Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overbalance'

English Word: overbalance

Key Russian Translations:

• перевесить [pʌrʲɪˈvʲesʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, used in physical or metaphorical contexts]
• нарушить равновесие [nəˈruʃʲɪtʲ rɐˈvnəvʲesʲɪje] - [Formal, often in scientific or abstract discussions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday language, especially in contexts like physics, sports, or finance, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and noun cases; for 'перевесить', it's straightforward for intermediates, while 'нарушить равновесие' may be more challenging due to the noun phrase)

Pronunciation (Russian):

перевесить: [pʌrʲɪˈvʲesʲɪtʲ]

Note on перевесить: The stress falls on the second syllable ('вес'), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronounce the 'р' as a rolled 'r'.

нарушить равновесие: [nəˈruʃʲɪtʲ rɐˈvnəvʲesʲɪje]

Note on нарушить равновесие: The word 'равновесие' has stress on the third syllable ('ве'), and the soft sign (ь) in 'равновесие' softens the preceding consonant, making it sound more fluid.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To cause something or someone to lose balance, often physically or metaphorically (e.g., in physics or daily life)

Translation(s) & Context:

• перевесить - Used in informal contexts, such as describing a physical fall or imbalance in weight; common in everyday conversations.
• нарушить равновесие - Applied in formal or technical settings, like scientific discussions or emotional states, to indicate disrupting equilibrium.

Usage Examples:

• Он перевесил на краю скалы и едва не упал. (He overbalanced on the edge of the cliff and almost fell.)

  He overbalanced on the edge of the cliff and almost fell.

• Ветер перевесил дерево, и оно рухнуло. (The wind overbalanced the tree, and it fell.)

  The wind overbalanced the tree, and it fell.

• Её аргументы перевесили в пользу перемен. (Her arguments overbalanced in favor of change.)

  Her arguments overbalanced in favor of change. (Metaphorical usage in debate.)

• Чтобы не перевесить, нужно равномерно распределить вес. (To avoid overbalancing, you need to distribute the weight evenly.)

  To avoid overbalancing, you need to distribute the weight evenly. (Advisory context.)

Meaning 2: To exceed in weight or importance, often in a financial or metaphorical sense (e.g., in accounting)

Translation(s) & Context:

• перевесить - Informal, used when something tips the scales, like in negotiations or financial imbalances.
• нарушить равновесие - Formal, for situations involving disruption of stability, such as economic overbalance.

Usage Examples:

• Расходы перевесили доходы в этом квартале. (Expenditures overbalanced income in this quarter.)

  Expenditures overbalanced income in this quarter. (Financial context.)

• Его энтузиазм перевесил все сомнения. (His enthusiasm overbalanced all doubts.)

  His enthusiasm overbalanced all doubts. (Metaphorical context in decision-making.)

• Чтобы не нарушить равновесие бюджета, мы сократили расходы. (To avoid overbalancing the budget, we cut expenses.)

  To avoid overbalancing the budget, we cut expenses. (Formal economic usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations involve verbs and nouns, so their inflections follow standard Russian grammar rules. 'Перевесить' is a verb (perfective aspect), while 'нарушить равновесие' includes a verb ('нарушить') and a noun ('равновесие').

For 'перевесить' (verb, perfective):

For 'нарушить равновесие', 'нарушить' is a verb with similar conjugation to 'перевесить'. 'Равновесие' is a neuter noun, which declines as follows:

These verbs are regular, but pay attention to aspect (perfective) for correct tense usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Сдвинуть (shift or displace) - More neutral, used for slight movements.
  • Опрокинуть (overturn) - Implies a complete tipping over, often physical.
• Antonyms:
  • Сбалансировать (balance)
  • Уравновесить (equalize)

Related Phrases:

• Перевесить чашу весов - Literally: To overbalance the scales; Meaning: To tip the balance in one's favor (e.g., in arguments or decisions).
• Нарушить равновесие в системе - Meaning: To disrupt equilibrium in a system (e.g., in ecology or politics).
• Равновесие нарушено - Meaning: The balance is overbalanced (used in contexts like psychology or physics).

Usage Notes:

'Overbalance' corresponds closely to 'перевесить' in informal, physical scenarios, but 'нарушить равновесие' is preferred for formal or abstract uses. English speakers should note that Russian verbs often require perfective/imperfective pairs (e.g., 'перевесить' is perfective; its imperfective might be 'перевешивать'). Use 'нарушить равновесие' in written or professional contexts to avoid sounding casual. When choosing between translations, consider the context: physical vs. metaphorical.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'перевесить' in formal contexts without adjusting for aspect. Example (incorrect): "Я перевесил равновесие вчера" (implies a completed action incorrectly). Correct: "Я нарушил равновесие вчера." Explanation: 'Перевесить' is perfective and better for instantaneous actions; pair it with the right aspect for ongoing processes.

• Error: Mispronouncing the stress in 'равновесие', leading to confusion. Example (incorrect pronunciation): Stressing the first syllable. Explanation: Always stress the third syllable to maintain clarity; practice with native audio to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'равновесие' (equilibrium) often tie into philosophical or literary themes, such as in works by Tolstoy, where balance represents moral or emotional stability. 'Overbalance' might evoke ideas of chaos in Russian folklore, where disrupting harmony (e.g., in nature) symbolizes broader societal upheaval.

Related Concepts:

• Баланс (balance)
• Равновесие (equilibrium)
• Стабильность (stability)