Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Criticize'

English Word: criticize

Key Russian Translations:

• критиковать [krʲɪtʲɪˈkovətʲ] - [Formal/Informal, General Use]
• осуждать [ɐsʊʐˈdatʲ] - [Formal, Often with Moral Connotation]
• ругать [rʊˈɡatʲ] - [Informal, Colloquial]

Frequency: High (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by specific translation and context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

критиковать: [krʲɪtʲɪˈkovətʲ]

Note on критиковать: Stress falls on the third syllable; the 'о' is pronounced as a reduced 'a' sound in unstressed positions.

осуждать: [ɐsʊʐˈdatʲ]

Note on осуждать: Stress on the third syllable; the 'ж' is a voiced fricative, similar to 's' in 'measure'.

ругать: [rʊˈɡatʲ]

Note on ругать: Stress on the second syllable; a straightforward colloquial term.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To express disapproval or find fault (general criticism)

Translation(s) & Context:

• критиковать - Used in both formal and informal settings for general criticism of ideas, work, or behavior.
• ругать - More informal, often used in everyday speech to scold or reprimand someone.

Usage Examples:

• Он часто критикует мою работу, но не предлагает решений.

  He often criticizes my work but doesn’t offer solutions.

• Учительница ругала учеников за плохое поведение.

  The teacher criticized the students for bad behavior.

• Его критиковали за непрофессионализм на собрании.

  He was criticized for unprofessionalism at the meeting.

2. To judge or condemn (with moral or ethical undertones)

Translation(s) & Context:

• осуждать - Used in formal or serious contexts, often implying moral judgment or disapproval.

Usage Examples:

• Общество осуждает такие поступки.

  Society criticizes such actions.

• Её осуждали за выбор карьеры вместо семьи.

  She was criticized for choosing a career over family.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

критиковать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Person	Form
Я (I)	критикую [krʲɪtʲɪˈkuju]
Ты (You, informal)	критикуешь [krʲɪtʲɪˈkujɪʃ]
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	критикует [krʲɪtʲɪˈkujɪt]
Мы (We)	критикуем [krʲɪtʲɪˈkujɪm]
Вы (You, formal/plural)	критикуете [krʲɪtʲɪˈkujɪtʲɪ]
Они (They)	критикуют [krʲɪtʲɪˈkujut]

осуждать (verb, imperfective): Follows similar regular conjugation patterns as above.

ругать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation, often used colloquially. Similar structure to above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for критиковать:

• поносить
• бранить

Note: 'поносить' often implies harsher criticism; 'бранить' is close to 'ругать' in informal tone.

Antonyms for критиковать:

• хвалить
• восхвалять

Related Phrases:

• критиковать за что-то - To criticize for something (specific reason).
• осуждать публично - To criticize publicly (often with moral judgment).
• ругать на чём свет стоит - To criticize harshly (idiomatic, very informal).

Usage Notes:

• критиковать is the most neutral and widely applicable term for 'criticize', suitable for academic, professional, or casual contexts.
• осуждать carries a stronger moral or ethical judgment, often used in discussions of behavior or societal norms.
• ругать is informal and emotional, often used when scolding someone directly, especially in personal settings.
• Be mindful of the aspectual pair for each verb (e.g., критиковать/покритиковать for imperfective/perfective); the imperfective forms are more common in general statements.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using ругать in formal contexts. Incorrect: "На конференции его ругали за доклад." Correct: "На конференции его критиковали за доклад." (Translation: At the conference, he was criticized for his report.) Explanation: 'ругать' sounds too colloquial for formal settings.
• Error: Confusing осуждать with критиковать when no moral judgment is intended. Incorrect: "Я осуждаю эту книгу за стиль." Correct: "Я критикую эту книгу за стиль." (Translation: I criticize this book for its style.) Explanation: 'осуждать' implies moral disapproval, not stylistic critique.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, criticism (especially using terms like осуждать) can carry a heavier social weight, as direct confrontation is often avoided in favor of subtle or indirect feedback in personal interactions. However, public or professional criticism (критиковать) is common and expected in academic or workplace settings.

Related Concepts:

• похвала (praise)
• замечание (remark/criticism)
• упрёк (reproach)