Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'maintain'

English Word: maintain

Key Russian Translations:

• поддерживать [pɐdʲˈdʲerʐɨvətʲ] - [Formal, Verb]
• сохранять [sɐxrɐˈnʲætʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in contexts of preservation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical, everyday, and professional contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать").

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage; "поддерживать" may be slightly more challenging due to its aspectual nuances, while "сохранять" is closer to A2 for basic forms).

Pronunciation (Russian):

поддерживать: [pɐdʲˈdʲerʐɨvətʲ]

Note on поддерживать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be cautious with the soft 'дʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation can vary slightly in rapid speech.

сохранять: [sɐxrɐˈnʲætʲ]

Note on сохранять: Stress on the third syllable; the 'х' is a guttural sound, similar to the Scottish 'ch' in "loch," which non-native speakers often soften.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To keep in existence or not allow to become worse

Translation(s) & Context:

• поддерживать - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as maintaining equipment or relationships.
• сохранять - Applied in everyday situations, like preserving food or memories.

Usage Examples:

• Я стараюсь поддерживать дом в чистоте.

  I try to maintain the house in cleanliness. (This example shows the verb in a habitual action context.)

• Компания сохраняет традиции на протяжении веков.

  The company maintains traditions over the centuries. (Here, it illustrates preservation in a cultural or historical setting.)

• Чтобы поддерживать здоровье, нужно регулярно заниматься спортом.

  To maintain health, one needs to exercise regularly. (Demonstrates use in health and wellness contexts.)

• Она сохраняет спокойствие в стрессовых ситуациях.

  She maintains calmness in stressful situations. (Shows emotional or psychological maintenance.)

To assert or defend something as true

Translation(s) & Context:

• поддерживать - Often used in debates or arguments, implying ongoing support.

Usage Examples:

• Он продолжает поддерживать свою точку зрения.

  He continues to maintain his point of view. (This highlights argumentative usage.)

• В дискуссии важно поддерживать аргументы фактами.

  In discussions, it's important to maintain arguments with facts. (Illustrates formal discourse.)

• Политик поддерживает, что реформы необходимы.

  The politician maintains that reforms are necessary. (Shows application in political contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "поддерживать" and "сохранять" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they express ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. Below is a conjugation table for the present tense as examples:

Note: These verbs have perfective counterparts ("поддержать" and "сохранить") for completed actions, which do not conjugate in the present tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • обеспечивать (obespechivat') - To provide or ensure, often interchangeable in maintenance contexts.
  • удерживать (uderzhivat') - To hold or keep, with a focus on preventing loss.
• Antonyms:
  • разрушать (razrushat') - To destroy or break down.
  • покидать (pokidat') - To abandon or neglect.

Related Phrases:

• поддерживать связь - To maintain contact (Used for keeping in touch with people or organizations).
• сохранять баланс - To maintain balance (Refers to equilibrium in life, work, or physical stability).
• поддерживать порядок - To maintain order (Common in administrative or social contexts).

Usage Notes:

"Maintain" in English often corresponds to "поддерживать" for ongoing processes and "сохранять" for preservation. Choose "поддерживать" in formal or technical scenarios, such as business or engineering, due to its connotation of active support. "Сохранять" is more neutral and fits everyday language. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: use imperfective for descriptions and perfective for completed actions. For example, avoid direct translation without considering context, as English "maintain" can imply both states and actions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "поддерживать" when "сохранять" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я поддерживаю еду в холодильнике" instead of "Я сохраняю еду в холодильнике."
  Correct: "сохраняю" for preserving food, as it better fits preservation without active support. Explanation: "Поддерживать" implies ongoing effort, which might sound odd here.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., using "поддерживать" in the wrong person, like "Я поддерживает."
  Correct: "Я поддерживаю." Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "поддерживать" often carries a sense of communal support, as seen in phrases like "поддерживать друга" (to support a friend), reflecting the value of solidarity in Russian society. This can stem from historical contexts like Soviet-era collectivism, where maintaining social bonds was emphasized.

Related Concepts:

• улучшать (uluchshat') - To improve
• восстанавливать (vosstanavlivat') - To restore
• защищать (zaschishchat') - To protect