Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'reprove'

English Word: reprove

Key Russian Translations:

• упрекать [ʊˈprʲekətʲ] - [Formal; often used in contexts involving mild criticism or reproach in everyday or literary settings]
• осуждать [ɐˈsuʒdətʲ] - [Formal; implies a stronger sense of moral disapproval, suitable for serious discussions or ethical contexts]

Frequency: Medium - The verb is commonly encountered in Russian literature, formal writing, and conversations, but not as frequent in casual everyday speech.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for упрекать; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for осуждать - Both involve understanding verb conjugations and nuanced contexts, with осуждать requiring more advanced vocabulary for moral or ethical discussions.

Pronunciation (Russian):

упрекать: [ʊˈprʲekətʲ]

Note on упрекать: The stress falls on the second syllable ("prʲek"), and the palatalized 'r' sound can be challenging for English speakers. Pay attention to the soft consonants.

осуждать: [ɐˈsuʒdətʲ]

Note on осуждать: The 'zh' sound [ʒ] is similar to the 's' in "measure," and the stress is on the second syllable. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To express disapproval or criticism mildly, often without harshness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• упрекать - Used in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as family discussions or professional feedback, to convey gentle reproach without escalating conflict.
• осуждать - Applied in more serious scenarios, like ethical debates or public discourse, where the criticism carries a moral weight.

Usage Examples:

• Родители часто упрекали детей за неаккуратность в комнате.

  Parents often reproved their children for the messiness in the room.

• Учитель упрекал ученика, но сделал это мягко, чтобы не обидеть.

  The teacher reproved the student but did so gently to avoid hurting feelings.

• В романе героиня осуждала поведение друга, подчеркивая его нечестность.

  In the novel, the heroine reproved her friend's behavior, highlighting its dishonesty.

• Друзья упрекали его за опоздание на встречу, но с улыбкой.

  Friends reproved him for being late to the meeting, but with a smile.

• Судья осуждала действия обвиняемого, опираясь на доказательства.

  The judge reproved the defendant's actions based on the evidence.

To criticize in a formal or authoritative manner.

Translation(s) & Context:

• осуждать - Common in legal, educational, or public settings where reproval is part of authority figures' roles.

Usage Examples:

• Комиссия осуждала нарушения правил, но предлагала пути исправления.

  The committee reproved the rule violations but suggested ways to correct them.

• В газете осуждали коррупцию среди чиновников.

  The newspaper reproved corruption among officials.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "упрекать" and "осуждать" are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have specific inflections based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs like these are imperfective, indicating ongoing or repeated actions.

For упрекать (imperfective):

For осуждать (imperfective, similar pattern):

These verbs do not have irregular forms, but aspect pairs (e.g., perfective counterparts like упрекнуть) should be learned for complete usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: ругать (to scold, more informal and emotional); критиковать (to criticize, broader and less personal)
• Antonyms: хвалить (to praise, directly opposite in conveying approval)

Related Phrases:

• упрекать в чём-то - To reprove someone for something; used to specify the reason for criticism.
• осуждать публично - To reprove publicly; implies open or formal condemnation in social contexts.
• мягко упрекать - To gently reprove; highlights a softer approach in interpersonal communication.

Usage Notes:

"Упрекать" is the closest match to "reprove" in English, as it conveys mild, corrective criticism without aggression, making it ideal for everyday scenarios. In contrast, "осуждать" carries a more judgmental tone and is better suited for formal or ethical contexts. English users should note that Russian verbs like these require aspect consideration—use the imperfective for ongoing actions. When choosing between translations, opt for "упрекать" in personal interactions and "осуждать" in public or moral discussions to align with cultural nuances.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "упрекать" with "ругать": Learners might use "ругать" (to scold harshly) when "упрекать" is needed for mild reproval. Incorrect: "Я ругаю его за ошибку" (implies anger). Correct: "Я упрекаю его за ошибку" (mild criticism), as it avoids escalating the situation.
• Overlooking verb aspects: Forgetting to use the perfective form for completed actions, e.g., saying "Я упрекаю" instead of "Я упрекнул" for a finished event. This can make the sentence sound ongoing when it should be conclusive.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, reproving someone like "упрекать" is often done indirectly to maintain harmony, especially in family or social settings, reflecting the value of "krugovaya poruka" (collective responsibility). However, "осуждать" might be more direct in public forums, influenced by historical contexts like Soviet-era criticism sessions, where open disapproval was a tool for social control.

Related Concepts:

• критика
• осуждение
• воспитание