Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meditate'

English Word: meditate

Key Russian Translations:

• медитировать [mʲɪdʲɪtʲɪrəvatʲ] - [Formal, Used in contexts like mindfulness or yoga practices]
• размышлять [rəzmʲiʂlʲatʲ] - [Informal, General thinking or contemplation]

Frequency: Medium (медитировать is less common in everyday speech but increasing in modern contexts; размышлять is moderately frequent in literature and conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for both; requires basic understanding of Russian verb conjugations and vocabulary related to introspection, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

медитировать: [mʲɪdʲɪtʲɪrəvatʲ]

Note on медитировать: The stress is on the second syllable (di). This word is a borrowing from English, so pronunciation may vary slightly by region, but the 'т' is soft and palatalized.

размышлять: [rəzmʲiʂlʲatʲ]

Note on размышлять: Stress falls on the third syllable (шля). The 'ш' sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, which can be challenging for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To engage in deep, focused thinking or meditation for relaxation or self-reflection (e.g., mindfulness practices)

Translation(s) & Context:

• медитировать - Used in formal or modern contexts, such as yoga, therapy, or personal development; appropriate for describing structured meditation sessions.
• размышлять - Used in informal or everyday contexts for general contemplation, often without a structured practice.

Usage Examples:

• Я люблю медитировать по утрам, чтобы начать день с спокойствия.

  I love to meditate in the mornings to start the day with calmness.

• После напряжённого дня она решила медитировать, чтобы расслабиться.

  After a stressful day, she decided to meditate to relax.

• Размышляя о прошлом, он понял, что нужно изменить свою жизнь.

  While meditating (contemplating) on the past, he realized he needed to change his life.

• В тихом парке люди часто размышляют о важных вопросах.

  In the quiet park, people often meditate (think deeply) on important matters.

• Медитируя с закрытыми глазами, она достигла состояния полного покоя.

  Meditating with her eyes closed, she reached a state of complete peace.

Meaning 2: To ponder or reflect deeply on a topic (more intellectual or philosophical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• размышлять - Common in literary or philosophical discussions; implies ongoing reflection rather than a formal practice.

Usage Examples:

• Философы любят размышлять о смысле жизни.

  Philosophers love to meditate on the meaning of life.

• Размышляя над книгой, он открыл новые идеи.

  While meditating on the book, he discovered new ideas.

• В одиночестве она размышляет о своих целях.

  In solitude, she meditates on her goals.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions.

For медитировать (imperfective):

For размышлять (imperfective; follows a similar pattern with irregularities in some forms):

Note: These verbs do not have perfective counterparts in standard usage for this context, but they inflect regularly based on Russian grammar rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • обдумывать (obdumyvat') - Similar to размышлять, but implies more analytical thinking; used for deliberate consideration.
  • постигать (postigat') - More philosophical, implying deep understanding or enlightenment.
• Antonyms:
  • забывать (zabyvat') - To forget or ignore.
  • спешить (speshit') - To hurry, implying a lack of reflection.

Related Phrases:

• Медитировать в тишине - To meditate in silence; used for practices requiring quiet focus.
• Размышлять над проблемой - To ponder over a problem; common in problem-solving contexts.
• Дзен-медитация - Zen meditation; a specific type of practice borrowed from Eastern traditions.

Usage Notes:

медитировать directly corresponds to the English "meditate" in modern wellness contexts, but it's a loanword and may sound formal or foreign in traditional Russian speech. Use размышлять for more everyday reflection to sound more natural. Be mindful of aspect: both are imperfective, so they suit ongoing actions. In formal writing, pair these with adverbs like "глубоко" (deeply) for emphasis. When choosing between translations, opt for медитировать in health-related scenarios and размышлять in intellectual ones.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing the verbs and using медитировать for general thinking (e.g., saying "Я медитирую о еде" instead of "Я размышляю о еде"). Correct: Use размышлять for non-structured thought. Explanation: медитировать implies a deliberate practice, while размышлять is broader.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "Я медитируюет" (wrong form). Correct: "Я медитирую". Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with subject in person and number; always check the ending based on the conjugation table.
• Mistake: Overusing медитировать in informal speech. Correct: In casual conversations, natives prefer размышлять or synonyms. Explanation: This can make speech sound unnatural or overly influenced by English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, размышлять often ties to literary traditions, as seen in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, where deep introspection is a common theme. медитировать, however, is influenced by global wellness trends and Eastern philosophies like Buddhism, which have gained popularity in Russia post-Soviet era, reflecting a blend of modern and traditional values.

Related Concepts:

• осознание (osoznanie) - Awareness
• духовность (dukhovnost') - Spirituality
• йога (yoga) - Yoga