Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'recriminate'

English Word: recriminate

Key Russian Translations:

• обвинять [ɐbˈvʲinɨtʲ] - [Formal, often used in legal or argumentative contexts]
• взаимно обвинять [vzɐˈimnə ɐbˈvʲinɨtʲ] - [Informal, emphasizes mutual accusation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, debate, or interpersonal conflict scenarios, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts; for "взаимно обвинять," it may reach C1 due to idiomatic phrasing)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обвинять: [ɐbˈvʲinɨtʲ]

взаимно обвинять: [vzɐˈimnə ɐbˈvʲinɨtʲ]

Note on обвинять: The stress falls on the second syllable; be mindful of the palatalized 'в' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the 'ы' vowel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To accuse someone in return or mutually

Translation(s) & Context:

• обвинять - Used in formal settings like courtrooms or debates, where one party responds to accusations with counter-claims.
• взаимно обвинять - Applied in informal or emotional exchanges, highlighting reciprocal blame, such as in family disputes.

Usage Examples:

• В суде обвиняемый начал обвинять свидетеля в ложных показаниях.

  In court, the defendant began recriminating the witness for false testimony.

• Друзья, поссорившись, взаимно обвиняли друг друга в предательстве.

  After quarreling, the friends recriminated each other for betrayal.

• Политики на дебатах часто обвиняют оппонентов, чтобы защитить свою позицию.

  Politicians often recriminate their opponents during debates to defend their stance.

• В семейной ссоре супруги взаимно обвиняли друг друга в нечестности.

  In a marital argument, the spouses recriminated each other for dishonesty.

• Во время расследования подозреваемые обвиняли коллег в соучастии.

  During the investigation, the suspects began recriminating their colleagues for complicity.

To engage in mutual blame without resolution

Translation(s) & Context:

• обвинять - In psychological or therapeutic contexts, implying a cycle of blame.
• взаимно обвинять - Informal, often in everyday conflicts, to show ongoing tension.

Usage Examples:

• Вместо решения проблемы, коллеги продолжали взаимно обвинять друг друга в ошибках.

  Instead of solving the problem, colleagues kept recriminating each other for mistakes.

• Родители обвиняли детей, а дети в ответ обвиняли родителей в несправедливости.

  Parents recriminated the children, and the children recriminated back for unfairness.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs based on "обвинять," which is a first-conjugation verb in Russian. It follows standard patterns for imperfective verbs. Below is a table outlining key inflections for "обвинять" (imperfective). "Взаимно обвинять" is a phrase that inflects based on "обвинять."

Note: The verb is regular, so it doesn't have irregular forms. In phrases like "взаимно обвинять," the adverb "взаимно" remains unchanged.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • упрекать (uprekať) - Similar but milder, often implying reproach rather than full accusation.
  • обвинять в ответ (obvinyat' v otvet) - Directly mirrors recrimination but is more literal.
• Antonyms:
  • оправдывать (opravdyvat') - To justify or defend, contrasting the accusatory nature.
  • защищать (zashchishchat') - To protect or exonerate, used in defensive contexts.

Related Phrases:

• взаимные обвинения - Mutual accusations; often used in legal or relational contexts to describe ongoing blame.
• обвинять без доказательств - To accuse without evidence; highlights the dangers of unfounded recrimination.
• обвинение в ответ - Counter-accusation; a direct phrase for responding to blame in debates.

Usage Notes:

• Russian translations like "обвинять" align closely with "recriminate" in formal settings, but "взаимно обвинять" better captures the mutual aspect. Choose based on context: use "обвинять" for one-sided responses and "взаимно обвинять" for bidirectional blame.
• These verbs are typically used in spoken or written Russian in argumentative scenarios, such as law, politics, or personal conflicts. Be cautious with formality; "обвинять" is neutral to formal, while "взаимно" adds emphasis in informal speech.
• Grammatically, always conjugate the verb according to subject and tense, as Russian verbs change based on person and number. In English-to-Russian translation, ensure the context implies reciprocity to avoid literal mismatches.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Incorrectly conjugating the verb, e.g., saying "он обвиня" instead of "он обвиняет." Correct: Use the full form "обвиняет" for third-person singular. Explanation: Russian verbs require agreement with the subject; this error stems from over-simplifying conjugation.
• Mistake: Using "обвинять" without specifying the object, e.g., "Я обвиняю" (vague). Correct: "Я обвиняю его в краже" (I accuse him of theft). Explanation: Russian requires explicit objects for clarity, unlike English where context might suffice.
• Mistake: Confusing with synonyms, e.g., using "упрекать" when "обвинять" is needed for a stronger accusation. Correct: Assess the intensity; "обвинять" implies formal blame. Explanation: This can dilute the meaning of recrimination in serious contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, recrimination is often linked to the legal system and interpersonal dynamics influenced by historical contexts like Soviet-era trials, where mutual accusations were common in public forums. This can carry a connotation of defensiveness or avoidance of responsibility, reflecting cultural values around collective blame in family or community settings.

Related Concepts:

• обвинение (accusation)
• защита (defense)
• ссора (quarrel)
• конфликт (conflict)