Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'deteriorates'

English Word: deteriorates

Key Russian Translations:

• ухудшается [u.xʊd.ˈʂa.ɪ.t͡sə] - [Formal, used in descriptive or analytical contexts]
• разрушается [rə.ˈzru.ʂə.ɪ.t͡sə] - [Formal, Informal; implies physical or structural breakdown]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in news, reports, and everyday discussions about change, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти" or "быть")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and context, as it involves imperfective aspect in Russian. For "ухудшается", it's B2; for "разрушается", it could be B1 if focusing on basic forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ухудшается: [u.xʊd.ˈʂa.ɪ.t͡sə]

разрушается: [rə.ˈzru.ʂə.ɪ.t͡sə]

Note on ухудшается: The "ш" sound (ʂ) can be challenging for English speakers; it's a voiceless retroflex fricative, similar to "sh" in "shoe" but with a curled tongue. Stress is on the third syllable.

Note on разрушается: Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech; ensure the "р" is rolled for authenticity in Russian contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To become worse in quality, condition, or state (e.g., health, economy)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ухудшается - Used in formal contexts like medical reports or economic analyses to describe gradual worsening; avoids overly dramatic language.
• разрушается - Applied in contexts involving physical decay or destruction, such as buildings or relationships; can be informal in casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Ситуация ухудшается с каждым днём из-за экономических проблем.

  The situation deteriorates every day due to economic issues.

• Здоровье пациента ухудшается, и врачи рекомендуют немедленное лечение.

  The patient's health deteriorates, and doctors recommend immediate treatment.

• Если не принять меры, отношения в семье разрушаются под давлением стресса.

  If no action is taken, family relationships deteriorate under the pressure of stress.

• Качество продукта разрушается из-за неправильного хранения.

  The quality of the product deteriorates due to improper storage.

• Климатические изменения приводят к тому, что окружающая среда ухудшается быстрее, чем ожидалось.

  Climate change causes the environment to deteriorate faster than expected.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "ухудшается" and "разрушается" are imperfective verbs in the present tense (third person singular). Russian verbs follow patterns of conjugation based on aspect, person, number, and tense. "Ухудшается" is from the verb "ухудшаться" (to worsen, imperfective), and "разрушается" is from "разрушаться" (to be destroyed, imperfective). These verbs are conjugated irregularly in some aspects due to Russian's aspectual system.

Note: These verbs do not change in a completely irregular way but follow standard patterns for reflexive verbs (-ся ending). If the verb is not reflexive, forms may vary slightly in other contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Падает (padet) - Implies a decline, often used for values or standards; less formal than ухудшается.
  • Портится (portitsya) - Focuses on spoiling or degrading, especially for physical items; common in everyday language.
• Antonyms:
  • Улучшается (uluchshaetsya) - Directly opposite, meaning "improves."
  • Восстанавливается (vosstanavlivaetsya) - Means "recovers" or "is restored," often in contexts of repair.

Related Phrases:

• Экономическая ситуация ухудшается - Refers to "The economic situation is deteriorating," used in financial discussions.
• Здоровье разрушается от стресса - Means "Health is being destroyed by stress," highlighting causes of decline.
• Окружающая среда ухудшается из-за загрязнения - Translates to "The environment is deteriorating due to pollution," in ecological contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Ухудшается" is the most precise translation for "deteriorates" in contexts involving gradual change, as it captures the imperfective aspect in Russian, emphasizing ongoing processes. Use it in formal writing or speech, such as reports, to align with English's neutral tone. "Разрушается" is better for scenarios implying destruction or irreversible damage. Be mindful of aspect: Russian verbs have perfective counterparts (e.g., "ухудшить" for a completed action), so choose based on whether the deterioration is ongoing. In informal settings, synonyms like "портится" might be more natural. When selecting between translations, consider the context—e.g., use "ухудшается" for abstract concepts and "разрушается" for tangible ones.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the perfective form "ухудшил" instead of the imperfective "ухудшается" for ongoing actions. Correct: "Ситуация ухудшается" (ongoing) vs. Incorrect: "Ситуация ухудшил" (implies a completed action, which is wrong). Explanation: English "deteriorates" is typically imperfective, so match it with Russian's imperfective forms to convey process rather than result.

• Error: Confusing "разрушается" with "уничтожается" (is destroyed completely). Correct: "Книга разрушается от влаги" (The book is deteriorating from moisture) vs. Incorrect: "Книга уничтожается" (implies total destruction). Explanation: "Разрушается" suggests gradual wear, while "уничтожается" means eradication, leading to overuse of dramatic language.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "ухудшается" often appear in discussions of historical events or literature, such as in works by Tolstoy, where societal or personal decline is a theme. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on resilience and the impermanence of conditions, influenced by Russia's history of economic fluctuations and environmental challenges.

Related Concepts:

• Улучшение (uluchshenie)
• Разрушение (razrushenie)
• Прогрессировать (progressirovat')