Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Beset'

English Word: beset

Key Russian Translations:

• осаждать [ɐˈsat͡ɕdʲatʲ] - [Formal, Often used in military or figurative contexts]
• одолевать [ɐdʲɪˈlʲevatʲ] - [Neutral, Often used for emotional or abstract struggles]
• преследовать [prʲɪsʲˈlʲedɐvətʲ] - [Neutral, Often used for persistent problems or pursuit]

Frequency: Medium (These terms are moderately common in specific contexts like literature or formal speech)

Difficulty: B2-C1 (Intermediate to Advanced, due to nuanced usage and conjugation challenges)

Pronunciation (Russian):

осаждать: [ɐˈsat͡ɕdʲatʲ]

Note on осаждать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft, hissing sound unique to Russian.

одолевать: [ɐdʲɪˈlʲevatʲ]

Note on одолевать: Stress on the third syllable. The soft "л" requires a slight palatalization.

преследовать: [prʲɪsʲˈlʲedɐvətʲ]

Note on преследовать: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft "с" and "л".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To surround or attack from all sides (literal or figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• осаждать - Used in contexts of siege, harassment, or being overwhelmed by problems or enemies.

Usage Examples:

• Враг осаждал город в течение трех месяцев.

  The enemy besieged the city for three months.

• Его постоянно осаждают журналисты с вопросами.

  He is constantly besieged by journalists with questions.

• Проблемы осаждают нас со всех сторон.

  Problems beset us from all sides.

2. To be plagued or troubled by something (often abstract)

Translation(s) & Context:

• одолевать - Used for emotional or internal struggles, like doubts or difficulties.
• преследовать - Used for persistent issues or haunting problems.

Usage Examples:

• Его одолевали сомнения перед важным решением.

  He was beset by doubts before the important decision.

• Страх неудачи постоянно преследовал её.

  The fear of failure constantly beset her.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

осаждать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in the first conjugation group. Below is the present tense conjugation:

одолевать (Verb, Imperfective): Also first conjugation, follows similar patterns to осаждать.

преследовать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation, first conjugation group.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for осаждать:

• окружать (to surround)
• досаждать (to annoy or bother)

Note: "досаждать" is more informal and often implies irritation rather than a physical siege.

Antonyms for осаждать:

• освобождать (to liberate)
• защищать (to protect)

Related Phrases:

• осаждать вопросами - To bombard with questions.
• одолевать трудности - To overcome difficulties (related to being beset by them first).
• преследовать цель - To pursue a goal (can imply being driven or beset by ambition).

Usage Notes:

• "осаждать" is the most direct translation for a literal or figurative siege, often used in formal or historical contexts.
• "одолевать" is better for internal or emotional struggles, such as being beset by doubts or fears.
• "преследовать" often implies persistence over time, such as being beset by recurring issues or fears.
• Choose the translation based on whether the context is physical (осаждать), emotional (одолевать), or persistent/recurring (преследовать).

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "осаждать" for emotional struggles. Incorrect: *Меня осаждают сомнения* (I am besieged by doubts). Correct: Меня одолевают сомнения (I am beset by doubts). "осаждать" implies a more physical or external attack.

Error 2: Misconjugating verbs due to stress shifts or soft consonants. Pay attention to stress patterns (e.g., осажда́ть vs. осажда́ю) as they affect meaning and pronunciation.

Cultural Notes:

The term "осаждать" carries historical weight in Russian due to the country’s history of sieges (e.g., the Siege of Leningrad). It often evokes strong imagery of struggle and endurance in literature and conversation.

Related Concepts:

• осада (siege)
• борьба (struggle)
• трудности (difficulties)