Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Compete'

English Word: Compete

Key Russian Translations:

• соревноваться [sərʲɪvˈnovətʲsə] - [Informal, General Use]
• конкурировать [kənkʊˈrʲirəvətʲ] - [Formal, Often in Business or Professional Contexts]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "соревноваться"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "конкурировать"

Pronunciation (Russian):

соревноваться: [sərʲɪvˈnovətʲsə]

Note on соревноваться: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, and "в" is pronounced softly.

конкурировать: [kənkʊˈrʲirəvətʲ]

Note on конкурировать: Stress on the third syllable. The "р" is rolled, and the vowels are reduced in unstressed positions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To strive against others (e.g., in sports or games)

Translation(s) & Context:

• соревноваться - Used in contexts of sports, games, or friendly rivalry.

Usage Examples:

• Мы соревновались в беге на дистанцию.

  We competed in a long-distance race.

• Дети соревновались, кто быстрее решит задачу.

  The children competed to see who could solve the problem faster.

• Он соревновался с другом в шахматах.

  He competed with his friend in chess.

2. To vie for advantage (e.g., in business or markets)

Translation(s) & Context:

• конкурировать - Used in formal or professional contexts, especially business or economics.

Usage Examples:

• Наша компания конкурирует с мировыми брендами.

  Our company competes with global brands.

• Магазины конкурируют за внимание покупателей.

  Stores compete for customers' attention.

• Мы должны конкурировать по качеству, а не по цене.

  We must compete on quality, not on price.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

соревноваться (Verb, Imperfective, Reflexive):

конкурировать (Verb, Imperfective): Similar conjugation pattern as above, without reflexive "-ся".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "соревноваться":

• состязаться
• сражаться (in specific contexts)

Note: "состязаться" is often more formal or literary compared to "соревноваться".

Synonyms for "конкурировать":

• соперничать

Antonyms:

• сотрудничать (to collaborate)

Related Phrases:

• соревноваться в чем-либо - To compete in something (specific activity).
• конкурировать на рынке - To compete in the market.
• соревнование за первое место - Competition for the first place.

Usage Notes:

• "соревноваться" is more common in everyday speech and often implies a friendly or sportive competition, while "конкурировать" is used in formal or business contexts to denote rivalry for advantage or resources.
• Both verbs are imperfective, meaning they describe an ongoing process. To express a completed competition, aspectual pairs like "посоревноваться" (perfective) may be used.
• "соревноваться" often pairs with the preposition "в" (in) to indicate the field of competition, while "конкурировать" often uses "с" (with) to indicate the competitor.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "конкурировать" in casual or sports contexts. Incorrect: "Мы конкурировали в футболе." Correct: "Мы соревновались в футболе." (We competed in football.)
• Error: Forgetting the reflexive "-ся" in "соревноваться". Incorrect: "Я соревную." Correct: "Я соревнуюсь."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, competition (especially in sports or academics) is often viewed positively as a means of personal growth and achievement. The term "соревнование" (competition) carries a sense of community and shared effort, unlike the more individualistic connotations of "конкуренция" (rivalry, often in business).

Related Concepts:

• соревнование (competition, event)
• конкуренция (rivalry, competition in economics)
• победа (victory)