Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Afflict'

English Word: afflict

Key Russian Translations:

• поразить [pɐrɐˈzʲitʲ] - [Formal, Often used for diseases or disasters]
• мучить [ˈmutʲɪtʲ] - [Neutral, Used for emotional or physical torment]
• страдать [strɐˈdatʲ] - [Neutral, Often reflexive as 'страдать от', meaning to suffer from]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts like literature or medical discussions)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by translation: 'мучить' is B1, 'поразить' is B2 due to nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

поразить: [pɐrɐˈzʲitʲ]

Note on поразить: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'р' sound is rolled slightly.

мучить: [ˈmutʲɪtʲ]

Note on мучить: Stress on the first syllable; soft 'т' sound due to palatalization.

страдать: [strɐˈdatʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To cause physical or mental pain or suffering

Translation(s) & Context:

• мучить - Used for ongoing torment or distress, often emotional or physical.
• страдать - Often used reflexively as 'страдать от' to indicate suffering from a condition or situation.

Usage Examples:

• Его мучили угрызения совести.

  He was afflicted by pangs of conscience.

• Она страдает от хронической боли.

  She is afflicted with chronic pain.

• Меня мучает головная боль каждый день.

  I am afflicted with a headache every day.

2. To strike or affect with a disease, calamity, or disaster

Translation(s) & Context:

• поразить - Often used for sudden or widespread impact, like a disease or disaster striking a population.

Usage Examples:

• Эпидемия поразила весь регион.

  The epidemic afflicted the entire region.

• Бедствие поразило тысячи семей.

  The disaster afflicted thousands of families.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

поразить (Verb, Perfective): This verb follows regular conjugation for perfective verbs in Russian. Below is the past tense conjugation:

мучить (Verb, Imperfective): Regular imperfective verb with ongoing action. Conjugates as a second conjugation verb.

страдать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular imperfective verb, often used with the preposition 'от' to indicate the cause of suffering.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for мучить (torment):

• терзать - Often emotional torment.
• истязать - Stronger, implying severe torment or torture.

Antonyms for мучить:

• утешать - To comfort.
• облегчать - To alleviate.

Related Phrases:

• страдать от болезни - To be afflicted with an illness.
• поразить воображение - To afflict/strike the imagination (figurative, meaning to amaze).
• мучить совесть - To afflict one’s conscience (to feel guilty).

Usage Notes:

• Choosing the right translation: Use 'поразить' for sudden, large-scale impacts like epidemics or disasters. Use 'мучить' for personal, ongoing distress (physical or emotional). Use 'страдать' when emphasizing suffering, often with 'от' to specify the cause.
• Aspectual difference: 'поразить' is perfective (completed action), while 'мучить' and 'страдать' are imperfective (ongoing action).
• Register: 'поразить' is more formal or literary, while 'мучить' and 'страдать' are neutral and widely used in everyday speech.

Common Errors:

• Misusing 'поразить' for personal suffering: Incorrect: *Меня поразила головная боль* (implies a sudden, dramatic strike, which sounds odd). Correct: Меня мучает головная боль (ongoing affliction).
• Forgetting 'от' with 'страдать': Incorrect: *Я страдаю болезнь* (missing preposition). Correct: Я страдаю от болезни (suffer from an illness).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, expressions of suffering or affliction (especially with 'страдать') are often used more dramatically or emotionally compared to English. For example, saying 'Я страдаю от жары' (I suffer from the heat) is common and not considered an exaggeration, whereas in English, 'afflict' might sound overly formal or intense in such a context.

Related Concepts:

• боль - Pain.
• страдание - Suffering.
• несчастье - Misfortune.