Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prescribe'

English Word: prescribe

Key Russian Translations:

• предписывать [prʲɪdˈpʲisəvətʲ] - [Formal, Used in legal, medical, or official contexts]
• назначать [nɐˈznatɕɪtʲ] - [Formal, Specifically used in medical or therapeutic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in professional and everyday contexts, especially in healthcare discussions)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

предписывать: [prʲɪdˈpʲisəvətʲ]

Note on предписывать: The stress is on the third syllable, which can be tricky for learners; it softens in informal speech. Variations may occur in dialects.

назначать: [nɐˈznatɕɪtʲ]

Note on назначать: The 'ч' sound is palatalized, similar to 'ch' in "church," and the verb often ends with a soft consonant in conjugated forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To order or recommend a course of action, especially in medicine (e.g., prescribing medication)

Translation(s) & Context:

• назначать - Used in healthcare settings when a doctor recommends treatment or medication.
• предписывать - Used more broadly for official instructions or regulations, such as in legal documents.

Usage Examples:

• Врач назначает пациенту антибиотики для лечения инфекции.

  The doctor prescribes antibiotics to the patient for treating the infection.

• Доктор предписывает строгий режим питания для улучшения здоровья.

  The doctor prescribes a strict diet regimen to improve health.

• Медицинская сестра назначает лекарства в соответствии с предписанием врача.

  The nurse prescribes medications according to the doctor's instructions.

• Закон предписывает обязательный осмотр у специалиста раз в год.

  The law prescribes a mandatory check-up with a specialist once a year.

• Терапевт назначает курс физиотерапии для восстановления после травмы.

  The therapist prescribes a course of physical therapy for recovery after an injury.

Meaning 2: To specify or stipulate something as part of a rule or guideline (e.g., prescribing behavior)

Translation(s) & Context:

• предписывать - Common in regulatory or instructional contexts, such as laws or manuals.
• назначать - Less common here, but possible in formal assignments.

Usage Examples:

• Контракт предписывает ежемесячные отчёты от подрядчика.

  The contract prescribes monthly reports from the contractor.

• Правила предписывают ношение защитных очков на стройке.

  The rules prescribe wearing protective goggles on the construction site.

• Договор предписывает штраф за просрочку платежа.

  The agreement prescribes a fine for late payment.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "предписывать" and "назначать" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they express ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard first-conjugation patterns for Russian verbs. Below is a table outlining key inflections for each verb in the present tense; they are regular but require attention to stem changes and endings.

Note: These verbs have perfective counterparts ("предписать" and "назначить"), which are used for completed actions. They do not change in gender or number in their infinitive forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • рекомендовать (rekamendovat') - Similar to "recommend," often used interchangeably in advice-giving contexts.
  • указывать (ukazyvat') - Implies pointing out or indicating, with a slight authoritative tone.
• Antonyms:
  • запрещать (zapreschat') - Means "to forbid," directly opposite in regulatory contexts.
  • отменять (otmenyat') - Means "to cancel" or "to revoke," contrasting with prescribing something new.

Related Phrases:

• Назначить лечение - To prescribe treatment (Used in medical scenarios for recommending therapies).
• Предписать правила - To prescribe rules (Common in legal or organizational settings for establishing guidelines).
• Медицинское предписание - A medical prescription (Refers to a written order from a doctor, often leading to pharmacy visits).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "предписывать" is more formal and encompasses a wider range of stipulations beyond medicine, while "назначать" is primarily medical. English speakers should note that Russian verbs require conjugation based on subject and tense, which can affect word choice—e.g., use "предписывать" for laws and "назначать" for prescriptions. Be mindful of context: in informal speech, synonyms like "рекомендовать" might be preferred to sound less authoritative.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "предписывать" with "предсказывать" (to predict): Learners might mix these due to similar roots. Incorrect: "Врач предсказывает лекарство" (The doctor predicts medicine). Correct: "Врач предписывает лекарство" (The doctor prescribes medicine). Explanation: "Предсказывать" relates to forecasting, not recommending.

• Overusing "назначать" in non-medical contexts: Incorrect: "Закон назначает наказание" (The law prescribes punishment—better as "предписывает"). Correct: "Закон предписывает наказание." Explanation: "Назначать" is context-specific; misuse can make the sentence sound unnatural.

• Neglecting verb aspects: Incorrect: Using the imperfective "предписывать" for a one-time action. Correct: Switch to perfective "предписать" for completed events, e.g., "Врач предписал лекарство вчера." Explanation: Russian aspect is crucial for conveying action completion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, prescribing medication or rules often reflects a hierarchical structure, such as in healthcare where doctors hold significant authority. This stems from Soviet-era practices where state-controlled medicine emphasized compliance, making terms like "назначать" carry an implicit sense of obligation rather than suggestion.

Related Concepts:

• рецепт (recept) - Refers to a prescription slip.
• инструкция (instruktsiya) - Means instructions or guidelines.
• рекомендация (rekomendatsiya) - Similar to recommendations.