Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Counterbalance'

English Word: Counterbalance

Key Russian Translations:

• противовес [prətʲɪˈvʲes] - [Formal, Often used in physical and metaphorical contexts]
• уравновешивать [ʊrəvnəˈvʲeʂɪvətʲ] - [Verb, Used for the action of balancing]
• компенсация [kəmpʲɪnˈsat͡sɨjə] - [Formal, Often used in abstract or financial contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like physics, economics, or figurative speech)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by translation - "противовес" is B1, "уравновешивать" is B2 due to verb conjugation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

противовес: [prətʲɪˈvʲes]

Note on противовес: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "о" in "про" is reduced to a schwa sound in unstressed position.

уравновешивать: [ʊrəvnəˈvʲeʂɪvətʲ]

Note on уравновешивать: Stress on the fourth syllable. Pay attention to the soft consonants "в" and "ш".

компенсация: [kəmpʲɪnˈsat͡sɨjə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physical or Literal Balancing (e.g., weight or force)

Translation(s) & Context:

• противовес - Used for a physical counterweight or something that balances a force.
• уравновешивать - Verb, used for the act of balancing weights or forces.

Usage Examples:

• На кране установлен противовес для устойчивости.

  A counterweight is installed on the crane for stability.

• Этот груз уравновешивает другой на весах.

  This load counterbalances the other on the scales.

• Противовес помогает избежать опрокидывания.

  The counterweight helps prevent tipping over.

2. Metaphorical or Abstract Balancing (e.g., ideas, emotions, or influences)

Translation(s) & Context:

• противовес - Used metaphorically to indicate something that offsets or balances an idea or influence.
• компенсация - Refers to compensation or balancing in abstract terms, often in economics or psychology.

Usage Examples:

• Его оптимизм служит противовесом моему пессимизму.

  His optimism serves as a counterbalance to my pessimism.

• Эта политика стала компенсацией за предыдущие ошибки.

  This policy became a counterbalance to previous mistakes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

противовес (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate):

уравновешивать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Requires attention to aspect (imperfective vs. perfective "уравновесить").

компенсация (Noun, Feminine, Inanimate): Follows standard feminine declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for противовес:

• баланс
• равновесие

Note: "баланс" is more often used in financial contexts, while "равновесие" is broader and can refer to equilibrium.

Antonyms for противовес:

• дисбаланс
• неравновесие

Related Phrases:

• служить противовесом - To serve as a counterbalance (often used metaphorically).
• уравновешивать силы - To balance forces (used in physical or strategic contexts).
• финансовая компенсация - Financial counterbalance/compensation (common in legal or economic discussions).

Usage Notes:

• "противовес" is the most direct translation for a literal or metaphorical counterweight. Use it when referring to a tangible object or a balancing factor.
• "уравновешивать" is a verb and should be used when describing the action of balancing something. Pay attention to its aspect (imperfective) and choose "уравновесить" (perfective) for completed actions.
• "компенсация" is more abstract and often used in contexts of compensation or offsetting losses rather than direct balancing.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "уравновешивать" as a noun. Wrong: "Это уравновешивать для проблемы." Correct: Use "противовес" as the noun - "Это противовес для проблемы."
• Error: Confusing "компенсация" with "противовес" in physical contexts. Wrong: "На кране стоит компенсация." Correct: "На кране стоит противовес." Explanation: "компенсация" is not used for physical counterweights.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "противовес" often appears in discussions of political or social balance, reflecting a cultural emphasis on equilibrium in power dynamics. For example, it’s common to hear "противовес" in media when discussing checks and balances in governance.

Related Concepts:

• равновесие (equilibrium)
• баланс (balance)
• гармония (harmony)