Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'regulate'

English Word: regulate

Key Russian Translations:

• Регулировать /rʲɪˈɡu.lʲɪ.rə.vatʲ/ - [Formal, used in technical, legal, or administrative contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly used in professional, scientific, and everyday contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "делать" or "идти".)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal vocabulary, as per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Регулировать: /rʲɪˈɡu.lʲɪ.rə.vatʲ/

Note on Регулировать: The stress falls on the third syllable ("li"), and the initial "р" is palatalized. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, with softening of consonants in informal settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To control or maintain something within limits, such as laws, systems, or processes.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Регулировать - Used in formal contexts like government regulations or technical adjustments, e.g., in engineering or economics.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство регулирует экономику, чтобы предотвратить инфляцию.

  The government regulates the economy to prevent inflation.

• Термостат автоматически регулирует температуру в помещении.

  The thermostat automatically regulates the temperature in the room.

• Водители должны регулировать скорость в зависимости от погодных условий.

  Drivers must regulate their speed depending on weather conditions.

• Международные организации регулируют торговлю, чтобы обеспечить справедливость.

  International organizations regulate trade to ensure fairness.

• Родители учат детей регулировать свои эмоции в стрессовых ситуациях.

  Parents teach children to regulate their emotions in stressful situations.

Secondary Meaning: To adjust or fine-tune something for optimal performance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Регулировать - Applied in mechanical or technical settings, such as machinery or devices.

Usage Examples:

• Механик регулирует двигатель автомобиля для улучшения эффективности.

  The mechanic regulates the car engine to improve efficiency.

• Врач помогает пациентам регулировать диету для контроля веса.

  The doctor helps patients regulate their diet to control weight.

• Инженеры регулируют параметры системы, чтобы избежать перегрузки.

  Engineers regulate the system's parameters to avoid overload.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Регулировать" is a verb of the first conjugation in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns but has specific inflections based on tense, aspect, and person. It is imperfective, indicating ongoing or repeated actions. Below is a table outlining key inflections:

Note: The verb is regular but pay attention to stem changes in certain forms. It does not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Управлять (upravlyat') - More general, implying management; often used interchangeably but with a focus on direction.
  • Контролировать (kontrolirovat') - Emphasizes oversight and monitoring, suitable for surveillance contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Нарушать (narushat') - To violate or break rules.
  • Игнорировать (ignorirovat') - To ignore or disregard.

Related Phrases:

• Регулировать температуру - To regulate temperature; commonly used in discussions about climate control or health.
• Регулировать трафик - To regulate traffic; refers to managing road or air flow in urban planning.
• Регулировать поведение - To regulate behavior; often in psychological or educational contexts, implying self-control.

Usage Notes:

"Регулировать" directly corresponds to the English "regulate" in formal and technical contexts, but English speakers should note that Russian verbs often require aspectual pairs (e.g., imperfective "регулировать" for ongoing actions vs. perfective "отрегулировать" for completed ones). Use it in formal writing or speech; in informal settings, simpler synonyms like "управлять" might be preferred. Always consider the subject-verb agreement based on Russian grammar rules.

• When choosing between translations, opt for "регулировать" for precise control mechanisms, such as in laws or machines.
• In sentences, it often pairs with objects like "экономику" (economy) or "скорость" (speed) to specify what is being regulated.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "регулировать" with "регулировать" and its perfective counterpart "отрегулировать," leading to incorrect aspect usage. For example:

• Error: Я регулирую машину. (Intended for a one-time action, but this is imperfective.)
• Correct: Я отрегулировал машину. (For a completed action.)
• Explanation: Use the imperfective form for ongoing processes and perfective for results. Another common mistake is overusing it in informal speech; instead, use "управлять" for everyday conversations to sound more natural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of regulation often tie into historical contexts like Soviet-era central planning, where government "регулирование" (regulation) of the economy was prominent. This can add a layer of connotation in modern discussions, implying state intervention rather than free-market adjustments.

Related Concepts:

• Управление (upravleniye) - Management
• Контроль (kontrol') - Control
• Нормы (normy) - Norms or standards