Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Centralize'

English Word: Centralize

Key Russian Translations:

• централизовать [tsɛntrəlʲɪˈzovatʲ] - [Formal, Verb]
• сосредоточить [səsrʲɪdɐˈtotʃʲɪtʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Verb, Often used for focusing power or resources]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

централизовать: [tsɛntrəlʲɪˈzovatʲ]

Note on централизовать: Stress falls on the third syllable. The 'ц' sound is a hard, unaspirated 'ts'.

сосредоточить: [səsrʲɪdɐˈtotʃʲɪtʲ]

Note on сосредоточить: Stress on the fourth syllable. The 'ч' is a soft 'ch' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To concentrate power or authority in a central organization

Translation(s) & Context:

• централизовать - Commonly used in formal or administrative contexts, e.g., government or corporate structures.
• сосредоточить - Can be used for both literal and metaphorical centralization, often implying focus or consolidation.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство решило централизовать управление здравоохранением.

  The government decided to centralize healthcare management.

• Компания сосредоточила все ресурсы в одном офисе.

  The company centralized all resources in one office.

• Мы должны централизовать процесс принятия решений.

  We need to centralize the decision-making process.

• Он сосредоточил власть в своих руках.

  He centralized power in his hands.

• Централизовать производство оказалось сложной задачей.

  聪明

  Centralizing production turned out to be a challenging task.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

централизовать (Verb, Perfective and Imperfective aspects):

This verb follows regular conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -овать. Below is the imperfective form (централизовывать) conjugation in the present tense:

сосредоточить (Verb, Perfective): This verb is perfective and often used with reflexive forms like сосредоточиться (to concentrate oneself). It follows regular conjugation for perfective verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• объединить (to unite, often in a central structure)
• концентрировать (to concentrate, broader usage)

Note: объединить often implies unification rather than strict central control, while концентрировать can apply to non-administrative contexts.

Antonyms:

• децентрализовать (to decentralize)
• рассредоточить (to disperse)

Related Phrases:

• централизовать власть - To centralize power (used in political or administrative contexts).
• сосредоточить усилия - To centralize efforts (often used for focusing on a task or goal).
• централизованная система - Centralized system (common in discussions of infrastructure or governance).

Usage Notes:

• Both "централизовать" and "сосредоточить" can translate "centralize," but "централизовать" is more specific to formal, structural centralization (e.g., policies, systems), while "сосредоточить" can also imply a broader or more personal focus (e.g., concentrating resources or attention).
• In Russian, verbs often come in pairs (perfective and imperfective). "Централизовать" (perfective) implies a completed action, while "централизовывать" (imperfective) indicates an ongoing process.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these verbs, as "сосредоточить" may sound more natural in metaphorical contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сосредоточить" when referring to formal administrative centralization.
  Incorrect: Правительство сосредоточило управление.
  Correct: Правительство централизовало управление.
  Explanation: "Сосредоточить" is better suited for focusing resources or attention, not formal structures.
• Error: Ignoring aspectual differences. English speakers may not distinguish between perfective and imperfective forms.
  Incorrect: Я централизовываю власть каждый день.
  Correct: Я централизовал власть (if the action is completed).
  Explanation: Use the correct aspect based on whether the action is ongoing or completed.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of centralization (централизация) is historically significant due to the country's long history of centralized governance, from the Soviet era to modern times. The term "централизовать" often carries connotations of control and uniformity, sometimes with a negative undertone in informal discussions, as it may evoke memories of over-centralized Soviet policies.

Related Concepts:

• децентрализация (decentralization)
• власть (power)
• управление (management)