Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impede'

English Word: impede

Key Russian Translations:

• препятствовать (/prʲɪˈpʲætstvəvətʲ/) - [Formal]
• мешать (/mʲɪˈʂatʲ/) - [Informal]

Frequency: Medium (These verbs are commonly used in written and spoken Russian, particularly in contexts like politics, daily life, and literature, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal/informal distinctions, based on CEFR standards. For 'препятствовать', it may lean towards B2 due to its more complex conjugation.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

препятствовать: /prʲɪˈpʲætstvəvətʲ/

мешать: /mʲɪˈʂatʲ/

Note on препятствовать: This verb has a soft 'п' sound at the beginning, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization; pronounce it with a slight 'y' glide. Variations in stress occur in different forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To delay or prevent something by obstructing it

Translation(s) & Context:

• препятствовать - Used in formal contexts, such as legal, academic, or official discussions, to indicate systematic hindrance (e.g., impeding progress in a project).
• мешать - Used in everyday, informal situations to describe casual interference (e.g., impeding someone's daily routine).

Usage Examples:

• Эти правила препятствуют развитию бизнеса в регионе. (These rules impede business development in the region.)

  English Translation: These rules impede business development in the region.

• Дождь мешает нам пойти на прогулку сегодня. (The rain is impeding us from going for a walk today.)

  English Translation: The rain is impeding us from going for a walk today.

• Бюрократия часто препятствует инновациям в государственной системе. (Bureaucracy often impedes innovations in the government system.)

  English Translation: Bureaucracy often impedes innovations in the government system.

• Его привычка опаздывать мешает работе всей команды. (His habit of being late impedes the work of the entire team.)

  English Translation: His habit of being late impedes the work of the entire team.

• Старые законы препятствуют внедрению новых технологий. (Old laws impede the implementation of new technologies.)

  English Translation: Old laws impede the implementation of new technologies. This example shows the verb in a broader contextual use, highlighting systemic barriers.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'препятствовать' and 'мешать' are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs follow imperfective and perfective aspects; 'препятствовать' is imperfective, while a perfective counterpart like 'препятствовать' can pair with 'вмешать' for 'мешать'. Here is a basic conjugation table for the present tense:

Note: These verbs are irregular in some aspects; 'препятствовать' has stem changes in certain forms. They do not change for gender but follow standard Russian verb patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • тормозить (tormozit' - to brake or hinder, often used in mechanical or metaphorical contexts; more casual than препятствовать)
  • вмешиваться (vmesivat'sya - to interfere, implying active involvement)
• Antonyms:
  • помогать (pomogat' - to help)
  • содействовать (sodeystvovat' - to facilitate or assist, formal equivalent)

Related Phrases:

• Препятствовать прогрессу (Prepyatstvovat' progressu) - To impede progress; used in discussions about development or reform.
• Мешать сосредоточиться (Meshat' sosredotochit'sya) - To impede concentration; common in educational or work contexts.
• Создавать препятствия (Sozdavat' prepyatstviya) - To create impediments; a phrase for bureaucratic or intentional barriers.

Usage Notes:

'Препятствовать' is the more precise and formal translation of 'impede', often used in written Russian or professional settings, while 'мешать' is better for everyday conversations. English speakers should note that Russian verbs require aspect consideration—use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective for completed ones (e.g., 'вмешать' as a perfective for 'мешать'). Choose based on context: formal for legal texts, informal for casual speech. Grammatically, these verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, which can be tricky for beginners.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: Learners often use the imperfective 'препятствовать' when a perfective form is needed, e.g., saying "Я препятствую задачу" (incorrect) instead of "Я препятствовал задаче" for a completed action. Correct: "Я препятствовал задаче" (I impeded the task). Explanation: Russian requires specifying whether the action is ongoing or finished.

• Mixing formal and informal: Using 'препятствовать' in casual speech might sound overly stiff; instead, opt for 'мешать'. Error example: "Ты препятствуешь мне" in a friendly chat (better as "Ты мешаешь мне").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'препятствовать' often appear in contexts related to historical events, such as the Soviet era's bureaucratic impediments to innovation, reflecting a broader theme of resilience against obstacles. This can add a layer of connotation in literature or media, where impeding forces symbolize larger societal challenges.

Related Concepts:

• прогресс (progress)
• барьер (barrier)
• вмешательство (interference)