Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dissuade'

English Word: dissuade

Key Russian Translations:

• отговорить (/ɐtɡɐˈvɔrʲɪtʲ/) - [Formal, Perfective verb, Used in contexts involving persuasion against an action]
• отговаривать (/ɐtɡɐˈvɐrʲɪvɐtʲ/) - [Informal, Imperfective verb, Used for ongoing or repeated dissuasion, such as in casual conversations]

Frequency: Medium - This verb is commonly encountered in everyday Russian speech and literature, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "сказать" (to say).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Involves understanding verb aspects (perfective vs. imperfective), which can be challenging for learners at A2 level. For "отговорить", it's B1; for "отговаривать", it's also B1 due to aspectual nuances.

Pronunciation (Russian):

отговорить: /ɐtɡɐˈvɔrʲɪtʲ/ - The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft 'р' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

отговаривать: /ɐtɡɐˈvɐrʲɪvɐtʲ/ - Similar stress pattern; pay attention to the repeated 'ва' sounds for fluid pronunciation.

Note on отговорить: This word has a palatalized 'т' in some dialects, making it sound like /ɐtɡɐˈvɔrʲɪtʲʲ/, but standard pronunciation omits this for clarity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To persuade someone not to take a particular course of action.

Translation(s) & Context:

• отговорить - Used in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as advising against a decision in professional settings.
• отговаривать - Applied in informal, ongoing situations, like family discussions or friendly advice.

Usage Examples:

• Он отговорил меня от этой рискованной инвестиции.

  He dissuaded me from this risky investment.

• Друзья отговаривали её от переезда в другой город, но она не послушала.

  Friends were dissuading her from moving to another city, but she didn't listen.

• Родители отговорили сына от покупки старой машины.

  The parents dissuaded their son from buying the old car.

• Врач отговаривал пациента от курения, подчёркивая риски для здоровья.

  The doctor was dissuading the patient from smoking, emphasizing the health risks.

• Она отговорила коллегу от участия в ненужном проекте.

  She dissuaded her colleague from participating in an unnecessary project.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "отговорить" (perfective) and "отговаривать" (imperfective) are verbs, and Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Отговорить" is perfective, indicating a completed action, while "отговаривать" is imperfective, for ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard first-conjugation patterns with some irregularities in aspect.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive or future forms but do in the past tense, which is a common Russian feature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • убедить (ubedit') - To convince, often with more emphasis on logical persuasion.
  • предостеречь (predosterech') - To warn or caution, typically in potentially dangerous situations.
• Antonyms:
  • убедить (ubedit') - In the context of encouraging an action, meaning to convince to do something.
  • поощрять (pooshchryat') - To encourage or promote.

Related Phrases:

• отговорить от идеи - To dissuade from an idea; used when advising against a concept or plan.
• отговаривать от покупки - To dissuade from buying; common in consumer or financial contexts.
• отговорить от поездки - To dissuade from a trip; often involves travel or adventure scenarios.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "отговорить" and "отговаривать" directly correspond to "dissuade" but differ in aspect: use "отговорить" for a single, completed act of persuasion, and "отговаривать" for ongoing efforts. These verbs are typically followed by the preposition "от" (from) plus the genitive case, e.g., "отговорить от чего-то". Be mindful of formal vs. informal contexts— "отговорить" suits professional or written language, while "отговаривать" is better for spoken, everyday dialogue. When choosing between translations, opt for "отговорить" if the action is final; otherwise, use "отговаривать".

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: English learners often use "отговорить" when "отговаривать" is needed for ongoing actions. Incorrect: "Я отговорил его вчера" (if the dissuasion was prolonged). Correct: "Я отговаривал его вчера". Explanation: Russian requires precise aspect to convey action completion.

• Preposition misuse: Forgetting "от" or using the wrong case. Incorrect: "Отговорить идея" (wrong structure). Correct: "Отговорить от идеи". Explanation: Always use genitive after "от" to indicate what is being dissuaded from.

• Overgeneralizing synonyms: Mistaking "убедить" for "dissuade" when it means "convince to do". Incorrect: Using "убедить от" for dissuasion. Correct: Stick to "отговорить". Explanation: This can lead to opposite meanings in context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, dissuasion like "отговорить" often reflects a communal approach to decision-making, where advice from family or friends is highly valued. This verb appears frequently in literature, such as in works by Tolstoy, where characters dissuade others from impulsive actions, highlighting themes of wisdom and collective responsibility.

Related Concepts:

• убедить
• предупредить
• поощрять