Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'discompose'

English Word: discompose

Key Russian Translations:

• расстроить [rɐˈstro.ɪtʲ] - [Informal; commonly used in everyday conversations to express emotional disturbance]
• взволновать [vzvoɫˈno.vatʲ] - [Formal; often in written or professional contexts for deeper emotional agitation]

Frequency: Medium; this verb is encountered regularly in Russian literature, conversations, and media but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "сказать" (to say).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate); Learners at this CEFR level can grasp its usage, though for "расстроить", it may feel more intuitive, while "взволновать" could require B2 for nuanced contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

расстроить: [rɐˈstro.ɪtʲ]

Note on расстроить: The stress falls on the second syllable ("stro"), and the final "тʲ" is palatalized, which is common in Russian verbs. Pay attention to the soft sign for correct articulation.

взволновать: [vzvoɫˈno.vatʲ]

Note on взволновать: The stress is on the third syllable ("no"), and the "ɫ" sound is a dark L, which might be challenging for English speakers. Variations in speed can affect vowel clarity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To disturb or unsettle someone emotionally (e.g., causing anxiety or loss of composure).

Translation(s) & Context:

• расстроить - Typically used in informal settings, such as personal conversations, to describe mild emotional upset; context: everyday interactions or emotional discussions.
• взволновать - Applied in more formal or intense contexts, like news reports or literature, to convey deeper agitation; context: situations involving excitement or distress in professional or public scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Его неожиданное решение расстроило всю семью. (His unexpected decision discomposed the entire family.)

  His unexpected decision upset the entire family.

• Новости о катастрофе взволновали жителей города. (The news of the disaster discomposed the city's residents.)

  The news of the disaster agitated the city's residents.

• Она старалась не расстроить детей своим грустным видом. (She tried not to discompose the children with her sad expression.)

  She tried not to upset the children with her sad expression.

• Речь политика взволновала аудиторию, заставив всех задуматься. (The politician's speech discomposed the audience, making everyone reflect.)

  The politician's speech agitated the audience, making everyone reflect.

• Маленький инцидент расстроил его планы на вечер. (The minor incident discomposed his plans for the evening.)

  The minor incident upset his plans for the evening.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "расстроить" and "взволновать" are imperfective verbs in Russian, following standard conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. They are regular but require attention to aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions). Below is a table for their key inflections in the present tense; for full paradigms, refer to Russian grammar resources.

Note: These verbs do not change in gender or number in their infinitive form but inflect based on tense, aspect, and person as shown. They are imperfective, so for completed actions, perfective forms like "расстроить" (perfective of расстраивать) or "взволновать" (perfective) are used in past contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • опечалить (opechalit') - More focused on saddening, often with a gentle connotation.
  • обеспокоить (obespokoit') - Emphasizes worry or concern, suitable for formal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • успокоить (uspokoit') - To calm or soothe.
  • ободрить (obodrit') - To encourage or cheer up.

Related Phrases:

• Вывести из равновесия - Literally "to take out of balance"; used to mean discompose someone deeply; English explanation: Common in arguments or stressful situations to describe extreme agitation.
• Расстроить планы - "To upset plans"; English explanation: Refers to disrupting schedules or intentions in daily life.
• Взволновать душу - "To stir the soul"; English explanation: Poetic expression for deeply emotional disturbance, often in literature or art contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Discompose" aligns closely with "расстроить" in informal English-Russian correspondence, but "взволновать" is better for contexts implying intellectual or emotional excitement. Choose "расстроить" for everyday emotional upset and "взволновать" for more formal or intense scenarios. Be mindful of Russian's aspect system: use the imperfective form for ongoing actions and perfective for completed ones. In speech, these verbs often pair with adverbs like "сильно" (strongly) to modulate intensity.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; instead, consider the emotional weight in context.
• In Russian, these verbs can imply a temporary state, unlike some English equivalents that might suggest permanence.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "расстроить" with "разрушить" (to destroy): Learners might misuse "разрушить" thinking it means emotional upset, but it's physical. Correct: Use "расстроить" for emotions. Example of error: *Я разрушила его настроение* (incorrect for "I discomposed his mood") vs. Correct: Я расстроила его настроение.
• Overusing "взволновать" in informal settings: This can sound overly dramatic. Example of error: *Я взволновала друга простой шуткой* (might imply excessive agitation) vs. Correct: Я расстроила друга простой шуткой (for mild upset).
• Forgetting verb aspects: Saying "расстроить" when a perfective form is needed. Example of error: *Я расстраиваю вчера* (incorrect tense) vs. Correct: Я расстроила вчера (for a past completed action).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "расстроить" often reflect the value placed on emotional restraint and composure, influenced by historical contexts such as Soviet-era stoicism. For instance, in literature by authors like Chekhov, such verbs highlight internal turmoil without overt expression, helping English speakers understand the subtle, introspective nature of Russian emotional vocabulary.

Related Concepts:

• опечалить (to sadden)
• обеспокоить (to worry)
• успокоить (to calm)