Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'forbear'

English Word: forbear

Key Russian Translations:

• воздерживаться [vəz.drʲɪˈʐɨ.və.tʲsʲə] - [Formal, Verb, Used in contexts requiring self-restraint]
• воздержаться [vəz.drʲɪˈʐɨ.tʲsə] - [Informal, Imperative form, Used for immediate action or advice]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in discussions of self-control or ethics)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation, but accessible to learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

воздерживаться: [vəz.drʲɪˈʐɨ.və.tʲsʲə]

воздержаться: [vəz.drʲɪˈʐɨ.tʲsə]

Note on воздерживаться: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ʐɨ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rolled 'r' and soft consonants; practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To refrain from doing something, often implying self-control or patience

Translation(s) & Context:

• воздерживаться - Used in formal or reflective contexts, such as ethical decisions or health-related choices.
• воздержаться - Applied in imperative or advisory situations, like urging someone to hold back in a conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда воздерживается от участия в спорах, чтобы сохранить спокойствие.

  He always refrains from participating in arguments to maintain peace.

• Врачи советуют воздержаться от еды перед операцией.

  Doctors advise refraining from eating before surgery.

• Молодой человек старается воздерживаться от вредных привычек, таких как курение.

  The young man tries to forbear from bad habits, such as smoking.

• В переговорах важно воздержаться от поспешных решений.

  In negotiations, it's important to forbear from hasty decisions.

• Она воздерживается от комментариев, пока не узнает все факты.

  She forbears from commenting until she knows all the facts.

Secondary Meaning: To endure or tolerate patiently (less common, but related to forbearance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• терпеть - Used in emotional or endurance contexts, such as dealing with hardship.

Usage Examples:

• Он терпит холод, чтобы закончить работу на улице.

  He forbears the cold to finish the work outside.

• Дети учатся терпеть неудачи в играх, чтобы развиваться.

  Children learn to forbear failures in games to grow.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, which in Russian follow imperfective aspect patterns. "Воздерживаться" is an imperfective verb, meaning it describes ongoing or habitual actions, while "воздержаться" is the perfective form for completed actions.

"Терпеть" (for secondary meaning) is also imperfective and conjugates similarly, with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • воздерживаться - Similar to "удерживаться" (restrain oneself), but "воздерживаться" implies more moral choice.
  • воздержаться - Synonymous with "отказаться" (refuse), often in decision-making contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • продолжать (continue)
  • поддаться (yield or give in)

Related Phrases:

• воздерживаться от чего-либо - To forbear from something; used in contexts of self-discipline, e.g., abstaining from alcohol.
• принять решение воздержаться - To decide to forbear; common in formal meetings or ethical dilemmas.
• воздержание в еде - Forbearance in eating; refers to dietary restrictions or fasting.

Usage Notes:

• The English "forbear" as a verb aligns closely with "воздерживаться," emphasizing restraint rather than mere endurance. Use "воздержаться" for perfective actions to match completed events.
• In Russian, these verbs are aspect-sensitive; choose imperfective for ongoing habits and perfective for specific instances to avoid grammatical errors.
• Cultural context: Russians often use these in discussions of personal discipline, influenced by historical emphasis on endurance in literature and daily life.
• When selecting between translations, opt for "воздерживаться" in formal writing and "воздержаться" in spoken advice.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse aspect: Using "воздерживаться" for a one-time action, e.g., saying "Я воздерживаюсь вчера" instead of "Я воздержался вчера." Correct: "Я воздержался вчера" (I refrained yesterday), as it requires the perfective form.
• Mixing with similar verbs: Mistakenly using "отказаться" (to refuse) when "forbear" implies internal restraint, not external rejection. For example, incorrect: "Я отказываюсь есть" for "I forbear from eating" in a self-control context; better: "Я воздерживаюсь от еды."
• Pronunciation errors: Omitting the soft sign in "воздерживаться," leading to [vəz.drʲɪˈʐɨ.və.tʲsʲə] being pronounced as a hard consonant, which alters the word's nuance.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "воздерживаться" are tied to themes of stoicism and resilience, as seen in literature by authors like Tolstoy, where characters forbear hardships for moral or spiritual growth. This reflects Russia's historical emphasis on endurance through wars and economic challenges, making such vocabulary resonant in everyday expressions of self-control.

Related Concepts:

• терпение (patience)
• самоконтроль (self-control)
• воздержание (abstinence)