Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'obligate'

English Word: obligate

Key Russian Translations:

• обязывать [ɐbləˈzɨvətʲ] - [Formal, Imperfective; Used in ongoing or habitual obligations]
• обязать [ɐbləˈzatʲ] - [Formal, Perfective; Used for completed actions of imposing obligations]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, contractual, and formal contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Involves understanding Russian verb aspects, which can be challenging for learners; for 'обязывать', it's B1, while 'обязать' may lean toward B2 due to perfective aspect nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обязывать: [ɐbləˈzɨvətʲ]

обязать: [ɐbləˈzatʲ]

Note on обязывать: The stress falls on the third syllable ('zɨvətʲ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'ы' sound; variations in casual speech may soften the consonants.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To require or compel someone to do something (Verb, as in legal or moral obligation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обязывать - Used in contexts involving ongoing requirements, such as contracts or rules (e.g., in formal writing or official documents).
• обязать - Applied to situations where an obligation is imposed and completed, like in legal judgments.

Usage Examples:

• Закон обязывает всех граждан платить налоги. (The law obligates all citizens to pay taxes.)

  English: The law obligates all citizens to pay taxes. (This example shows 'обязывает' in a formal, legal context with a singular subject.)

• Родители обязывают детей учить уроки. (Parents obligate children to do their homework.)

  English: Parents obligate children to do their homework. (Illustrates 'обязывают' with a plural subject in a familial setting.)

• Судья обязал обвиняемого выплатить штраф. (The judge obligated the defendant to pay a fine.)

  English: The judge obligated the defendant to pay a fine. (Uses 'обязал' to show a completed action in a judicial context.)

• Эта работа обязывает к строгому соблюдению правил. (This job obligates strict adherence to rules.)

  English: This job obligates strict adherence to rules. (Demonstrates 'обязывает' in a professional environment, emphasizing ongoing duty.)

To make someone legally or morally bound (Adjective form in contexts like biology, e.g., obligate anaerobe)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обязательный - Used for inherent or required characteristics, such as in scientific terms (e.g., obligate anaerobe as 'обязательный анаэроб').

Usage Examples:

• Обязательный анаэроб не может выживать в присутствии кислорода. (An obligate anaerobe cannot survive in the presence of oxygen.)

  English: An obligate anaerobe cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. (This shows 'обязательный' in a scientific context, highlighting necessity.)

• Обязательные курсы в университете должны быть пройдены всеми студентами. (Obligate courses in university must be taken by all students.)

  English: Obligate courses in university must be taken by all students. (Illustrates 'обязательные' in an educational setting with plural forms.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'обязывать' and 'обязать' are verbs, with 'обязывать' being imperfective and 'обязать' perfective. Russian verbs follow conjugation patterns based on person, number, tense, and aspect. 'Обязывать' is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns, while 'обязать' follows similar rules but is used for completed actions.

For 'обязательный' (adjective), it declines like a standard first-declension adjective: Nominative singular masculine is 'обязательный', feminine 'обязательная', neuter 'обязательное', plural 'обязательные'.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • принуждать (to force, similar but more coercive)
  • заставлять (to make someone do something, often informal)
• Antonyms:
  • освобождать (to free or release from obligation)
  • разрешать (to allow, implying no obligation)

Related Phrases:

• Обязать к чему-либо - To obligate to something; Used in legal contexts to mean binding someone to an agreement. (e.g., In contracts.)
• Обязательный элемент - Obligate element; Refers to a required component in systems or processes. (e.g., In education or technology.)
• Под обязательством - Under obligation; A phrase indicating a binding commitment. (e.g., In formal promises.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, choose 'обязывать' for imperfective actions (ongoing obligations) and 'обязать' for perfective ones (completed impositions). Unlike English 'obligate', which is neutral, these verbs often carry a formal tone, so avoid them in casual speech. When translating, consider the aspect to match the context accurately—e.g., use 'обязать' for one-time events. Grammatically, these verbs take the accusative case for direct objects.

Common Errors:

• Confusing verb aspects: Learners often use 'обязывать' when 'обязать' is needed, e.g., saying "Я обязываю заплатить" instead of "Я обязал заплатить" for a completed action. Correct: Use 'обязал' for finished obligations to avoid implying ongoing ones.
• Misapplying cases: Forgetting that the object after these verbs must be in the accusative case, e.g., incorrectly saying "Обязать к работе" instead of "Обязать работать" (which uses the infinitive). Explanation: Russian verbs of obligation typically govern the infinitive or accusative, so double-check syntax.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, obligations (e.g., as implied by 'обязать') often stem from communal or state expectations, reflecting historical influences like Soviet-era collectivism. For instance, phrases involving obligations in family or work settings can carry a sense of moral duty beyond legal requirements, emphasizing social harmony over individual rights.

Related Concepts:

• ответственность (responsibility)
• долг (duty)
• принуждение (coercion)