Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'restraint'

English Word: restraint

Key Russian Translations:

• сдержанность [sʲɪˈdrʐanʲəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, often used in emotional or psychological contexts]
• ограничение [əgrʲanʲɪˈtɕenʲɪje] - [General, applicable to physical or legal constraints]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, psychology, and everyday discussions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of noun inflections and abstract concepts; for 'сдержанность', it may be B2 due to its emotional nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сдержанность: [sʲɪˈdrʐanʲəsʲtʲ]

Note on сдержанность: The 'ж' sound (as in [ʐ]) is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in English 'measure'. Stress falls on the third syllable, which is common in Russian abstract nouns.

ограничение: [əgrʲanʲɪˈtɕenʲɪje]

Note on ограничение: The 'ч' sound (as in [tɕ]) is palatalized, like a soft 'ch' in 'church'. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Self-control or moderation (e.g., emotional restraint)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сдержанность - Used in formal or introspective contexts, such as describing behavior in social or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда проявляет сдержанность в конфликтных ситуациях.

  He always shows restraint in conflict situations.

• Её сдержанность помогла избежать эскалации спора.

  Her restraint helped avoid escalating the argument.

• В культуре сдержанность ценится как признак зрелости.

  In culture, restraint is valued as a sign of maturity.

• Несмотря на провокации, он сохранил сдержанность.

  Despite the provocations, he maintained restraint.

2. Limitation or restriction (e.g., physical or legal constraint)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ограничение - Applied in contexts involving rules, boundaries, or controls, such as laws or mechanical devices.

Usage Examples:

• Это ограничение скорости спасло много жизней.

  This speed restraint saved many lives.

• Правительственные ограничения на импорт вызвали протесты.

  Government restraints on imports caused protests.

• В контракте указано ограничение на использование интеллектуальной собственности.

  The contract specifies restraints on the use of intellectual property.

• Физические ограничения помогают в безопасности на стройке.

  Physical restraints aid safety on construction sites.

• Эти ограничения не позволяют превышать бюджет.

  These restraints prevent exceeding the budget.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'сдержанность' and 'ограничение' are feminine nouns in Russian, following standard patterns for abstract concepts. They decline according to case, number, and gender rules.

For 'сдержанность' (feminine, 3rd declension):

For 'ограничение' (neuter, 2nd declension, but often treated as feminine in usage):

These nouns do not have irregular forms but follow standard Russian declension rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: терпение (terpenie) - more about patience; самообладание (samobladanie) - self-possession, often interchangeable with сдержанность in emotional contexts.
• Antonyms: импульсивность (impulsivnost') - lack of control; неограниченность (neogranichennost') - unboundedness, directly opposing ограничение.

Related Phrases:

• Подавлять сдержанность - Meaning: To suppress restraint (used when someone holds back emotions forcefully; context: psychological or interpersonal).
• Снять ограничение - Meaning: To remove a restraint (e.g., lifting a ban; context: legal or regulatory).
• Потерять сдержанность - Meaning: To lose restraint (implying a breakdown in self-control; context: emotional outbursts).

Usage Notes:

'Сдержанность' best matches 'restraint' in the sense of emotional or behavioral self-control, and it's preferred in formal writing or discussions about psychology. 'Ограничение' aligns more with physical or external constraints, similar to 'restriction' in English. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words can carry a positive connotation (e.g., 'сдержанность' as a virtue), unlike some English uses. When choosing between translations, consider the sentence's formality—'сдержанность' is more literary, while 'ограничение' is neutral and versatile. Grammatically, both nouns require agreement in gender, number, and case with accompanying words.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Using 'сдержанность' for physical restraints, e.g., saying "сдержанность на дороге" instead of "ограничение на дороге". Correct usage: "Ограничение скорости" (Speed restraint). Explanation: 'Сдержанность' implies internal control, not external limits, which can confuse learners from literal translations.
• Another error: Forgetting to decline the noun, e.g., using "в сдержанность" instead of "в сдержанности" in genitive contexts. Correct: "Потеря сдержанности" (Loss of restraint). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so always check the sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'сдержанность' is often idealized as a key trait in social interactions, reflecting historical influences from literature (e.g., Tolstoy's characters) and the Soviet era's emphasis on stoicism. This can make it a positive attribute in professional or public life, unlike in some Western contexts where expressiveness is valued more.

Related Concepts:

• дисциплина (disciplina)
• самоконтроль (samokontrol')
• терпимость (terpimost')