Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Determine'

English Word: determine

Key Russian Translations:

• определять [ɐprʲɪdʲɪˈlʲatʲ] - [Formal, General Use]
• решать [rʲɪˈʂatʲ] - [Informal, Often in Decision-Making Contexts]
• устанавливать [ʊstənɐˈvlʲivatʲ] - [Formal, Often in Legal or Technical Contexts]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "определять" and "решать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "устанавливать"

Pronunciation (Russian):

определять: [ɐprʲɪdʲɪˈlʲatʲ]

Note on определять: Stress falls on the fourth syllable; the "я" is pronounced as a soft "ya" sound.

решать: [rʲɪˈʂatʲ]

Note on решать: The "ш" is a retroflex sound, distinct from English "sh"; stress on the second syllable.

устанавливать: [ʊstənɐˈvlʲivatʲ]

Note on устанавливать: Long word with stress on the fourth syllable; practice softening the "л" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To find out or establish something (e.g., facts, causes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• определять - Used when identifying or defining something (e.g., a cause, a value).
• устанавливать - Used in formal contexts to establish facts or rules.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны определить причину аварии.

  We must determine the cause of the accident.

• Суд установил виновность обвиняемого.

  The court determined the guilt of the accused.

• Ученые определили возраст находки.

  Scientists determined the age of the find.

2. To decide or resolve (e.g., a course of action)

Translation(s) & Context:

• решать - Commonly used for making decisions or resolving issues.

Usage Examples:

• Давай решим, куда поехать в отпуск.

  Let’s determine where to go on vacation.

• Комитет решил судьбу проекта.

  The committee determined the fate of the project.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

определять (Verb, Imperfective): Follows regular conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -ать. Used for ongoing or repeated actions.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter/Plural)
Я (I)	определяю	определял / определяла / определяло / определяли
Ты (You, informal)	определяешь	определял / определяла / определяло / определяли
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	определяет	определял / определяла / определяло / определяли

решать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation for -ать verbs; similar to "определять."

устанавливать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular but longer form; stress shifts in some forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "определять":

• выявлять
• устанавливать

Note: "выявлять" often implies uncovering something hidden, while "устанавливать" is more formal.

Antonyms for "определять":

• игнорировать
• упускать

Related Phrases:

• определить границы - To determine boundaries (literal or figurative).
• решить проблему - To determine/solve a problem.
• установить правила - To determine/set rules.

Usage Notes:

• "Определять" is the most general and versatile translation for "determine," suitable for both formal and neutral contexts when identifying or defining something.
• "Решать" is more colloquial and often used when "determine" refers to making a decision or resolving an issue.
• "Устанавливать" is reserved for formal, technical, or legal contexts, such as establishing facts or rules.
• Note that all three verbs are imperfective; for completed actions, perfective forms like "определить," "решить," or "установить" may be used.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "решать" in formal contexts where "устанавливать" is appropriate. For example, saying "Суд решил виновность" instead of "Суд установил виновность." Explanation: "Решать" sounds too informal for legal rulings.
• Error: Confusing imperfective and perfective aspects, e.g., using "определять" instead of "определить" for a completed action. Correct: "Я определил причину" (I determined the cause) vs. Incorrect: "Я определял причину."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the choice between "определять," "решать," and "устанавливать" can reflect the speaker's intent or the formality of the situation. For instance, "решать" is often used in everyday problem-solving discussions, mirroring a cultural emphasis on collective decision-making in informal settings.

Related Concepts:

• выяснять (to find out)
• анализировать (to analyze)
• заключать (to conclude)