Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'disabuse'

English Word: disabuse

Key Russian Translations:

• разубедить (/rə.zʊˈbʲe.dʲɪtʲ/) - [Formal, Used in persuasive or educational contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly encountered in discussions, literature, and formal writing, but not as everyday as basic verbs like "сказать".)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts of persuasion. For less common usages, it may approach B2-C1.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разубедить: /rə.zʊˈbʲe.dʲɪtʲ/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft 'бʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to Russian palatalization.)

Note on разубедить: Pronunciation may vary slightly by region; in standard Russian, the 'р' is rolled. Pay attention to the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To correct someone's mistaken belief or free them from a falsehood

Translation(s) & Context:

• разубедить - Used in formal discussions, educational settings, or when persuading someone to abandon an error; appropriate for written and spoken language in professional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его аргументы разубедили меня в необходимости этой покупки.

  His arguments disabused me of the need for this purchase.

• Преподаватель разубедил студентов в распространённом мифе о истории.

  The teacher disabused the students of a common myth about history.

• Друзья разубедили её в том, что путешествие будет опасным.

  Her friends disabused her of the idea that the trip would be dangerous.

• Эта книга разубедила читателей в устаревших предрассудках.

  This book disabused readers of outdated prejudices.

• Эксперт разубедил аудиторию в заблуждении о климатических изменениях.

  The expert disabused the audience of misconceptions about climate change.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Разубедить" is a verb of the first conjugation in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns but has irregularities in some forms. It is imperfective and can be used in various tenses. Below is a table outlining key inflections:

Note: The verb is aspectual; its perfective counterpart is "разубедить" itself in some contexts, but for ongoing actions, use the imperfective form like "разубеждать". It does not change for gender in the infinitive form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вывести из заблуждения (more literal, used in explanatory contexts; implies a process of leading out of error)
  • убедить в обратном (focuses on convincing to the opposite view; common in debates)
• Antonyms:
  • убедить (to convince; reinforces a belief rather than dispelling it)
  • внушить (to instill; often used for planting ideas)

Related Phrases:

• Вывести из заблуждения - To lead someone out of a misconception; often used in educational or corrective contexts.
• Разубедить в чем-либо - To disabuse someone of something specific; a direct phrase for targeted persuasion.
• Поколебать убеждения - To shake someone's convictions; implies a deeper challenge to beliefs.

Usage Notes:

"Разубедить" directly corresponds to "disabuse" in English, emphasizing the act of correcting false beliefs through evidence or argument. It is typically used in formal or semi-formal settings, such as academic discussions or professional advice, and requires an object (e.g., "в чём-либо" for "of something"). Be cautious with verb aspect: use it for completed actions. When choosing between translations like "вывести из заблуждения," opt for "разубедить" in concise, persuasive contexts. Grammatically, it must agree with the subject in person and number.

• In informal speech, Russians might prefer simpler phrases to avoid sounding overly formal.
• Always follow with a prepositional phrase for clarity, e.g., "разубедить в идее."

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "разубедить" with "убедить," using it to mean "convince" rather than "disabuse." For example:

• Incorrect: Я убедил его в правоте. (This means "I convinced him of the rightness," which is the opposite intent.)
• Correct: Я разубедил его в заблуждении. (This properly means "I disabused him of the misconception.")
• Explanation: The key difference is in the direction of persuasion—ensure the context involves correcting an error, not affirming a belief.

Another error is improper conjugation, such as using the wrong tense; always match the verb to the subject's person and number for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "разубедить" often appears in contexts involving intellectual debate or education, reflecting a value placed on critical thinking and challenging misinformation, as seen in Russian literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works). It underscores the cultural emphasis on rhetoric and persuasion in social interactions, where correcting others' views can be seen as a form of intellectual engagement rather than confrontation.

Related Concepts:

• убеждение (conviction)
• заблуждение (misconception)
• аргументация (argumentation)