Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'satisfy'

English Word: satisfy

Key Russian Translations:

• удовлетворять [ʊ.dɐ.vlʲɪtʲˈvo.rʲɪtʲ] - [Imperfective verb, used for ongoing or repeated actions, Informal]
• удовлетворить [ʊ.dɐ.vlʲɪtʲˈvo.rʲɪtʲ] - [Perfective verb, used for completed actions, Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and professional contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be" or "to have")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb aspects, which can be challenging for learners, with удовлетворять being more complex due to its imperfective form)

Pronunciation (Russian):

удовлетворять: [ʊ.dɐ.vlʲɪtʲˈvo.rʲɪtʲ]

удовлетворить: [ʊ.dɐ.vlʲɪtʲˈvo.rʲɪtʲ]

Note on удовлетворять: The stress falls on the third syllable ("vo"), which is a common point of difficulty for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on удовлетворить: Similar to удовлетворять, but the perfective form often has a sharper, more emphatic delivery in spoken Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To fulfill a need, desire, or requirement (e.g., meeting expectations or conditions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• удовлетворять - Used in contexts involving ongoing satisfaction, such as in daily life or habitual actions (e.g., satisfying hunger over time).
• удовлетворить - Used for a single, completed act of satisfaction, often in formal or legal contexts (e.g., satisfying a contract).

Usage Examples:

• Его работа удовлетворяет все стандарты качества.

  His work satisfies all quality standards. (This example shows the verb in a professional context, highlighting ongoing compliance.)

• Эта еда удовлетворяет мой голод после долгого дня.

  This food satisfies my hunger after a long day. (Illustrates everyday use with physical needs, emphasizing the imperfective aspect for a temporary state.)

• Мы удовлетворили требования клиента своевременно.

  We satisfied the client's requirements on time. (Demonstrates the perfective aspect in a business scenario, indicating completion.)

• Книга удовлетворила мое любопытство по этой теме.

  The book satisfied my curiosity about this topic. (Shows use in intellectual or emotional contexts, with a focus on a finished action.)

Meaning 2: To please or gratify someone (e.g., in social or emotional senses)

Translation(s) & Context:

• удовлетворять - In interpersonal contexts, for ongoing pleasure or contentment.
• удовлетворить - For a specific instance of pleasing, such as in negotiations.

Usage Examples:

• Ее улыбка удовлетворяет меня каждый раз.

  Her smile satisfies me every time. (This highlights emotional gratification in a repeated context.)

• Этот подарок удовлетворил ее ожидания.

  This gift satisfied her expectations. (Example of a one-time event in a personal relationship.)

• Удовлетворять потребности семьи — это ежедневная задача.

  Satisfying the family's needs is a daily task. (Shows the verb in a familial, habitual setting.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both удовлетворять and удовлетворить are verbs, so they follow Russian conjugation patterns. Удовлетворять is imperfective, while удовлетворить is perfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, number, and mood. These verbs are conjugated irregularly in some forms due to their roots.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the past tense like adjectives do, but they agree with the subject in number and person.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • насыщать (to saturate or fill, often for physical needs; more literal than удовлетворять)
  • успокаивать (to soothe or pacify, when satisfaction involves calming emotions)
• Antonyms:
  • разочаровывать (to disappoint)
  • недовольствовать (to dissatisfy, though less common)

Related Phrases:

• удовлетворять потребности — Satisfying needs (common in psychological or economic discussions).
• удовлетворить curiosity — To satisfy curiosity (used in educational contexts to mean fulfilling intellectual desires).
• полностью удовлетворить — To fully satisfy (emphasizes completeness in formal agreements).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, always choose between the imperfective (удовлетворять) for ongoing processes and the perfective (удовлетворить) for completed ones, unlike English where "satisfy" works for both. This verb is versatile but formal; in casual speech, synonyms like "понравиться" (to please) might be preferred. Be mindful of context: in legal or business settings, удовлетворить is ideal, while удовлетворять suits descriptive narratives.

Common Errors:

• English speakers often mix up aspects: Using удовлетворять when a completed action is needed, e.g., saying "Я удовлетворил задачу" instead of correctly "Я удовлетворил задачу" (correct), but confusing it with "Я удовлетворяю задачу" for ongoing. Error: "Я удовлетворяю задачу" (implies it's still happening); Correct: "Я удовлетворил задачу" for completion. Explanation: Russian requires precise aspect to convey temporality.
• Another error: Overusing in formal contexts without conjugation, e.g., saying "удовлетворять" as is in past tense. Error: "Я удовлетворить вчера"; Correct: "Я удовлетворил вчера". Explanation: Verbs must be conjugated based on subject and tense.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of satisfaction (as in удовлетворять) often ties to communal or collective fulfillment, such as in Soviet-era literature where personal needs are subordinated to societal ones. For instance, in works by authors like Chekhov, satisfaction is portrayed as elusive, reflecting deeper philosophical themes of discontent in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• требования (requirements)
• потребности (needs)
• ожидания (expectations)