Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'resist'

English Word: resist

Key Russian Translations:

• Сопротивляться /sə.prəˈtʲiv.lʲɪ.t͡sə/ - [Verb, Formal, Used in contexts of opposition or endurance]
• Сопротивление /sə.prəˈtʲiv.lʲɛ.nʲjɛ/ - [Noun, Neutral, Often used in metaphorical or physical resistance scenarios]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of politics, science, and everyday challenges, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to be")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and noun declensions. For 'Сопротивляться' as a verb, it's B2; for 'Сопротивление' as a noun, it's B1 due to simpler declension patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Сопротивляться: /sə.prəˈtʲiv.lʲɪ.t͡sə/

Сопротивление: /sə.prəˈtʲiv.lʲɛ.nʲjɛ/

Note on Сопротивляться: This verb has a complex pronunciation with stress on the third syllable ("tʲiv"), which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalized 'tʲ' sound. It often softens in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To oppose or withstand something (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Сопротивляться - Used in formal or serious contexts, such as resisting authority, temptation, or physical force; common in literature and debates.

Usage Examples:

• Он сопротивляется давлению со стороны общества.

  He resists pressure from society. (This example shows the verb in a social context, highlighting personal endurance.)

• Дети часто сопротивляются новым правилам в школе.

  Children often resist new rules at school. (Illustrates use with plural subjects and everyday scenarios.)

• Эта ткань сопротивляется воде и грязи.

  This fabric resists water and dirt. (Demonstrates metaphorical application in material science.)

• Мы должны сопротивляться негативным влияниям.

  We must resist negative influences. (Shows use in imperative or advisory contexts with plural subjects.)

Resistance as a noun (e.g., opposition or defense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Сопротивление - Applied in contexts like military, electrical engineering, or psychological resistance; neutral and versatile in formal writing.

Usage Examples:

• Во время войны было сильное сопротивление врагу.

  During the war, there was strong resistance to the enemy. (This highlights historical or military usage.)

• Сопротивление электрического тока измеряется в омах.

  Electrical resistance is measured in ohms. (Shows scientific application in physics.)

• Ее сопротивление изменениям удивило всех.

  Her resistance to changes surprised everyone. (Illustrates personal or emotional contexts.)

• Сопротивление диктатуре стало национальным движением.

  Resistance to the dictatorship became a national movement. (Emphasizes political and collective usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'Сопротивляться' (verb, imperfective aspect), it follows standard first conjugation patterns with irregularities in some forms. It is an intransitive verb that conjugates based on person, number, tense, and aspect.

For 'Сопротивление' (neuter noun, second declension), it declines regularly as follows:

Note: This noun is invariant in gender and does not change in the nominative singular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Противиться (to oppose, more direct and less formal), Борьба (struggle, noun form with a connotation of active effort)
• Antonyms: Подчиняться (to submit or obey, often used in formal contexts with a sense of yielding)

Related Phrases:

• Активное сопротивление - Active resistance (Used in political or protest contexts, implying organized opposition.)
• Пассивное сопротивление - Passive resistance (Refers to non-violent forms of protest, like in civil disobedience movements.)
• Сопротивление изменениям - Resistance to change (Common in psychological or business discussions, highlighting human behavior.)

Usage Notes:

'Сопротивляться' is a reflexive verb, always used with the particle 'ся', and corresponds closely to the English 'to resist' in active scenarios. Choose it for dynamic actions, while 'Сопротивление' fits static or nominal uses. Be mindful of aspect: use imperfective for ongoing resistance. In formal Russian, it's preferred in written texts, but in informal speech, simpler synonyms like 'противиться' might be more natural. English users should note that Russian verbs require agreement in person and number, unlike English.

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting the reflexive particle 'ся' in 'Сопротивляться', e.g., saying "сопротивлять" instead. Correct: Use "сопротивляться". Explanation: This changes the verb to an invalid form; always include 'ся' for reflexive actions.

• Error: Incorrect declension of 'Сопротивление', such as using nominative in all cases, e.g., "of the resistance" as "сопротивление" instead of "сопротивления". Correct: "сопротивления" in genitive. Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'сопротивление' carry historical weight, often linked to events such as World War II resistance movements or the dissident era under Soviet rule. It symbolizes resilience and national identity, making it a powerful word in literature and media, such as in works by authors like Solzhenitsyn.

Related Concepts:

• Революция (revolution)
• Борьба (struggle)
• Протест (protest)