Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'importune'

English Word: importune

Key Russian Translations:

• докучать [dɐˈku.t͡ɕætʲ] - [Informal, often used in everyday conversations]
• импортунировать [ɪm.pɐr.tuˈnʲi.rə.vatʲ] - [Formal, less common, borrowed from English, used in literary or bureaucratic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is encountered in everyday Russian speech but not as frequently as basic verbs like "говорить".)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for learners; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts. For "докучать", it's B2; for "импортунировать", it's C1 due to its rarity and formal nature.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

докучать: [dɐˈku.t͡ɕætʲ]

Note on докучать: The stress is on the second syllable. Pay attention to the palatalized 'т' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the consonants.

импортунировать: [ɪm.pɐr.tuˈnʲi.rə.vatʲ]

Note on импортунировать: This word retains a more foreign pronunciation due to its loanword status; the initial 'и' is pronounced as in "imp".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To ask someone persistently or urgently, often to the point of annoyance

Translation(s) & Context:

• докучать - Used in informal, everyday situations to describe pestering or nagging, such as in family or social settings.
• импортунировать - Employed in formal or written contexts, like legal documents or literature, to convey insistent demands without direct confrontation.

Usage Examples:

• Дети докучали родителям просьбами купить новую игрушку.

  The children importuned their parents with requests to buy a new toy. (Shows informal family context and simple sentence structure.)

• Он докучал начальнику звонками, настаивая на повышении зарплаты.

  He importuned his boss with calls, insisting on a salary raise. (Illustrates persistence in a professional setting with verbal aspect.)

• Журналисты импортунировали политиков вопросами на пресс-конференции.

  The journalists importuned the politicians with questions at the press conference. (Demonstrates formal usage in a public event.)

• Не докучай мне больше, я устал от твоих постоянных просьб.

  Don't importune me anymore; I'm tired of your constant requests. (Highlights negative imperative form in interpersonal communication.)

• В старом фильме герой импортунировал друзей, чтобы собрать деньги на благотворительность.

  In the old film, the hero importuned his friends to raise money for charity. (Shows narrative context with a more literary tone.)

To bother or pester someone repeatedly in a demanding way

Translation(s) & Context:

• докучать - Common in casual speech for minor annoyances, like repeated interruptions.

Usage Examples:

• Москиты докучали нам всю ночь, не давая спать.

  The mosquitoes importuned us all night, not letting us sleep. (Extends metaphorically to non-human subjects.)

• Она докучала ему вопросами о личной жизни на вечеринке.

  She importuned him with questions about his personal life at the party. (Emphasizes social inappropriateness.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Докучать" is an imperfective verb, while "импортунировать" is also imperfective but less commonly used.

For "докучать" (imperfective, first conjugation):

It is irregular in the sense that it follows standard first-conjugation patterns but can vary slightly in stressed forms. "Импортунировать" conjugates similarly but is less flexible in usage due to its formality.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • беспокоить (bespokoit') - To worry or disturb; less intense than докучать.
  • настаивать (nastivat') - To insist; used when persistence is more neutral.
• Antonyms:
  • оставлять в покое (ostavljat' v pokoe) - To leave alone; implies stopping any form of pestering.
  • игнорировать (ignorirovat') - To ignore; directly opposes persistent engagement.

Related Phrases:

• Докучать звонками - To pester with calls; often used for unwanted phone harassment.
• Постоянно докучать - To constantly importune; emphasizes ongoing annoyance in English contexts like relationships.
• Импортунировать письмами - To importune with letters; a formal way to describe persistent written demands.

Usage Notes:

"Importune" corresponds closely to "докучать" in informal Russian, capturing the sense of annoying persistence, but it's more neutral in English. Use "докучать" for everyday scenarios and "импортунировать" for formal ones to avoid sounding overly dramatic. Be mindful of context: in Russian culture, persistent requests can be seen as rude, so these verbs often carry negative connotations. When choosing between translations, opt for "докучать" if the situation involves emotional or social pressure, as it's more idiomatic.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing "докучать" with "беспокоить" and using it interchangeably. Incorrect: "Он беспокоил меня" (if implying simple disturbance). Correct: "Он докучал мне" for persistent pestering. Explanation: "Беспокоить" means to worry or disturb without the connotation of repetition.
• Mistake: Overusing "импортунировать" in casual speech. Incorrect: Saying "Я импортунирую друга" in an informal chat. Correct: Use "докучать" instead. Explanation: This word sounds overly formal and may come across as pretentious in everyday Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "докучать" reflect a societal emphasis on personal boundaries and the potential annoyance of persistence, often tied to historical contexts like Soviet-era bureaucracy where repeated requests were common. It can evoke humor in literature, such as in Chekhov's stories, where characters importune others for trivial matters, highlighting interpersonal dynamics.

Related Concepts:

• настойчивость (insistence or persistence)
• беспокойство (worry or disturbance)
• импортирование (importing, though unrelated, as a potential false cognate)