Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'flout'

English Word: flout

Key Russian Translations:

• нарушать /nɐˈruʂətʲ/ - [Formal, commonly used in legal or social contexts]
• презирать /prʲɪˈzʲirətʲ/ - [Informal, often for emotional disdain]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are encountered in everyday discussions about rules, laws, and social norms, but not as common as basic verbs.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for 'нарушать' as it involves verb conjugations; C1 for 'презирать' due to nuanced connotations and irregular aspects.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нарушать: /nɐˈruʂətʲ/

презирать: /prʲɪˈzʲirətʲ/

Note on нарушать: The 'ш' sound (/ʂ/) can be challenging for English speakers; it's a voiceless retroflex fricative, similar to the 'sh' in "rush" but more retracted. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Note on презирать: Stress on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'р' (/rʲ/), which is palatalized.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To openly disregard or violate rules/laws (primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нарушать - Used in formal contexts like legal discussions or everyday rule-breaking scenarios.
• презирать - Applied in emotional or interpersonal contexts where disrespect is key.

Usage Examples:

• Он постоянно нарушает правила дорожного движения, что приводит к авариям. (He constantly flouts traffic rules, which leads to accidents.)

  English Translation: He constantly flouts traffic rules, which leads to accidents.

• Молодёжь иногда презирает традиции, но это не всегда приводит к положительным изменениям. (Youth sometimes flout traditions, but it doesn't always lead to positive changes.)

  English Translation: Youth sometimes flout traditions, but it doesn't always lead to positive changes.

• В этой компании сотрудники нарушают сроки сдачи проектов, несмотря на предупреждения. (In this company, employees flout project deadlines despite warnings.)

  English Translation: In this company, employees flout project deadlines despite warnings.

• Она презирает социальные нормы, одеваясь вызывающе на официальных мероприятиях. (She flouts social norms by dressing provocatively at formal events.)

  English Translation: She flouts social norms by dressing provocatively at formal events.

• Политики часто нарушают обещания, что разочаровывает избирателей. (Politicians frequently flout promises, disappointing voters.)

  English Translation: Politicians frequently flout promises, disappointing voters.

To show contempt or scorn (secondary, more emotional meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• презирать - Best for contexts involving personal disdain or mockery.
• нарушать - Less common here, but can be used if the contempt involves breaking norms.

Usage Examples:

• Он презирает авторитет, всегда споря с начальством. (He flouts authority, always arguing with his superiors.)

  English Translation: He flouts authority, always arguing with his superiors.

• Дети иногда презирают школьные правила, но это часть их взросления. (Children sometimes flout school rules, but it's part of their growing up.)

  English Translation: Children sometimes flout school rules, but it's part of their growing up.

• В искусстве художники часто презирают конвенции, создавая инновационные работы. (In art, artists often flout conventions, creating innovative works.)

  English Translation: In art, artists often flout conventions, creating innovative works.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both key translations are verbs, so they undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Нарушать' is an imperfective verb, while 'презирать' has imperfective aspects and can be irregular in some forms.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms in most cases, but aspect pairs exist (e.g., 'нарушить' for perfective of 'нарушать').

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • игнорировать (ignore; similar to 'flout' but more neutral, often used for passive disregard)
  • отвергать (reject; implies stronger refusal, suitable in formal contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • соблюдать (observe or follow; directly opposes the idea of flouting rules)
  • уважать (respect; counters the contempt aspect)

Related Phrases:

• Нарушать закон (To break the law; a common phrase for illegal actions, often in legal or ethical discussions.)
• Презирать авторитет (To flout authority; used in contexts of rebellion or individualism.)
• Нарушать традиции (To flout traditions; highlights cultural or familial norms being ignored.)

Usage Notes:

'Flout' corresponds most closely to 'нарушать' in contexts involving rules or laws, as it implies active defiance. Use 'презирать' for more emotional or personal scorn. In Russian, these verbs are aspect-sensitive; choose imperfective for ongoing actions (e.g., 'нарушать' for habitual flouting) and perfective for completed ones (e.g., 'нарушить'). Be mindful of formality: 'нарушать' is versatile across registers, while 'презирать' may sound more literary. When selecting between translations, consider the context—legal for 'нарушать', interpersonal for 'презирать'.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'нарушать' with 'нарушить': English learners often use the imperfective 'нарушать' when a perfective form like 'нарушить' is needed for a completed action. Error: "Я нарушать правило" (incorrect). Correct: "Я нарушил правило" (I flouted the rule once).
• Misusing aspect in sentences: Forgetting to pair with auxiliary verbs in future tense. Error: "Я нарушать завтра" (incorrect). Correct: "Я буду нарушать завтра" (I will flout it tomorrow), and explain that aspect must align with the action's nature.
• Overgeneralizing 'презирать': Learners might use it interchangeably with 'ненавидеть' (to hate), but 'презирать' implies contempt rather than strong emotion. Error: Using 'презирать' for personal hatred; Correct: Use 'ненавидеть' for hate and reserve 'презирать' for disdainful flouting.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, flouting rules or traditions ('нарушать' or 'презирать') can carry implications of individualism versus collectivism. For instance, during Soviet times, openly flouting state norms was seen as rebellious, and this historical context still influences how words like 'нарушать' are perceived in modern discussions about authority and freedom.

Related Concepts:

• закон (law)
• традиция (tradition)
• авторитет (authority)