Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'regenerate'

English Word: regenerate

Key Russian Translations:

• восстанавливать [vəs.tə.nəˈvlʲi.vətʲ] - [Informal, General use]
• регенерировать [rʲɪ.ɡʲɪ.nʲɪ.rʲɪˈra.vatʲ] - [Formal, Technical, often in scientific or medical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday language, especially in contexts like health, technology, and restoration, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb conjugations and context-specific usage. For 'восстанавливать', it's B2 due to imperfective aspect; for 'регенерировать', it's B2-C1 as it's more advanced and borrowed from English.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

восстанавливать: [vəs.tə.nəˈvlʲi.vətʲ]

Note on восстанавливать: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ('vlʲi'), which can be tricky for beginners. This verb is pronounced with a soft 'l' sound, common in Russian imperfective verbs. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels slightly.

Audio: []

регенерировать: [rʲɪ.ɡʲɪ.nʲɪ.rʲɪˈra.vatʲ]

Note on регенерировать: This is a loanword from English, so the pronunciation is relatively straightforward but includes palatalized consonants ('rʲ' and 'ɡʲ'). Stress is on the third syllable, which helps distinguish it from native Russian words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To restore or renew something to its original state

Translation(s) & Context:

• восстанавливать - Used in everyday contexts for ongoing processes, such as restoring health, buildings, or ecosystems; informal and versatile.
• регенерировать - Applied in technical or scientific settings, like biological regeneration or data recovery; formal and precise.

Usage Examples:

• Врачи пытаются восстанавливать его силы после операции. (Doctors are trying to regenerate his strength after the surgery.)

  Doctors are trying to regenerate his strength after the surgery.

• Эта технология может регенерировать поврежденные клетки в организме. (This technology can regenerate damaged cells in the body.)

  This technology can regenerate damaged cells in the body.

• Мы восстанавливаем старый сад, чтобы он выглядел как новый. (We are regenerating the old garden to make it look like new.)

  We are regenerating the old garden to make it look like new.

• В лаборатории ученые регенерируют ткани для медицинских исследований. (In the lab, scientists are regenerating tissues for medical research.)

  In the lab, scientists are regenerating tissues for medical research.

• После урагана сообщество начало восстанавливать разрушенные дома. (After the hurricane, the community started regenerating the destroyed houses.)

  After the hurricane, the community started regenerating the destroyed houses.

To imply a process of growth or renewal in a metaphorical sense

Translation(s) & Context:

• восстанавливать - Often used metaphorically for personal or emotional renewal, in literature or casual conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Путешествия помогают восстанавливать дух и творчество. (Travel helps regenerate the spirit and creativity.)

  Travel helps regenerate the spirit and creativity.

• Он использует медитацию, чтобы восстанавливать внутренний баланс. (He uses meditation to regenerate his inner balance.)

  He uses meditation to regenerate his inner balance.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'восстанавливать' and 'регенерировать' are imperfective verbs, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Восстанавливать' follows regular conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs, while 'регенерировать' is less common and may feel more static due to its borrowed nature.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive or past tense like nouns do, but they require aspect consideration (e.g., pair with perfective forms like 'восстановить' for completed actions).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: обновлять (obnovlyat' - to renew, with a focus on updating); восстановить (vosstanovit' - perfective form, implying completion)
• Antonyms: разрушать (razrushat' - to destroy); деградировать (degradiravat' - to degrade, often in technical contexts)

Note: 'Обновлять' is similar but emphasizes modernization, while 'разрушать' is a direct opposite in destructive processes.

Related Phrases:

• восстановить силы - To regain strength (used for physical or mental recovery, common in health contexts).
• регенерация тканей - Regeneration of tissues (a phrase from biology or medicine, indicating cellular renewal).
• восстанавливать экосистему - To regenerate an ecosystem (environmental usage, highlighting restoration efforts).

Usage Notes:

'Восстанавливать' is the more idiomatic choice for everyday Russian, directly corresponding to the imperfective aspect of 'regenerate' in English, and is preferred in casual or narrative contexts. 'Регенерировать' is a calque from English and suits formal or scientific writing but may sound overly technical in spoken language. Always consider the aspect: use 'восстанавливать' for ongoing actions and pair it with 'восстановить' for completed ones. In formal settings, 'регенерировать' might be chosen for precision, but beginners should start with 'восстанавливать' to avoid sounding unnatural.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'восстанавливать' for a completed action, e.g., *Я восстанавливаю дом вчера (I regenerated the house yesterday). Correct: Я восстановил дом вчера. Explanation: Russian verbs have aspects; 'восстанавливать' is imperfective (ongoing), so use the perfective 'восстановить' for finished events to match English past tense accurately.

• Error: Overusing 'регенерировать' in non-technical contexts, e.g., *Я регенерирую энергию после сна (I regenerate energy after sleep). Correct: Я восстанавливаю энергию после сна. Explanation: 'Регенерировать' sounds formal and may confuse listeners; opt for 'восстанавливать' for natural everyday speech.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, themes of regeneration often appear in literature and folklore, such as in stories of rebirth or renewal (e.g., in works by authors like Tolstoy, where personal regeneration symbolizes moral revival). The concept also ties into historical events like post-WWII reconstruction, where 'восстанавливать' was commonly used, reflecting resilience and national identity.

Related Concepts:

• восстановление (restoration)
• обновление (renewal)
• деградация (degradation)