Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'maltreat'

English Word: maltreat

Key Russian Translations:

• мучить (/ˈmutʲitʲ/) - [Informal]
• жестоко обращаться (/ʐɨˈstɔkə ɐˈbrat͡sə/) - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions of abuse or cruelty, but not everyday casual language)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual nuances for accurate usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мучить: /ˈmutʲitʲ/ (The stress is on the first syllable; note the palatalized 'т' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

Note on мучить: This verb has a soft 'т' that might sound like 'ty' in "city." Be careful with the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

Audio: []

жестоко обращаться: /ʐɨˈstɔkə ɐˈbrat͡sə/ (A phrase with stress on 'сток' and 'бра'; the 'ж' is a voiced fricative similar to 'zh' in 'measure.')

Note on жестоко обращаться: Pronunciation varies slightly by region; in fast speech, the phrase may contract, making the 'о' in 'жестоко' less pronounced.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To treat someone or something cruelly or violently

Translation(s) & Context:

• мучить - Used in informal contexts, such as describing personal abuse or animal cruelty; common in everyday storytelling or emotional discussions.
• жестоко обращаться - Preferred in formal contexts, like legal or official reports, emphasizing systematic or severe mistreatment.

Usage Examples:

• Он мучает свою собаку, не давая ей еды целый день.

  He maltreats his dog by not feeding it for an entire day.

• В этой стране жестоко обращаются с политическими заключенными, что вызывает международный осуждение.

  In this country, political prisoners are maltreated, leading to international condemnation.

• Родители не должны мучить детей наказаниями, а стараться понять их.

  Parents should not maltreat children with punishments but try to understand them.

• Жестоко обращаться с животными в цирке — это недопустимо в современном обществе.

  Maltreating animals in circuses is unacceptable in modern society.

• Она мучает себя диетами, но это не помогает её здоровью.

  She maltreats herself with extreme diets, which isn't helping her health.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For мучить (a verb of the first conjugation):

This is an imperfective verb meaning "to torture" or "to torment." It follows standard Russian verb patterns with irregularities in some forms. Below is a basic conjugation table for the present tense:

Note: The perfective counterpart is "замучить" (zamuchitʹ), which implies completion. For жестоко обращаться, it is a phrase and does not inflect as a single word; however, "обращаться" conjugates as a standard verb (e.g., обращаюсь, обращаешься).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • истязать (istiazatʹ) - More intense, implying physical torture.
  • травить (travitʹ) - Often used for psychological or emotional maltreatment.
• Antonyms:
  • ласкать (laskatʹ) - To treat gently or affectionately.
  • заботиться (zabotytsia) - To care for or nurture.

Related Phrases:

• жестокое обращение - Refers to cruel treatment, often in legal contexts (e.g., child abuse cases).
• мучить совестью - To torment with guilt (implies internal psychological maltreatment).
• физическое насилие - Physical maltreatment, commonly used in discussions of domestic violence.

Usage Notes:

"Мучить" is a direct and emotional equivalent to "maltreat" in informal settings, while "жестоко обращаться" is more precise for formal or official language. English speakers should note that Russian verbs like these often require aspect (imperfective vs. perfective) to convey ongoing vs. completed actions. For example, use "мучить" for habitual abuse but "замучить" for a single event. Be mindful of context: in Russian culture, these words carry strong connotations of physical or emotional harm, so they are rarely used lightly.

• Choose "жестоко обращаться" in professional or legal writing for its neutrality.
• Avoid overusing in casual speech to prevent sounding overly dramatic.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "мучить" with "мучать" (a less common variant), but the correct form is "мучить." For instance, a common mistake is saying "Я мучаю себя" instead of "Я мучаю себя" (wait, that's correct—error example: incorrectly conjugating as "мучаю" in past tense contexts). Correct usage: "Он мучил меня" (He maltreated me) vs. Error: "Он мучает меня" in past narrative, which implies present tense. This mix-up stems from English's lack of aspect, so always check the time frame.

• Error: Using "жестоко обращать" without the infinitive ending. Correct: "жестоко обращаться." Explanation: Russian reflexive verbs like this require the "-ся" suffix.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "мучить" and "жестоко обращаться" are often linked to historical contexts such as Soviet-era abuses or modern human rights discussions. For example, they frequently appear in literature and media addressing themes of oppression, reflecting Russia's complex history with authoritarianism and social injustice.

Related Concepts:

• насилие (nasilie) - Violence
• жестокость (zhestokostʹ) - Cruelty
• абьюз (abyuz) - A borrowed term for abuse, often used in psychological contexts