Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'enjoin'

English Word: enjoin

Key Russian Translations:

• приказывать [prɪ.kɐ.'zɨ.vatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in official or authoritative contexts]
• повелеть [pɐ.vʲɪ.'lʲetʲ] - [Formal, Literary, Used in historical or poetic language]
• запрещать [zɐ.prʲɪ.'ʂʲatʲ] - [Formal, If 'enjoin' implies prohibition]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, instructional, or formal writing, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for verbs like приказывать and запрещать, as they involve verb conjugation; повелеть may be C1 due to its literary nature)

Pronunciation (Russian):

приказывать: [prɪ.kɐ.'zɨ.vatʲ]

повелеть: [pɐ.vʲɪ.'lʲetʲ]

запрещать: [zɐ.prʲɪ.'ʂʲatʲ]

Note on приказывать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making it more palatalized.

Note on повелеть: This is an imperfective verb with a more archaic feel; pronunciation can vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To instruct or order someone to do something (primary sense of 'enjoin')

Translation(s) & Context:

• приказывать - Used in formal commands, such as in military or professional settings, to convey authority.
• повелеть - Employed in literary or historical contexts for a more imperative, kingly command.

Usage Examples:

• Начальник приказывает сотрудникам закончить отчёт к вечеру.

  The boss enjoins the employees to finish the report by evening.

• В романе король повелевает рыцарям отправиться в опасное путешествие.

  In the novel, the king enjoins the knights to embark on a dangerous journey.

• Судья приказывает свидетелю говорить правду под присягой.

  The judge enjoins the witness to speak the truth under oath.

• Родители приказывают детям убирать комнату ежедневно.

  Parents enjoin their children to clean their room every day, emphasizing routine obedience.

Meaning 2: To prohibit or forbid (secondary sense of 'enjoin')

Translation(s) & Context:

• запрещать - Used in legal or regulatory contexts to indicate prohibition, often with consequences.

Usage Examples:

• Закон запрещает курение в общественных местах.

  The law enjoins smoking in public places.

• Врач запрещает пациенту есть жирную пищу после операции.

  The doctor enjoins the patient from eating fatty foods after surgery, highlighting health restrictions.

• Школа запрещает использование мобильных телефонов во время уроков.

  The school enjoins the use of mobile phones during classes to maintain focus.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like приказывать and запрещать, these are imperfective verbs that follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. They are conjugated based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Повелеть is also a verb but less common and often used in its imperative form.

These verbs do not have irregular forms but require attention to aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions). If the word is used as a noun in derivatives, it remains unchanged in basic form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • велеть [veljetʲ] - Similar to повелеть, but more neutral and common in everyday commands.
  • обязывать [ɐ.bɨ.'zɨ.vatʲ] - Implies obligation, often in legal contexts; differs by emphasizing duty.
• Antonyms:
  • позволять [pɐ.'zvo.lʲatʲ] - To permit or allow, directly opposite to prohibition.
  • освобождать [ɐs.'vbo.'ʐʲdatʲ] - To free or release from obligation.

Related Phrases:

• Приказывать молчать - To enjoin silence; used to command quietness in tense situations.
• Запрещать въезд - To enjoin entry; common in border or security contexts.
• Повелеть собраться - To enjoin gathering; implies a formal assembly order, often historical.

Usage Notes:

'Enjoin' typically corresponds to Russian verbs like приказывать for commands and запрещать for prohibitions. Use приказывать in modern, formal settings to mirror the authoritative tone of 'enjoin', but avoid it in casual conversations to prevent sounding overly rigid. For literary flair, повелеть is ideal but rare in everyday Russian. Grammar note: These are imperfective verbs, so pair them with aspects that indicate ongoing or repeated actions. When choosing between translations, opt for запрещать if 'enjoin' has a prohibitive connotation.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing the aspect and using perfective forms incorrectly, e.g., saying "Я запретил курить" when meaning an ongoing prohibition.
  Correct: Use imperfective like "Я запрещаю курить" for general rules.
  Explanation: Russian verbs have aspects; imperfective shows process, while perfective shows completion.
• Mistake: Overusing повелеть in modern contexts, e.g., "Я повелел убрать комнату."
  Correct: Use приказывать for contemporary commands, like "Я приказываю убрать комнату."
  Explanation: Повелеть sounds archaic and may confuse listeners in daily interactions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like приказывать and повелеть often evoke historical authority figures, such as tsars or Soviet-era leaders, reflecting a tradition of hierarchical command structures. This can add a layer of formality or even irony in modern usage, emphasizing power dynamics in social or professional interactions.

Related Concepts:

• власть [vlaʂʲtʲ] - Authority or power.
• обязанность [ɐ.bɨ.'zan.nəsʲtʲ] - Duty or obligation.
• запрет [zɐ.'prʲet] - Prohibition or ban.