронуть' takes the Accusative case directly without any preposition.
Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate phrase.
— Почему ты молчишь? — Я просто не хочу сейчас _______ тему нашего переезда.
'Затрагивать тему' is the most natural collocation here for avoiding a specific subject.
Match the phrase variation to the correct context.
1. Вскользь затронуть тему 2. Подробно обсудить тему 3. Избегать темы
'Вскользь' means briefly, 'подробно' means in detail, and 'избегать' means to avoid.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formal vs Informal
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesВчера на собрании директор _______ тему отпусков.
The sentence refers to a specific completed action in the past ('Вчера'), so the perfective past masculine form 'затронул' is required.
Choose the correct usage:
The verb 'затронуть' takes the Accusative case directly without any preposition.
— Почему ты молчишь? — Я просто не хочу сейчас _______ тему нашего переезда.
'Затрагивать тему' is the most natural collocation here for avoiding a specific subject.
1. Вскользь затронуть тему 2. Подробно обсудить тему 3. Избегать темы
'Вскользь' means briefly, 'подробно' means in detail, and 'избегать' means to avoid.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, you touch on topics, not people. To say someone 'touched' you emotionally, use 'растрогать'.
It's a bit formal for a quick text. Use 'давай обсудим' instead.
They are 95% synonymous. 'Коснуться' is slightly more literary/elegant.
Usually, yes. It implies you aren't spending the whole time on just that one thing.
Yes! 'Затронуть вопрос' is just as common as 'затронуть тему'.
No, it's actually a very polite and formal way to bring something up.
You can say 'Не затрагивай эту тему'.
The Accusative case (кого? что?).
Absolutely, it is very common in academic introductions.
Not really, slang tends to use simpler verbs like 'базарить' or 'тереть'.
Expressions liées
коснуться темы
synonymTo touch on a topic
поднимать вопрос
similarTo raise a question/issue
упоминать
similarTo mention
углубляться в тему
contrastTo go deep into a topic
обходить тему стороной
contrastTo avoid a topic
