Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'apportion'

English Word: apportion

Key Russian Translations:

• распределить [rɐsprʲɪdʲɪˈlʲitʲ] - [Formal, Perfective aspect, Used in contexts involving allocation or division]
• распределять [rɐsprʲɪdʲɪˈlʲatʲ] - [Formal, Imperfective aspect, Used for ongoing or repeated allocation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal, administrative, or business contexts, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb aspects and inflections, which can be challenging for learners beyond basic levels)

Pronunciation (Russian):

распределить: [rɐsprʲɪdʲɪˈlʲitʲ]

распределять: [rɐsprʲɪdʲɪˈlʲatʲ]

Note on распределить: The stress falls on the third syllable ('лʲитʲ'), and the 'р' is lightly rolled. Be cautious with the palatalized consonants, which are common in Russian verbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To divide and assign something in proportion or according to a plan.

Translation(s) & Context:

• распределить - Used in formal settings like resource management or legal divisions, emphasizing a completed action.
• распределять - Applied in ongoing processes, such as distributing tasks in a workplace.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство распределило бюджетные средства по регионам в соответствии с населением.

  The government apportioned the budget funds to regions based on population.

• Менеджер распределяет задачи среди сотрудников, чтобы обеспечить равномерную нагрузку.

  The manager apportions tasks among employees to ensure an even workload.

• В проекте мы распределили ресурсы, учитывая приоритеты каждой команды.

  In the project, we apportioned resources, taking into account the priorities of each team.

• Родители распределяют карманные деньги детям по справедливым правилам.

  Parents apportion pocket money to children according to fair rules.

• Организаторы распределяют билеты на концерт, основываясь на времени регистрации.

  Organizers apportion tickets for the concert based on registration time.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "распределить" and "распределять" are verbs, with "распределить" being perfective (indicating a completed action) and "распределять" imperfective (indicating an ongoing or repeated action). Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These verbs follow regular patterns for most forms but have palatalization in certain endings.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms, but learners should pay attention to aspect choice for accurate expression.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • разделить (razdelit') - More general, used for dividing without emphasis on proportion.
  • отвести (otvesti) - Specifically for allocating a portion, often in spatial contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • собрать (sobrat') - To collect or gather together.
  • объединить (obʲedinit') - To unite or combine.

Related Phrases:

• распределить по справедливости - Fairly apportion; Used in contexts emphasizing equity, e.g., in legal or social discussions.
• распределять ресурсы - To apportion resources; Common in business or project management.
• равномерно распределить - To apportion evenly; Implies balanced distribution.

Usage Notes:

Choose "распределить" for completed actions (e.g., "We apportioned the funds") and "распределять" for ongoing ones (e.g., "We are apportioning tasks"). In Russian, verb aspect is crucial; unlike English, it affects the sentence's nuance. This word is typically formal, so avoid it in casual conversations. When translating "apportion," consider the context: if it involves proportion, "распределить" is ideal; for simple division, "разделить" might suffice. Grammatically, ensure subject-verb agreement and proper case usage for objects (e.g., accusative for direct objects).

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "распределить" for ongoing actions, e.g., saying "Я распределить работу" instead of "Я распределяю работу." Correct: "распределяю" for present tense. Explanation: English learners often overlook aspect, leading to tense mismatches; always match the verb to the action's completeness.

• Mistake: Confusing with "разделить," e.g., using it interchangeably without considering proportion, as in "Я разделил деньги" when "apportion" implies fairness. Correct: Use "распределить" for proportional allocation. Explanation: This can alter meaning; "разделить" is more neutral for splitting.

• Mistake: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "распределила" for a masculine subject. Correct: Use "распределил" for masculine. Explanation: Russian verbs change based on gender and number, which is not present in English verbs.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and bureaucracy, words like "распределить" often appear in contexts of state-controlled allocation, such as during the Soviet era when resources were apportioned centrally. This reflects a historical emphasis on collective distribution, which can influence modern usage in administrative or governmental settings, highlighting themes of equity versus scarcity.

Related Concepts:

• бюджет (budget)
• ресурсы (resources)
• справедливость (fairness)