губи́ть

uncommon #9918

verbimperfective perfective is погуби́ть

1.
to destroy, to kill, to be the death of
Пья́нство губи́ло его годами.
Drink was destroying him for years.
Imperfective; often of what slowly destroys a person or a life.
2.
to ruin, to spoil, to wreck
Заморозки гу́бят посе́вы.
Frosts ruin the crops.
Of things: crops, health, a plan, a reputation.
3.
to doom, to be the undoing of, to land in serious trouble
Свои́м молча́нием ты гу́бишь меня́.
With your silence you are ruining me.
Of a person or act that leaves someone in a hopeless situation.

Examples

Я ду́маю, что экза́мены гу́бят образова́ние.
I think exams ruin education.
Сребролюбие часто губит человеческую душу.
Greed for money often destroys a person's soul.
Выкидываемый в море мусор губит рыбу.
Trash being dumped into the sea is killing the fish.
Я не хочу́ губи́ть твой день.
I don't want to ruin your day.
Она обвини́ла сы́на в том, что он гу́бит свою́ жизнь.
She accused her son of wasting his life.
Заткни́сь, Том. Ты всё гу́бишь!
Shut up, Tom. You're ruining everything!
Вы губите весь мой план.
You're ruining my whole plan.

Note: Stress change.

Imperative
ты	губи́
вы	губи́те

Active present	гу́бящий	ruining, destructive, ruinous, pernicious
Active past	губи́вший	ruining, destroying, that ruined, who destroyed
Passive present	губи́мый	perishing, perishable, destructible, ruinable
Passive past	гу́бленный	ruined, destroyed, spoiled, corrupted
Gerund present	губя́	while doing (present)
Gerund past	губив губивши	while doing (past)

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