Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'liquidate'

English Word: liquidate

Key Russian Translations:

• ликвидировать [lʲɪkvʲɪdʲɪrəvatʲ] - [Formal, Used in business, legal, or military contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal and professional settings like business or legal discussions, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal vocabulary, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of Russian grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ликвидировать: [lʲɪkvʲɪdʲɪrəvatʲ]

Note on ликвидировать: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ('di'), and the initial 'л' is palatalized, which can be challenging for non-native speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To close down or wind up a business or company (e.g., in a financial or legal context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ликвидировать - Used in formal business or legal scenarios, such as dissolving a company due to bankruptcy.

Usage Examples:

• Компания была вынуждена ликвидировать свои активы из-за финансового кризиса.

  The company was forced to liquidate its assets due to the financial crisis.

• Суд приказал ликвидировать фирму, чтобы покрыть долги.

  The court ordered to liquidate the firm to cover the debts.

• Руководство решило ликвидировать отдел, так как он был убыточным.

  Management decided to liquidate the department because it was unprofitable.

• Во время рецессии многие предприятия вынуждены ликвидировать производство.

  During a recession, many enterprises are forced to liquidate production.

Meaning 2: To convert assets into cash (e.g., selling off property or investments)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ликвидировать - Applied in financial contexts, emphasizing the process of turning non-liquid assets into money.

Usage Examples:

• Инвестор планирует ликвидировать акции, чтобы получить наличные средства.

  The investor plans to liquidate stocks to obtain cash funds.

• Чтобы выплатить кредит, семья решила ликвидировать недвижимость.

  To pay off the loan, the family decided to liquidate the real estate.

• Банк рекомендует ликвидировать инвестиции в условиях рыночной нестабильности.

  The bank recommends liquidating investments amid market instability.

• Предприниматель был вынужден ликвидировать запасы товаров для покрытия расходов.

  The entrepreneur had to liquidate inventory to cover expenses.

Meaning 3: To eliminate or destroy completely (e.g., in a more aggressive or military context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ликвидировать - Used in formal or historical contexts, such as eliminating threats, but avoid in casual speech due to its intensity.

Usage Examples:

• Службы безопасности попытались ликвидировать угрозу терроризма.

  Security services attempted to liquidate the terrorism threat.

• В исторических текстах часто упоминается ликвидировать вражеские силы.

  In historical texts, liquidating enemy forces is often mentioned.

• Правительство стремится ликвидировать коррупционные сети.

  The government aims to liquidate corrupt networks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Ликвидировать" is a verb of the first conjugation in Russian, which follows regular patterns but can have irregularities in certain forms. It is imperfective and can be paired with perfective aspects for completeness. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This verb does not have significant irregularities, but aspectual pairs like "ликвидировать" (imperfective) and "ликвидировать" can be used with perfective counterparts in some contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • уничтожить [unichtozhit'] - More general, meaning to destroy completely.
  • распродать [rasprodatt'] - Specifically for selling off assets, with a focus on commerce.
• Antonyms:
  • создать [sozdat'] - To create or establish.
  • сохранить [sohranit'] - To preserve or maintain.

Related Phrases:

• Ликвидировать компанию - To liquidate a company; Used in business contexts to describe dissolving an entity.
• Ликвидировать долги - To liquidate debts; Refers to settling financial obligations by selling assets.
• Ликвидировать угрозу - To liquidate a threat; Often in security or military scenarios, implying elimination.

Usage Notes:

"Ликвидировать" directly corresponds to "liquidate" in formal English contexts, particularly in finance, law, or elimination scenarios. It is typically used in written or professional speech and carries a sense of permanence or resolution. Be cautious with its intensity in everyday conversation, as it can imply destruction. When choosing between translations, opt for "ликвидировать" in business settings, but consider synonyms like "распродать" for purely commercial asset sales. Grammatically, ensure correct verb conjugation based on subject and tense to avoid errors in Russian sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "ликвидировать" in informal contexts where it sounds overly formal or aggressive. Incorrect: "Я ликвидирую этот мусор" (trying to say "I'm getting rid of this trash"). Correct: Use "выбросить" instead. Explanation: "Ликвидировать" implies a systematic or official process, not casual disposal.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "я ликвидирует" instead of "я ликвидирую". Incorrect: "Я ликвидирует активы". Correct: "Я ликвидирую активы". Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number.
• Mistake: Confusing it with financial terms, leading to overuse in non-business contexts. Incorrect: "Ликвидировать еду" for "eat up food". Correct: Use "съесть". Explanation: This word is not appropriate for everyday actions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, "ликвидировать" has been used in political and military contexts, such as during the Soviet era to describe the elimination of opposition or restructuring of state entities. This can evoke connotations of authoritarian control, so it's important to use the word sensitively in discussions to avoid unintended historical associations.

Related Concepts:

• банкротство [bankrotstvo] - Bankruptcy
• распродажа [rasprodazha] - Sale or liquidation of goods
• уничтожение [unichtozheniye] - Destruction