Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mollycoddle'

English Word: mollycoddle

Key Russian Translations:

• баловать [ˈbaləvətʲ] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts like family discussions]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in casual conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp its usage with some practice, as it involves understanding nuanced emotional contexts, per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

баловать: [ˈbaləvətʲ]

Note on баловать: The stress is on the first syllable. Be cautious with the soft 'tʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers due to its palatalization. Variations in regional accents may slightly alter vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To treat someone with excessive care, indulgence, or protection, often leading to spoiling them.

Translation(s) & Context:

• баловать - Used in informal settings, such as describing overprotective parenting or pampering in relationships. Context: Everyday family life or light-hearted criticism.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда балует свою дочь, покупая ей всё, что она захочет.

  He always mollycoddles his daughter by buying her everything she wants.

• Родители не должны баловать детей, иначе они вырастут капризными.

  Parents shouldn't mollycoddle their children, or they will grow up spoiled.

• В этой семье бабушка балует внуков сладостями, несмотря на советы врачей.

  In this family, the grandmother mollycoddles the grandchildren with sweets, despite the doctors' advice.

• Иногда баловать себя — это нормально, но не стоит переусердствовать.

  Sometimes it's okay to mollycoddle yourself, but don't overdo it.

• Учителя жалуются, что родители балують детей, не давая им учиться на ошибках.

  Teachers complain that parents mollycoddle their children, not allowing them to learn from mistakes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Баловать" is a verb of the first conjugation in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns but has some irregularities in certain forms. It is imperfective and can be used in various tenses and aspects.

Note: This verb does not have irregular forms in most cases, making it relatively straightforward for learners, but pay attention to gender agreement in past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пестовать (pestovat') - More formal, implies nurturing but can carry a positive connotation.
  • лелеять (leleyat') - Often used for cherishing or pampering with affection, slightly more poetic.
• Antonyms:
  • строго воспитывать (strogó vospityvat') - Means to raise strictly or discipline.
  • закалять (zakalyat') - Implies toughening up or hardening, often in a physical or emotional sense.

Related Phrases:

• Баловать ребенка (Balovat' rebyonka) - To spoil a child; often used in parenting discussions to highlight overindulgence.
• Не баловать себя (Ne balovat' sebya) - Not to pamper oneself; a phrase encouraging self-discipline.
• Баловать вниманием (Balovat' vnimaniyem) - To shower with attention; implies excessive focus that might lead to dependency.

Usage Notes:

"Баловать" directly corresponds to "mollycoddle" in its connotation of excessive indulgence, but it's more commonly used in informal Russian speech. It's best for contexts involving family or personal relationships, and avoid it in formal writing unless emphasizing emotional nuance. When choosing between synonyms like "пестовать," opt for "баловать" if the tone is negative or critical. Grammatically, remember it's an imperfective verb, so it describes ongoing actions—use the perfective "побаловать" for completed instances.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "баловать" with "любить" (to love), leading to overuse in romantic contexts. Incorrect: "Я балую свою жену" when meaning simple affection. Correct: Use "любить" for pure love; "баловать" implies spoiling. Explanation: "Баловать" carries a sense of excess, which can make statements sound negative if not intended.

• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "я балует" instead of "я балую" in present tense. Correct: "Я балую" (I spoil). Explanation: Russian verbs require precise person agreement; practice with conjugation tables to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "баловать" often reflects traditional views on parenting, where overindulgence is critiqued in literature and proverbs (e.g., from folklore like those by Pushkin). It ties into the cultural emphasis on resilience and "закалка" (toughening up), stemming from historical hardships, so using it can evoke a sense of balancing affection with discipline.

Related Concepts:

• воспитывать (vospityvat') - To educate or raise.
• покорять (pokoryat') - To conquer or win over, often metaphorically in emotional contexts.
• защищать (zashchishchat') - To protect, which can relate to overprotection in parenting.