Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'chide'

English Word: chide

Key Russian Translations:

• ругать [rʊˈɡatʲ] - [Informal, often used in everyday conversations for mild scolding]
• упрекать [ʊprʲɪˈkatʲ] - [Formal, suitable for written or polite contexts, implying reproach without aggression]

Frequency: Medium (Common in spoken Russian but not as frequent as everyday verbs like "говорить"; appears regularly in literature and casual dialogue)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and context; for 'ругать', it's slightly easier, while 'упрекать' may require more nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ругать: [rʊˈɡatʲ] (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a palatalized 't')

упрекать: [ʊprʲɪˈkatʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; pay attention to the initial 'ʊ' sound, similar to the 'oo' in "book", and the palatalized 'кʲ')

Note on ругать: This verb can have regional variations in pronunciation, especially in faster speech where the 'г' might soften.

Note on упрекать: Beginners often mispronounce the 'prʲ' cluster; practice it slowly to avoid blending sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To express disapproval or mild criticism verbally

Translation(s) & Context:

• ругать - Used in informal settings, such as family disputes or casual reprimands, to convey scolding without severe anger.
• упрекать - Applied in formal or reflective contexts, like professional feedback, to imply gentle reproach.

Usage Examples:

• Мама часто ругает меня за опоздания. (Mama chasto rugayet menya za opozdaniya.)

  Mom often chides me for being late. (This example shows 'ругать' in a familial, everyday context with imperfective aspect.)

• Учитель упрекал ученика за не выполненное задание. (Uchitel uprekal uchenika za ne vypolnennoe zadanie.)

  The teacher chided the student for the unfinished assignment. (Here, 'упрекать' is used in an educational setting, emphasizing formal criticism.)

• Он ругает себя за глупую ошибку. (On rugayet sebya za glupuyu oshibku.)

  He chides himself for the silly mistake. (This illustrates reflexive use of 'ругать' in self-reflection.)

• В письме она упрекала друга в отсутствии поддержки. (V pis'me ona uprekala druga v otsutstvii podderzhki.)

  In the letter, she chided her friend for the lack of support. (Demonstrates 'упрекать' in written communication.)

• Родители ругают детей, чтобы научить их ответственности. (Roditeli rugayut detey, chtoby nauchit' ikh otvetstvennosti.)

  Parents chide their children to teach them responsibility. (Shows 'ругать' in a purposeful, corrective context.)

Secondary Meaning: To rebuke in a persistent or nagging manner

Translation(s) & Context:

• ругать - In contexts involving repeated scolding, often with emotional intensity.

Usage Examples:

• Она ругает его каждый раз, когда он забывает ключи. (Ona rugayet ego kazhdyy raz, kogda on zabytet klyuchi.)

  She chides him every time he forgets the keys. (This highlights repetitive use in domestic scenarios.)

• Начальник упрекал сотрудников за задержки в работе. (Nachal'nik uprekal sotrudnikov za zaderzhki v rabote.)

  The boss chided the employees for delays in work. (Shows 'упрекать' in a professional, ongoing context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'ругать' and 'упрекать' are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard first-conjugation patterns for Russian verbs, with irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table outlining their key inflections:

Note: These verbs do not have perfective counterparts in all contexts, but 'ругать' can pair with 'поругать' for completed actions. They are regular but require attention to stem changes and endings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бранить (branit') - Similar to 'ругать' but often more intense.
  • критиковать (kritikovat') - Formal synonym for 'упрекать', implying constructive criticism.
  • осуждать (osuzhdat') - Used when the chiding has a moral undertone.
• Antonyms:
  • хвалить (khalit') - To praise.
  • поощрять (pooshchryat') - To encourage.

Related Phrases:

• Ругать почем зря (Rugat' poche m zrya) - To scold without restraint; meaning: To criticize harshly without justification.
• Упрекать в небрежности (Uprekat' v nebrezhnosti) - To chide for carelessness; used in contexts of accountability.
• Не ругай меня (Ne rugay menya) - Don't chide me; a common plea in informal dialogues.

Usage Notes:

'Chide' corresponds most closely to 'ругать' in informal English-Russian exchanges, but 'упрекать' is preferable for polite or professional settings to avoid sounding aggressive. Always consider the context: in Russian culture, direct scolding like 'ругать' is common in families but can be seen as rude in formal environments. For learners, choose 'упрекать' when translating 'chide' to maintain a neutral tone. Grammatically, both verbs require agreement with the subject and object in terms of gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'ругать' in formal writing, e.g., "Я ругаю коллегу" instead of "Я упрекаю коллегу".
  Correct: "Я упрекаю коллегу" (I chide my colleague).
  Explanation: 'Ругать' is too informal and may imply anger, leading to miscommunication in professional contexts.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "Я ругает" instead of "Я ругаю".
  Correct: "Я ругаю" (I chide).
  Explanation: Russian verbs must follow proper endings based on person and tense; this error is common among beginners due to English's simpler verb system.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like 'ругать' often reflect the directness valued in interpersonal communication, stemming from historical influences like folk tales where scolding is a tool for moral education. However, in modern contexts, excessive 'chiding' can be linked to emotional expression in close relationships, contrasting with more reserved Western styles.

Related Concepts:

• критика (kritika) - Criticism
• наказание (nakazanie) - Punishment
• совет (sovet) - Advice