Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'repress'

English Word: repress

Key Russian Translations:

• подавлять [pɐˈdavlʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, commonly used in psychological or emotional contexts]
• репрессировать [rʲɪprʲɪˈsʲirəvətʲ] - [Formal, often in political or historical contexts, implying state suppression]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, psychology, and political discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts; for 'подавлять', it's slightly easier at B1, while 'репрессировать' may reach B2 due to its specific connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

подавлять: [pɐˈdavlʲɪtʲ]

Note on подавлять: The stress falls on the second syllable ('dav'), and the 'лʲ' sound is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

репрессировать: [rʲɪprʲɪˈsʲirəvətʲ]

Note on репрессировать: The initial 'рʲ' is rolled and palatalized; stress is on the third syllable ('sʲir'). This word often retains a more formal, clipped pronunciation in official contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To hold back or suppress feelings, thoughts, or desires (e.g., emotional repression)

Translation(s) & Context:

• подавлять - Used in personal or psychological contexts, such as repressing emotions in therapy or daily life.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда подавляет свои страхи, чтобы не показаться слабым.

  He always represses his fears to avoid appearing weak.

• В стрессовых ситуациях люди часто подавляют негативные эмоции.

  In stressful situations, people often repress negative emotions.

• Психолог посоветовал ей не подавлять гнев, а выражать его конструктивно.

  The psychologist advised her not to repress anger but to express it constructively.

• Дети иногда подавляют творческие импульсы из-за строгого воспитания.

  Children sometimes repress creative impulses due to strict upbringing.

2. To put down or suppress by force, such as a rebellion or dissent (e.g., political repression)

Translation(s) & Context:

• репрессировать - Typically used in historical, political, or legal contexts, implying systematic suppression by authorities.
• подавлять - Can also apply here, but less formally, for immediate actions like quelling a protest.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство репрессировало оппозицию во время политического кризиса.

  The government repressed the opposition during the political crisis.

• В прошлом веке режим подавлял любые формы протеста жесткими мерами.

  In the last century, the regime repressed any forms of protest with harsh measures.

• Чтобы репрессировать восстание, власти ввели чрезвычайное положение.

  To repress the uprising, the authorities imposed a state of emergency.

• Активисты были репрессированы, но их идеи продолжали распространяться.

  The activists were repressed, but their ideas continued to spread.

• Армия быстро подавляет бунты в городах.

  The army quickly represses riots in the cities.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'подавлять' and 'репрессировать' are verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs are imperfective or perfective; 'подавлять' is imperfective, while 'репрессировать' can be used in imperfective forms but often pairs with perfective counterparts like 'задавить' in broader contexts.

For 'подавлять' (imperfective):

For 'репрессировать' (imperfective, with irregularities in some forms):

These verbs do not change based on gender in the infinitive form but adjust in past tense for the subject.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • угнетать (ugnetat') - Similar to 'подавлять' but with a connotation of oppression; often used for long-term suppression.
  • душить (dushit') - Informal synonym for suppressing protests or ideas, implying suffocation.
• Antonyms:
  • освобождать (osvobozhdat') - To liberate or release, opposite of emotional repression.
  • поощрять (pooshchryat') - To encourage, contrasting with forceful suppression.

Related Phrases:

• Подавлять эмоции - To repress emotions; often used in self-help or psychological discussions.
• Репрессировать диссидентов - To repress dissenters; refers to political contexts, such as historical events in the Soviet era.
• Подавлять протесты - To suppress protests; common in news and activism.

Usage Notes:

'Подавлять' is the more versatile translation for 'repress' in everyday emotional or general contexts, while 'репрессировать' is reserved for formal, often political scenarios due to its roots in Latin via French. English users should note that Russian verbs require aspect consideration—use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., 'задавить') for completed ones. In formal writing, 'репрессировать' might be preferred for historical accuracy, but in casual speech, 'подавлять' is safer to avoid sounding overly academic.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'подавлять' with 'подавить' (the perfective form), leading to incorrect tense usage. For example, an English learner might say "Я подавить эмоции" instead of "Я подавляю эмоции" for present tense.
  Correct: "Я подавляю эмоции" (I am repressing emotions). Explanation: Always match the verb aspect to the context; 'подавить' implies a one-time completion.
• Mistake: Overusing 'репрессировать' in non-political contexts, which can make speech sound exaggerated. For instance, saying "Я репрессирую свой гнев" instead of "Я подавляю свой гнев".
  Correct: Use 'подавлять' for personal emotions. Explanation: 'Репрессировать' carries a weighty, institutional tone, so reserve it for appropriate scenarios.

Cultural Notes:

The word 'репрессировать' evokes strong historical connotations in Russia, particularly linked to the Stalinist era's Great Purge (1930s), where political repression was widespread. This can add emotional depth to its usage, making it a sensitive term in modern discussions about human rights and freedom of expression.

Related Concepts:

• цензура (tsenzura) - Censorship
• диссидент (dissident) - Dissident
• оппозиция (oppozitsiya) - Opposition