Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'extenuate'

English Word: extenuate

Key Russian Translations:

• смягчить [smʲɪˈaʨʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, used in legal or explanatory contexts]
• оправдать [ɐprɐfˈdatʲ] - [Formal, often implying justification or defense]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in formal, legal, or written contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding nuanced formal language; for 'смягчить', it may be slightly easier at B1, while 'оправдать' could reach B2 due to its contextual depth.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

смягчить: [smʲɪˈaʨʲɪtʲ]

Note on смягчить: The 'щ' sound (as in [ʨʲ]) is a soft, palatalized hiss, which can be challenging for beginners; it softens the preceding consonant.

оправдать: [ɐprɐfˈdatʲ]

Note on оправдать: Stress on the third syllable; the 'ф' is pronounced as a voiceless labiodental fricative, similar to English 'f'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To make (an offense or guilt) seem less serious by providing excuses

Translation(s) & Context:

• смягчить - Used in legal or ethical discussions to mitigate blame, e.g., in court when explaining circumstances.
• оправдать - Applied when defending or justifying actions, often in moral or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Адвокат пытался смягчить вину клиента, подчеркивая его тяжелое детство.

  The lawyer tried to extenuate the client's guilt by emphasizing his difficult childhood.

• В отчете он оправдал опоздание, сославшись на непредвиденные обстоятельства.

  In the report, he extenuated the delay by referring to unforeseen circumstances.

• Судья учел смягчающие факторы, чтобы оправдать более мягкий приговор.

  The judge considered extenuating factors to justify a lighter sentence.

• Она старалась смягчить критику, объяснив, что это была ошибка новичка.

  She tried to extenuate the criticism by explaining it was a beginner's mistake.

• В дискуссии он оправдал свое поведение, указав на внешние давления.

  In the discussion, he extenuated his behavior by pointing to external pressures.

To lessen the seriousness of something (more general use)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смягчить - In everyday formal contexts, like moderating criticism.

Usage Examples:

• Редактор смягчил тон статьи, чтобы избежать конфронтации.

  The editor extenuated the tone of the article to avoid confrontation.

• Он использовал юмор, чтобы смягчить серьезность ситуации.

  He used humor to extenuate the seriousness of the situation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'смягчить' and 'оправдать' are Russian verbs of the first conjugation, which typically follow regular patterns but have specific inflections based on tense, aspect, and person. 'Смягчить' is imperfective, while 'оправдать' can be perfective in some contexts.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms but require attention to aspect (imperfective vs. perfective) for correct usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: ослабить (to weaken, similar but less formal), уменьшить (to reduce, for intensity)
• Antonyms: усугубить (to aggravate, directly opposite in legal contexts), обострить (to sharpen, for worsening situations)

Related Phrases:

• смягчающие обстоятельства - Mitigating circumstances; used in legal contexts to reduce blame.
• оправдать ожидания - To justify expectations; implies meeting or exceeding what is anticipated.
• смягчить удар - To soften the blow; a metaphorical phrase for easing negative impacts.

Usage Notes:

'Смягчить' and 'оправдать' are precise equivalents for 'extenuate' in formal settings, but 'смягчить' is more common for reducing severity, while 'оправдать' emphasizes moral defense. Always consider the context: use these in written or professional English-to-Russian translations, as they carry a formal tone. Grammatically, they require agreement with the subject in person and number. When choosing between translations, opt for 'смягчить' in legal scenarios and 'оправдать' for personal justification.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Confusing 'смягчить' with 'ослабить' (to weaken), leading to incorrect usage. For example, incorrect: "Он ослабил вину" (implies physical weakening). Correct: "Он смягчил вину" – This error arises from overlooking the nuance of moral mitigation.

• Another error: Using 'оправдать' in non-defensive contexts, e.g., incorrect: "Оправдать ситуацию" (implies justifying the situation itself, which is awkward). Correct: "Смягчить ситуацию" – Learners should ensure the verb fits the aspect and intent.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal systems, terms like 'смягчающие обстоятельства' play a significant role in courts, reflecting a tradition influenced by Soviet-era jurisprudence where contextual factors could reduce sentences. This highlights Russia's emphasis on situational ethics over strict black-and-white morality.

Related Concepts:

• освобождение
• обстоятельства
• защита