Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pursue'

English Word: pursue

Key Russian Translations:

• преследовать [prʲɪsʲɪˈslʲovətʲ] - [Formal; used in contexts of chasing or pursuing physically or legally]
• добиваться [dɐˈbʲivətʲsə] - [Formal or Neutral; commonly used for pursuing goals, ambitions, or rights]
• заниматься [zɐˈnʲætʲsə] - [Informal or Neutral; applied to pursuing activities, hobbies, or studies]

Frequency: Medium - These verbs are commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in literature, news, and conversations about personal development.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for most translations, as they involve verb conjugations and contextual nuances; 'добиваться' may lean towards B1 for simpler goal-oriented contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

преследовать: [prʲɪsʲɪˈslʲovətʲ]

добиваться: [dɐˈbʲivətʲsə]

заниматься: [zɐˈnʲætʲsə]

Note on преследовать: The stress falls on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Note on добиваться: This verb often has a reflexive form; the 'бь' combination requires a smooth transition, avoiding over-emphasis on the 'b' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To follow or chase someone or something (e.g., in a literal or investigative sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• преследовать - Used in formal contexts like legal pursuits or hunting; implies active chasing with potential intensity.

Usage Examples:

• Полиция преследует преступника по улицам города.

  The police are pursuing the criminal through the city streets.

• В фильме герой преследует таинственного врага всю ночь.

  In the movie, the hero pursues a mysterious enemy all night.

• Охотники преследуют оленя в лесу, но безуспешно.

  The hunters pursue the deer in the forest but unsuccessfully.

• Если вы преследуете кого-то, убедитесь, что это законно.

  If you pursue someone, make sure it's legal.

To seek to attain or accomplish goals (e.g., career or personal ambitions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• добиваться - Common in professional or motivational contexts; emphasizes persistent effort toward achievement.
• заниматься - More casual, for ongoing pursuits like education or hobbies.

Usage Examples:

• Она упорно добивается успеха в бизнесе, несмотря на препятствия.

  She is pursuing success in business despite the obstacles.

• Молодые люди должны добиваться своих мечт, не сдаваться.

  Young people should pursue their dreams without giving up.

• Он занимается изучением русского языка уже несколько лет.

  He has been pursuing the study of the Russian language for several years.

• Чтобы добиваться карьерного роста, нужно постоянно учиться.

  To pursue career advancement, you need to keep learning.

• Многие студенты занимаются спортом, чтобы поддерживать здоровье.

  Many students pursue sports to maintain their health.

To continue or proceed with an activity (e.g., in academic or professional settings)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заниматься - Informal for sustained engagement; often used in educational contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он продолжает заниматься исследованиями в области науки.

  He continues to pursue research in the field of science.

• Дети занимаются музыкой, чтобы развить творческие навыки.

  Children pursue music to develop creative skills.

• Если вы занимаетесь проектом, не отвлекайтесь на мелочи.

  If you are pursuing a project, don't get distracted by minor details.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These are imperfective verbs, meaning they express ongoing or repeated actions.

For преследовать (imperfective):

Person/Number	Present Tense	Past Tense	Future Tense
I (я)	преследую	преследовал(а)	буду преследовать
You (ты/вы)	преследуешь/преследуете	преследовал(а)/преследовали	будешь/будете преследовать
He/She/It (он/она/оно)	преследует	преследовал(а)	будет преследовать
We (мы)	преследуем	преследовали	будем преследовать
They (они)	преследуют	преследовали	будут преследовать

For добиваться and заниматься, similar conjugation patterns apply, with reflexive forms (e.g., добиваться uses -ся for emphasis). These verbs are regular in most aspects but require attention to stem changes in certain tenses.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • стремиться (to strive; similar to добиваться but more about direction than achievement)
  • искать (to seek; less formal, for general pursuit)
  • охотиться (to hunt; specific to преследовать in chasing contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • избегать (to avoid)
  • отказываться (to give up)
  • прекращать (to stop)

Related Phrases:

• Добиваться успеха - To pursue success; often used in motivational contexts to mean striving for achievements.
• Преследовать цель - To pursue a goal; implies dedicated chasing of objectives.
• Заниматься делом - To pursue a matter or engage in business; refers to actively handling tasks.
• Стремиться к совершенству - To pursue perfection; a common phrase in self-improvement scenarios.

Usage Notes:

• Russian translations of 'pursue' are not direct one-to-one matches; choose based on context—e.g., use 'добиваться' for abstract goals and 'преследовать' for literal chasing.
• These verbs often require the perfective aspect for completed actions (e.g., 'достичь' for achieving what you pursue), so pair them carefully in sentences.
• In formal writing, 'добиваться' is preferred for professional pursuits, while 'заниматься' suits everyday conversations about hobbies.
• Grammar note: These are transitive verbs, so they often need a direct object (e.g., 'добиваться цели').

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'преследовать' in non-literal contexts, e.g., saying "Я преследую карьеру" instead of "Я добиваюсь карьеры." Correct: The former implies physical chasing, which is inappropriate. Explanation: 'Преследовать' connotes pursuit with aggression; opt for 'добиваться' for career goals to avoid confusion.
• Error: Neglecting verb conjugation, e.g., using the infinitive form in a sentence like "Я преследовать цель." Correct: Conjugate to "Я преследую цель." Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, unlike English infinitives.
• Error: Confusing with synonyms, e.g., using 'стремиться' when 'добиваться' is needed for tangible results. Explanation: 'Стремиться' focuses on aspiration without implying action, so it understates effort in pursuit contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, pursuing goals (e.g., via 'добиваться') often reflects themes from literature like Tolstoy's works, where characters relentlessly chase personal or societal ideals. This can tie into the cultural emphasis on perseverance, as seen in proverbs like "Терпение и труд всё перетрут" (Patience and work will grind everything down), highlighting the value of sustained pursuit in overcoming challenges.

Related Concepts:

• цель (goal)
• амбиции (ambitions)
• стремление (aspiration)
• охота (hunt, in the context of pursuit)