Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'discuss'

English Word: discuss

Key Russian Translations:

• Обсудить /ɐbˈsudʲɪtʲ/ - [Verb, Formal, Used in discussions or meetings]
• Обсуждение /ɐbˈsudʒdʲenʲje/ - [Noun, Neutral, Plural form: Обсуждения]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly used in everyday conversations, academic settings, and professional contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "say").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and noun declensions, with some translations varying by context; for "Обсудить", it's Intermediate due to aspect changes, while "Обсуждение" is easier at A2 for beginners).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Обсудить: /ɐbˈsudʲɪtʲ/ (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'дʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.)

Note on Обсудить: This verb has a perfective aspect; pronounce the 'у' as a short 'u' sound, similar to "book" in English. Variations in fast speech may soften the consonants.

Обсуждение: /ɐbˈsudʒdʲenʲje/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ж' is a voiced fricative, like the 's' in "measure".)

Note on Обсуждение: As a neuter noun, the ending changes in declension, which affects pronunciation slightly in different cases.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To talk about something in detail, often to exchange ideas (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Обсудить - Used in formal or professional settings, such as meetings or debates, to indicate a thorough discussion.
• Обсуждение - Refers to the act or process of discussing, often in a group context like forums or conferences.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны обсудить этот вопрос на следующей встрече.

  We should discuss this issue at the next meeting. (This example shows the verb in a future context, emphasizing planning.)

• Обсуждение проекта заняло весь день.

  The discussion of the project took the whole day. (Illustrates the noun form in a descriptive sentence.)

• Давайте обсудим ваши идеи более подробно.

  Let's discuss your ideas in more detail. (Demonstrates informal imperative use in collaborative settings.)

• Во время обсуждения возникли новые предложения.

  New suggestions arose during the discussion. (Shows the noun in a narrative context with other vocabulary.)

• Я не хочу обсуждать личные дела на публике.

  I don't want to discuss personal matters in public. (Highlights the verb in a negative sentence, indicating reluctance.)

Meaning 2: To debate or deliberate on a topic (Noun form, extended usage)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Обсуждение - Often used in media or academic contexts to mean a formal debate or analysis.

Usage Examples:

• Обсуждение политических тем всегда вызывает споры.

  Discussion of political topics always sparks controversy. (This shows the noun in a general statement about sensitive subjects.)

• После обсуждения мы приняли решение.

  After the discussion, we made a decision. (Illustrates sequencing in decision-making processes.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Обсудить" (a perfective verb), it follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. It is irregular in some aspects due to its perfective form, which doesn't have an imperfective counterpart in all contexts. Below is a conjugation table for the present tense (though it's primarily used in perfective forms):

For "Обсуждение" (a neuter noun), it declines regularly as a second-declension noun:

These forms are regular, but pay attention to the stress shifts in some cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Поговорить (pogovorit') - More casual, used for informal chats.
  • Рассмотреть (rassmotret') - Implies detailed examination, often in professional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Игнорировать (ignorirovat') - To ignore completely.
  • Замолчать (zamolchat') - To fall silent or avoid discussion.

Related Phrases:

• Обсудить вопрос - Discuss the issue (Used in problem-solving contexts, e.g., in meetings).
• Открытое обсуждение - Open discussion (Refers to public forums or debates, emphasizing transparency).
• Групповое обсуждение - Group discussion (Common in educational or team settings for collaborative idea exchange).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "Обсудить" is a perfective verb, meaning it typically refers to a completed action, unlike the more ongoing "discuss" in English. Choose it when the discussion has a clear endpoint. For ongoing discussions, pair it with imperfective verbs like "Обсуждать". "Обсуждение" as a noun is neutral and works in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of declensions based on sentence structure. When translating "discuss", select the appropriate form based on whether you're conveying an action (verb) or a concept (noun).

• In formal writing, use "Обсудить" for proposals or agendas.
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; consider the aspect (perfective vs. imperfective) for accuracy.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing the perfective "Обсудить" with its imperfective counterpart "Обсуждать". For example, English learners might say "Я обсужу это" (incorrect, as it mixes forms), when they mean "Я обсужу это" should be "Я обсужу это" wait, correction: incorrectly using "Обсудить" for ongoing actions. Right way: Use "Обсуждать" for continuous discussion, e.g., "Я обсуждаю это сейчас" (I am discussing this now) instead of "Я обсужу это сейчас" (which implies a future completion). Another error is improper noun declension, like saying "В обсуждение" instead of "В обсуждении" in prepositional case, which changes the meaning subtly.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussions (обсуждения) are often highly valued in social and professional settings, reflecting a tradition of collective decision-making rooted in Soviet-era practices. For instance, in business or family gatherings, "Обсудить" might involve lengthy debates, emphasizing consensus over quick decisions, which contrasts with more individualistic approaches in English-speaking cultures.

Related Concepts:

• Дебаты (debates)
• Конференция (conference)
• Анализ (analysis)