Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sedate'

English Word: sedate

Key Russian Translations:

• спокойный [spɐˈkoj.nɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used to describe a calm demeanor or situation]
• успокоить [ʊs.pɐˈko.ɪtʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used in contexts involving calming someone or something, such as medically]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its forms are commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp basic inflections and usages, though mastering nuances may require B2 or higher.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

спокойный: [spɐˈkoj.nɨj]

Note on спокойный: Stress falls on the second syllable ("koj"). Be cautious with the soft "н" sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

успокоить: [ʊs.pɐˈko.ɪtʲ]

Note on успокоить: The verb ends with a palatalized "тʲ," which softens the sound. In fast speech, the initial "у" might blend with preceding words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Adjective meaning: Calm, dignified, or composed (e.g., describing a person's temperament)

Translation(s) & Context:

• спокойный - Used in formal or everyday contexts to describe someone who is emotionally stable or a situation that is peaceful, such as in professional settings or literature.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда спокойный, даже в самых напряженных ситуациях.

  He is always sedate, even in the most tense situations.

• Эта спокойная музыка помогает расслабиться после работы.

  This sedate music helps to relax after work.

• В спокойном парке дети играют без забот.

  In the sedate park, children play without worries.

• Ее спокойный голос успокоил всех в комнате.

  Her sedate voice calmed everyone in the room.

Verb meaning: To calm or tranquilize (e.g., medically or emotionally)

Translation(s) & Context:

• успокоить - Applied in contexts where one actively soothes or sedates, such as in medical scenarios or emotional support; often used in imperative forms for commands.

Usage Examples:

• Врач успокoit пациента перед операцией.

  The doctor sedates the patient before the operation.

• Она постаралась успокоить ребенка, рассказывая сказку.

  She tried to sedate the child by telling a story.

• Этот чай помогает успокоить нервы в стрессовый день.

  This tea helps to sedate the nerves on a stressful day.

• Препарат успокoit его за считанные минуты.

  The medication will sedate him in a matter of minutes.

• Друзья успокoit его, объясняя, что все в порядке.

  Friends sedated him by explaining that everything is fine.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For спокойный (adjective): This is a standard Russian adjective that follows the first declension pattern. It changes based on gender, number, and case, which is common for adjectives in Russian.

For успокоить (verb): This is a first-conjugation verb in the imperfective aspect. It conjugates regularly based on tense, person, and number. The perfective form is "успокоить" (to sedate completely).

Note: This verb is aspectual; use the perfective "успокоить" for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: уравновешенный (more balanced, often for personality); сдержанный (restrained, with a connotation of self-control)
• Antonyms: нервный (nervous); суетливый (fussy or agitated, implying constant movement)

Related Phrases:

• спокойная жизнь - A peaceful life; used to describe a serene, uneventful existence.
• успокоить нервы - To calm the nerves; a common phrase for relieving stress or anxiety.
• спокойный сон - A sedate sleep; refers to restful, uninterrupted sleep.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "спокойный" directly corresponds to the adjective form of "sedate" in English, emphasizing emotional composure, while "успокоить" aligns with the verb form, often in medical or emotional contexts. Be mindful of context: "спокойный" is neutral and widely used in formal writing, but in informal speech, it might imply boredom if overused. For verbs, choose "успокоить" for perfective actions (e.g., a one-time sedation) versus its imperfective counterpart "успокаивать" for ongoing processes. English learners should note that Russian adjectives require agreement in gender, number, and case, which has no direct equivalent in English grammar.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "спокойный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "спокойный домa" instead of "спокойного дома" in genitive case. Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's case, as in "в спокойном доме" (in a sedate house). Explanation: This error stems from English's lack of case systems, leading to confusion in Russian sentence structure.
• Mistake: Confusing the verb aspects, e.g., using "успокоить" for ongoing actions like "I am sedating" instead of "успокаиваю." Correct: Use the imperfective "успокаивать" for continuous actions. Explanation: Russian verbs have aspectual pairs, and mixing them can alter the intended meaning or make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, maintaining a "спокойный" demeanor is highly valued, especially in social and professional settings, reflecting the historical emphasis on stoicism and resilience (e.g., during Soviet times). Phrases like "успокоить нервы" are common in everyday life, highlighting the cultural importance of emotional control amidst challenges, which contrasts with more expressive Western norms.

Related Concepts:

• уравновешенность
• нервы
• расслабление