Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'reproach'

English Word: reproach

Key Russian Translations:

• упрек [ʊˈprʲɛk] - [Noun, Formal/Informal]
• упрекать [ʊprʲɪˈkatʲ] - [Verb, Formal/Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "hello").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding noun declensions and verb conjugations, which may vary slightly between translations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

упрек: [ʊˈprʲɛk]

упрекать: [ʊprʲɪˈkatʲ]

Note on упрек: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'р' is rolled, which can be challenging for English speakers. For упрекать, the verb ending changes, affecting pronunciation in conjugated forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a noun, referring to an expression of disapproval or criticism.

Translation(s) & Context:

• упрек - Used in formal or informal contexts to denote a mild rebuke, often in personal or professional settings (e.g., in arguments or feedback).

Usage Examples:

• Его упрек за опоздание был вполне оправданным. (His reproach for being late was entirely justified.)

  Translation: His reproach for being late was entirely justified.

• В её глазах я увидел упрек, но не сказал ни слова. (In her eyes, I saw a reproach, but I didn't say a word.)

  Translation: In her eyes, I saw a reproach, but I didn't say a word.

• Упрек от начальника заставил меня пересмотреть свои привычки. (The reproach from the boss made me rethink my habits.)

  Translation: The reproach from the boss made me rethink my habits.

• Этот упрек был частью более широкого разговора о ответственности. (This reproach was part of a broader discussion on responsibility.)

  Translation: This reproach was part of a broader discussion on responsibility.

Meaning 2: As a verb, meaning to express disapproval or criticize someone.

Translation(s) & Context:

• упрекать - Applied in scenarios involving direct confrontation or gentle admonishment, suitable for both spoken and written Russian (e.g., in narratives or dialogues).

Usage Examples:

• Она упрекала его за неисполнение обещаний. (She reproached him for not keeping his promises.)

  Translation: She reproached him for not keeping his promises.

• Родители часто упрекают детей за плохие отметки. (Parents often reproach children for bad grades.)

  Translation: Parents often reproach children for bad grades.

• Он упрекал себя за упущенную возможность. (He reproached himself for the missed opportunity.)

  Translation: He reproached himself for the missed opportunity.

• Друзья упрекали её за отсутствие пунктуальности. (Friends reproached her for her lack of punctuality.)

  Translation: Friends reproached her for her lack of punctuality.

• В письме она упрекала брата за его безответственность. (In the letter, she reproached her brother for his irresponsibility.)

  Translation: In the letter, she reproached her brother for his irresponsibility.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For упрек (a masculine noun), it follows standard third-declension patterns with changes in cases and numbers. It is not irregular but requires attention to case endings.

For упрекать (a verb of the first conjugation), it has regular conjugations across tenses and persons. Below is a partial conjugation table for the present tense:

Note: The verb is regular, so it doesn't have irregular forms, making it easier for learners once basic patterns are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • критика (kritika) - Similar to reproach but often more general; used for broader criticism.
  • осуждение (osuzhdenie) - Implies stronger moral disapproval, typically in formal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • похвала (pohvala) - Praise, the opposite of reproach in positive feedback scenarios.
  • одобрение (odobrenie) - Approval, used when expressing support rather than criticism.

Related Phrases:

• Сделать упрек (Sdelat' uprek) - To make a reproach; used in situations of direct criticism.
• Без упрека (Bez upreka) - Without reproach; implies something is flawless or beyond criticism.
• Упрек в адрес кого-то (Uprek v adres kogo-to) - A reproach directed at someone; common in formal complaints.

Usage Notes:

упрек as a noun directly corresponds to "reproach" in English, often implying a verbal or implied criticism without aggression. упрекать, as a verb, is more active and can be used interchangeably with "to reproach" but is typically milder in Russian contexts. Be mindful of the formal/informal divide: use in professional settings for упрек, and everyday conversations for both. When choosing between translations, opt for упрек for static criticism and упрекать for actions. Grammatically, always adjust for case and tense to fit the sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using упрек in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я слышал упрек" instead of "Я слышал упрек" (correct, but learners often forget genitive in phrases like "слушать упрек"). Correct: "Я слышал упрек" should be "Я слышал упрек" in nominative, but in contexts like "обвинение в упреке," use genitive "упрека." Explanation: Russian requires precise case agreement, which English speakers might overlook.
• Mistake: Conjugating упрекать incorrectly, e.g., saying "Он упрекает" as "Он упрек" (incorrect form). Correct: "Он упрекает." Explanation: Verbs must match person and number; practice with conjugation tables to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like упрек are often used indirectly to maintain harmony, reflecting the value of "krugovaya poruka" (collective responsibility). Unlike in some Western cultures, a reproach might be softened with humor or subtlety to avoid direct confrontation, especially in social settings.

Related Concepts:

• осуждение (osuzhdenie)
• критика (kritika)
• порицание (poritsanie)