Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mortify'

English Word: mortify

Key Russian Translations:

• унижать [uˈnʲiʐətʲ] - [Informal, Verb; commonly used in everyday contexts to express humiliation]
• стыдить [ˈstɨdʲitʲ] - [Formal, Verb; used in more restrained or moral contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in literature, conversations, and media, but not as common as basic verbs like "сказать".)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (Requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced emotional vocabulary; for унижать, it's straightforward for intermediates, while стыдить may vary slightly by context.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

унижать: [uˈnʲiʐətʲ]

Note on унижать: The 'ж' sound is a soft, voiced fricative (like the 's' in "measure"), which can be challenging for English speakers; stress falls on the second syllable.

стыдить: [ˈstɨdʲitʲ]

Note on стыдить: The 'ы' vowel is a central, unrounded sound not directly equivalent in English; stress is on the first syllable, and it softens before the 'д'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To cause someone to feel deeply embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated, often through words or actions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• унижать - Used in informal settings, such as personal conflicts or social interactions, to convey active humiliation.
• стыдить - Applied in formal or educational contexts, emphasizing moral shame rather than public embarrassment.

Usage Examples:

• Его слова унизили меня на собрании. (His words mortified me at the meeting.)

  Translation: His words humiliated me at the meeting. (This example shows the verb in a past tense, social context.)

• Родители стыдят детей, чтобы научить их правильному поведению. (Parents mortify children to teach them proper behavior.)

  Translation: Parents shame children to teach them proper behavior. (Illustrates a formal, educational usage with an infinitive form.)

• Не унижай себя, отвечая на такие оскорбления. (Don't mortify yourself by responding to such insults.)

  Translation: Don't humiliate yourself by responding to such insults. (Demonstrates reflexive use in self-advisory contexts.)

• Она стыдит его, напоминая о прошлых ошибках. (She mortifies him by reminding him of past mistakes.)

  Translation: She shames him by reminding him of past mistakes. (Shows the verb in a present tense, interpersonal dynamic.)

• В обществе унижают тех, кто не следует нормам. (In society, they mortify those who don't follow the norms.)

  Translation: In society, they humiliate those who don't follow the norms. (Highlights broader social usage with plural subjects.)

Meaning 2: To subdue or discipline through self-denial (less common, e.g., in religious contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• стыдить - Used metaphorically in spiritual or self-reflective contexts, aligning with moral discipline.

Usage Examples:

• Монахи стыдят плоть, чтобы укрепить дух. (Monks mortify the flesh to strengthen the spirit.)

  Translation: Monks mortify the flesh to strengthen the spirit. (This archaic usage shows the verb in a religious setting.)

• Иногда стыдить себя помогает в самосовершенствовании. (Sometimes mortifying yourself aids in self-improvement.)

  Translation: Sometimes mortifying yourself aids in self-improvement. (Reflexive form in personal development contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs and follow standard Russian conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. унижать is a first-conjugation verb with regular inflections, while стыдить is also regular but may vary slightly in aspect. Below is a table for унижать (infinitive form) in present tense; стыдить follows a similar pattern.

For стыдить: It is invariant in many forms but conjugates as стыжу (I shame), стыдишь (you shame, informal), etc. Both verbs have imperfective aspects and do not change irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: оскорблять (oskorbljat' – to offend, with a focus on verbal attacks), позорить (pozorit' – to disgrace, often publicly)
• Antonyms: уважать (uvazhat' – to respect), хвалить (khalit' – to praise)

Related Phrases:

• унижать достоинство – to humiliate one's dignity (Used in contexts of personal integrity or human rights discussions.)
• стыдить публично – to shame publicly (Refers to public embarrassment, common in social media or community settings.)
• не унижать себя – not to mortify oneself (A phrase for self-respect and avoiding degrading situations.)

Usage Notes:

унижать directly corresponds to the active, emotional sense of "mortify" in English, making it ideal for scenarios involving public or personal humiliation, but it's more intense and should be used cautiously in formal writing. стыдить is better for moral or educational contexts, aligning with "to shame" rather than pure embarrassment. Consider the aspect: унижать is imperfective (ongoing action), so pair it with perfective forms like унизить for completed actions. In spoken Russian, these verbs are common in arguments or storytelling, but avoid them in polite conversations to prevent offense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using унижать interchangeably with стыдить without considering context. For example, learners might say "Я стыжу его за ошибку" when meaning active humiliation, but this sounds moralistic. Correct: "Я унижаю его за ошибку" if emphasizing degradation. Explanation: унижать implies a power dynamic, while стыдить focuses on internal shame.

• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "унижаюс" instead of "унижаюсь" for reflexive forms. Correct: "Я унижаюсь" (I humiliate myself). Explanation: Russian verbs often require the reflexive particle "-ся" for self-actions, which English speakers might omit.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like унижать are tied to themes of personal honor and collectivism. Public humiliation, as depicted in literature like Dostoevsky's works, can have deep psychological impacts, reflecting historical sensitivities to social status and authority. Using these words carelessly might evoke strong emotional responses due to Russia's emphasis on dignity in interpersonal relations.

Related Concepts:

• самоуважение (self-respect)
• оскорбление (insult)
• достоинство (dignity)