Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'respond'

English Word: respond

Key Russian Translations:

• Ответить [ɐˈtvʲetʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, used for direct replies]
• Отреагировать [ɐtrʲeɐɡʲɪrəˈvatʲ] - [Informal, used for reactions or responses]
• Откликнуться [ɐtklʲɪˈknutʲsə] - [Informal, used in emotional or instinctive responses]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations and formal writing)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and context; for 'Отреагировать', it might be B2 due to more nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Ответить: [ɐˈtvʲetʲɪtʲ]

Note on Ответить: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. This verb often has a perfective aspect.

Отреагировать: [ɐtrʲeɐɡʲɪrəˈvatʲ]

Note on Отреагировать: Pronounce the 'р' with a slight trill; it's a more modern word and less stressed in casual speech.

Откликнуться: [ɐtklʲɪˈknutʲsə]

Note on Откликнуться: The reflexive suffix '-ся' affects pronunciation; it's often used in reflexive contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To reply or answer (e.g., in conversation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ответить - Used in formal or direct response scenarios, such as answering a question.
• Откликнуться - Applied in emotional or immediate reactions, like responding to a call.

Usage Examples:

• Он быстро ответил на мой вопрос. (He quickly responded to my question.)

  English: He quickly answered my question.

• Она отреагировала на новости с удивлением. (She responded to the news with surprise.)

  English: She reacted to the news with surprise.

• Дети откликнулись на призыв помочь. (The children responded to the call for help.)

  English: The children answered the call for help.

• В письме он ответил на все мои замечания. (In the letter, he responded to all my comments.)

  English: In the letter, he addressed all my comments.

To react or respond in a broader sense (e.g., to stimuli)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Отреагировать - Common in informal contexts for emotional or physical reactions.
• Ответить - Can be used metaphorically, but less common here.

Usage Examples:

• Организм отреагировал на лекарство положительно. (The body responded positively to the medicine.)

  English: The body reacted positively to the medicine.

• Он не отреагировал на мою шутку. (He didn't respond to my joke.)

  English: He didn't react to my joke.

• Компания отреагировала на кризис новыми мерами. (The company responded to the crisis with new measures.)

  English: The company reacted to the crisis with new measures.

• Она отреагировала улыбкой на комплимент. (She responded with a smile to the compliment.)

  English: She reacted with a smile to the compliment.

• Ответить на критику конструктивно — это искусство. (Responding to criticism constructively is an art.)

  English: Answering criticism constructively is an art.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Ответить' is a perfective verb, while 'Отреагировать' is imperfective in some contexts.

Note: These verbs are conjugated irregularly in some aspects; 'Откликнуться' is reflexive and remains unchanged in its base form across contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Отвечать (otvechat') - More general, imperfective form.
  • Реагировать (reagirovat') - Similar to 'отреагировать', but slightly more neutral.
  • Возразить (vozrazit') - For responding with objection; differs in implying disagreement.
• Antonyms:
  • Игнорировать (ignorirovat') - To ignore.
  • Молчать (molchat') - To be silent.

Related Phrases:

• Ответить на звонок - To answer the phone; used in daily communication.
• Отреагировать мгновенно - To react instantly; implies quick response in emergencies.
• Откликнуться на предложение - To respond to an offer; common in business contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'respond' translations like 'ответить' are often perfective, focusing on completed actions, while 'отреагировать' is imperfective for ongoing processes. Choose based on context: use formal verbs in official settings and informal ones in casual talk. Be mindful of aspect differences, as English 'respond' doesn't always distinguish them. For example, 'ответить' pairs well with questions, while 'откликнуться' suits emotional appeals.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'ответить' in ongoing contexts, e.g., saying "Я отвечаю" when meaning "I am responding now" (which is correct), but confusing it with imperfective forms.

  Correct: Я реагирую на ситуацию (I am responding to the situation). Explanation: 'Ответить' is perfective and not used for present continuous; opt for 'отвечать' instead.

• Error: Omitting reflexive particles, e.g., saying "Откликнуть" instead of "Откликнуться".

  Correct: Откликнуться на зов. Explanation: This verb requires '-ся' for reflexivity, which changes its meaning entirely.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, responding promptly (e.g., 'ответить на письмо') is seen as a sign of respect and efficiency, especially in professional or familial contexts. Words like 'откликнуться' can carry emotional weight, reflecting communal responsiveness in literature and history, such as in Soviet-era stories where characters 'respond' to calls for collective action.

Related Concepts:

• Вопрос (vopros) - Question
• Реакция (reaktsiya) - Reaction
• Ответ (otvet) - Answer