Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bother'

English Word: bother

Key Russian Translations:

• беспокоить [bʲɪspɐˈkoɪtʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Verb]
• надоедать [nədɐˈjedətʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Often negative connotation]
• тревожить [trʲɪˈvoʐɨtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Often emotional concern]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "беспокоить" and "надоедать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "тревожить"

Pronunciation (Russian):

беспокоить: [bʲɪspɐˈkoɪtʲ]

Note on беспокоить: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "о" in the stressed syllable is pronounced clearly as [o].

надоедать: [nədɐˈjedətʲ]

Note on надоедать: Stress on the third syllable. The "е" sounds like [je] in this position.

тревожить: [trʲɪˈvoʐɨtʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To disturb or annoy someone (physical or mental disturbance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• беспокоить - Used in both formal and informal contexts to indicate causing disturbance or worry.
• надоедать - More informal, often implies repetitive annoyance or bothering someone persistently.

Usage Examples:

• Извините, что беспокою вас так поздно.

  Sorry for bothering you so late.

• Он постоянно надоедал мне своими вопросами.

  He kept bothering me with his questions.

• Не беспокойтесь, я всё сделаю сам.

  Don't bother, I'll do everything myself.

2. To cause concern or worry (emotional disturbance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тревожить - Used in more formal or literary contexts to express emotional concern or unease.

Usage Examples:

• Эта новость меня очень тревожит.

  This news really bothers (worries) me.

• Его молчание тревожило всех нас.

  His silence bothered (concerned) all of us.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

беспокоить (Verb, Imperfective, Transitive):

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter)
1st Singular	беспокою	беспокоил / беспокоила / беспокоило
3rd Plural	беспокоят	беспокоили

Note: Perfective form is "побеспокоить".

надоедать (Verb, Imperfective, Intransitive with Dative Case): Similar conjugation pattern to "беспокоить". Perfective form is "надоесть".

тревожить (Verb, Imperfective, Transitive): Follows regular conjugation; perfective form is "встревожить".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "беспокоить":

• волновать
• мешать

Note: "волновать" often implies emotional disturbance, while "мешать" can refer to physical interruption.

Antonyms for "беспокоить":

• успокаивать
• утешать

Related Phrases:

• не беспокойтесь - Don't worry / Don't bother (common polite expression).
• надоедать до смерти - To bother to death (idiomatic, meaning to annoy extremely).
• тревожить душу - To trouble the soul (poetic, meaning to deeply concern).

Usage Notes:

• "беспокоить" is the most neutral and widely used translation for "bother", suitable for both formal apologies and casual contexts.
• "надоедать" has a negative connotation and often implies irritation due to repetitive actions; it governs the dative case (e.g., "надоедать кому-то").
• "тревожить" is more formal and often used for emotional or psychological disturbance rather than physical annoyance.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "надоедать" in formal apologies.

Incorrect: *Извините, что я надоедал вам.* (Sounds rude or overly casual)

Correct: Извините, что беспокою вас. (Polite and appropriate)

Explanation: "надоедать" implies irritation, which is inappropriate for polite contexts like apologies.

Error 2: Misusing case with "надоедать".

Incorrect: *Он надоедал меня.* (Wrong case)

Correct: Он надоедал мне. (Dative case required)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, apologizing for "bothering" someone (using "беспокоить") is common in formal or polite interactions, especially when asking for help or interrupting. It reflects a cultural emphasis on respect and consideration for others' time and space.

Related Concepts:

• волнение (worry)
• досада (annoyance)
• помеха (hindrance)