Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'remain'

English Word: remain

Key Russian Translations:

• оставаться [ɐˈstavətʲsə] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts]
• оставить [ɐˈstavʲitʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used for leaving something behind or causing to remain]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily conversations, literature, and formal writing, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "быть").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and aspect in Russian, which can vary by translation—e.g., 'оставаться' is intermediate, while 'оставить' might be slightly easier for beginners due to its perfective aspect).

Pronunciation (Russian):

оставаться: [ɐˈstavətʲsə]

оставить: [ɐˈstavʲitʲ]

Note on оставаться: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To stay in the same place or continue existing

Translation(s) & Context:

• оставаться - Used in contexts involving persistence or location, such as in daily life or narratives (e.g., remaining in a place).
• оставить - Used when implying an action that results in something staying, like leaving an object behind (more formal or imperative contexts).

Usage Examples:

• Я останусь дома до вечера.

  I will remain at home until evening. (This shows the verb in a future tense, simple declarative sentence.)

• Вещи остались в машине после поездки.

  The things remained in the car after the trip. (Illustrates use in a past tense context with plural nouns.)

• Он предпочитает оставаться в тени во время жаркого лета.

  He prefers to remain in the shade during the hot summer. (Demonstrates use in a preference or habitual context.)

• Не оставляй дверь открытой, чтобы тепло осталось в комнате.

  Don't leave the door open so that the warmth remains in the room. (Shows 'оставить' in an imperative form with a causal clause.)

To be left over or survive

Translation(s) & Context:

• оставаться - Often used metaphorically, such as in survival contexts (e.g., remaining alive).
• оставить - Less common here, but can imply leaving something uneaten or unused.

Usage Examples:

• После ужина немного еды осталось в тарелке.

  After dinner, some food remained on the plate. (Example of use with quantities in a concrete situation.)

• Несмотря на трудности, они остались в живых.

  Despite the difficulties, they remained alive. (Metaphorical use in a narrative or survival context.)

• Вспомни, что из прошлой жизни мало что осталось.

  Remember that little remains from your previous life. (Abstract use in reflective or philosophical contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'оставаться' (an imperfective verb), it follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. It is irregular in some aspects due to its root changes. Below is a table for its present tense forms:

For 'оставить' (a perfective verb), it has its own conjugations and is often used with perfective aspects:

Both verbs do not change in gender but are aspect-sensitive in Russian. 'Оставаться' is unchanging in its infinitive form across contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пребывать (to abide or stay, often more formal and literary)
  • находиться (to be located, with a focus on position)
• Antonyms:
  • уходить (to leave or depart)
  • исчезать (to disappear)

Related Phrases:

• Оставаться в живых - To remain alive (Used in survival or metaphorical contexts, implying endurance.)
• Оставить след - To leave a mark or remain influential (Common in discussions about legacy or impact.)
• Оставаться верным - To remain faithful (Often in personal or relational contexts, emphasizing loyalty.)

Usage Notes:

Russian translations of 'remain' like 'оставаться' and 'оставить' correspond closely to the English verb but emphasize aspect: 'оставаться' is imperfective (ongoing action), while 'оставить' is perfective (completed action). Choose based on context—use 'оставаться' for states of being and 'оставить' for actions. Be mindful of formal vs. informal settings; 'оставаться' is versatile across registers, but 'оставить' may sound more authoritative. Grammatically, these verbs require agreement with subject in person and number, and they can take various prepositions like 'в' (in) for locations.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'оставаться' with 'оставить' and using the wrong aspect. For example, an English speaker might say "Я останусь еду" instead of "Я оставлю еду" for "I will leave the food."
  Correct: "Я оставлю еду." (Explanation: 'Оставлю' is perfective for a completed action, whereas 'останусь' implies ongoing remaining.)
• Mistake: Forgetting conjugation, e.g., saying "Он остаётся" incorrectly as "Он остаться."
  Correct: "Он остаётся." (Explanation: Verbs must conjugate based on person; infinitive forms are not used in sentences.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'оставаться в живых' often carry deep historical connotations, especially from events like World War II, where survival and resilience are celebrated themes in literature and folklore. This reflects the Russian emphasis on endurance in the face of adversity, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• продолжать (to continue)
• существовать (to exist)
• выживать (to survive)