Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'displease'

English Word: displease

Key Russian Translations:

• раздражать (/rəzdrɐˈʐatʲ/) - [Formal, Informal; Used in everyday contexts to express irritation or annoyance]
• огорчать (/ɐˈɡort͡ɕatʲ/) - [Formal; Often used in emotional or relational contexts, such as disappointing someone]
• не нравиться (/nʲe ˈnra.vʲit͡sə/) - [Informal; Used in phrases to indicate personal dislike or dissatisfaction]

Frequency: Medium - This verb and its translations are commonly encountered in Russian literature, conversations, and media, but not as frequent as basic daily verbs like "to be" or "to go."

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2) - Involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual nuances; for "раздражать" and "огорчать," learners at B1 may struggle with imperfective aspects, while "не нравиться" is slightly easier at A2 due to its reflexive structure.

Pronunciation (Russian):

раздражать: /rəzdrɐˈʐatʲ/

Note on раздражать: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ʐatʲ"), and the 'ж' sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; variations in informal speech may soften the consonants.

огорчать: /ɐˈɡort͡ɕatʲ/

Note on огорчать: Pronounce the 'ч' as a voiceless palatal fricative; in fast speech, it might blend with surrounding vowels.

не нравиться: /nʲe ˈnra.vʲit͡sə/

Note on не нравиться: The 'н' in "не" is nasal and unstressed; this phrase often has a rising intonation in questions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To cause annoyance or dissatisfaction

Translation(s) & Context:

• раздражать - Used in situations involving mild irritation, such as in daily interactions or descriptions of behavior (e.g., in formal writing or complaints).
• огорчать - Applied in more emotional contexts, like disappointing expectations in relationships or events (e.g., in literature or personal narratives).
• не нравиться - Common in subjective opinions, such as expressing personal dislike for objects or experiences (e.g., in casual conversations).

Usage Examples:

• Его поведение всегда раздражает меня во время встреч. (His behavior always displeases me during meetings.)

  Translation: His behavior always displeases me during meetings. (This example shows the verb in a present tense context, highlighting ongoing annoyance.)

• Эта новость огорчает всю семью. (This news displeases the whole family.)

  Translation: This news displeases the whole family. (Illustrates use in an emotional, family-oriented scenario, emphasizing disappointment.)

• Мне не нравится, как он говорит со мной. (I don't like how he speaks to me; it displeases me.)

  Translation: I don't like how he speaks to me. (This demonstrates the phrase in a personal, informal setting, often with reflexive verbs.)

• Постоянный шум на улице раздражает соседей. (The constant street noise displeases the neighbors.)

  Translation: The constant street noise displeases the neighbors. (Shows application in a broader environmental context.)

• Её решение огорчает друзей, но они молчат. (Her decision displeases her friends, but they remain silent.)

  Translation: Her decision displeases her friends, but they remain silent. (Highlights interpersonal dynamics and emotional restraint.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Раздражать" and "огорчать" are imperfective verbs, while "не нравиться" is a reflexive verb phrase. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for "раздражать" as an example; "огорчать" follows similar patterns.

For "огорчать," the conjugation is regular and similar. "Не нравиться" is invariant as a phrase but changes with the subject (e.g., мне не нравится - to me it doesn't please). These verbs do not have irregular forms but follow standard imperfective patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: огорчать (similar but more emotional), разочаровывать (to disappoint, often in expectations)
• Antonyms: удовлетворять (to satisfy, used when something meets expectations), успокаивать (to calm, contrasting irritation)

Related Phrases:

• Раздражать нервы - (To get on one's nerves; a common expression for causing ongoing annoyance in stressful situations.)
• Огорчать ожиданием - (To displease by keeping waiting; used in contexts of impatience or letdowns.)
• Не нравиться кому-то - (Not to please someone; a phrase for expressing mutual dislike in social interactions.)

Usage Notes:

"Displease" translates variably in Russian based on context: use "раздражать" for general irritation, "огорчать" for deeper emotional disappointment, and "не нравиться" for personal preferences. Be mindful of formality— "раздражать" works in both formal and informal settings, while "не нравиться" is more casual. Grammatically, these are often used with the dative case for the person affected (e.g., меня раздражает - it displeases me). Choose based on intensity: "огорчать" implies stronger emotion than "раздражать."

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "раздражать" with "irritate" too literally, leading to overuse in non-emotional contexts. Correct: Use "огорчать" for disappointment. Example of error: *Я раздражаю еду* (incorrect for "The food displeases me"); Correct: Мне не нравится еда. Explanation: "Раздражать" requires a subject that actively causes annoyance, not passive dislike.

• Error: Forgetting reflexive particles in "не нравиться," saying *не нравится* without the dative. Correct: Мне не нравится. Explanation: This phrase always needs the dative to indicate the person experiencing the displeasure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like "раздражать" often reflect the value placed on emotional restraint and indirect communication. For instance, complaining about something that "displeases" you might be done subtly to avoid confrontation, influenced by historical emphasis on collectivism in Soviet-era society.

Related Concepts:

• раздражение
• разочарование
• нравиться