Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'strive'

English Word: strive

Key Russian Translations:

• стремиться (/strʲɪˈmʲi.t͡sə/) - [Formal, Verb, Used in contexts of personal or professional effort]
• бороться (/bɐˈrotʲɪ.t͡sə/) - [Informal, Verb, Used when implying struggle or resistance against obstacles]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, motivational speeches, and everyday discussions about goals, but not as frequent in casual conversation).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage; for 'стремиться', it's straightforward for intermediates, while 'бороться' may vary slightly based on intensity).

Pronunciation (Russian):

стремиться: /strʲɪˈmʲi.t͡sə/

Note on стремиться: The stress falls on the second syllable; the 'str' sound is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers—practice with native audio to master the soft 'r'.

бороться: /bɐˈrotʲɪ.t͡sə/

Note on бороться: Pronunciation varies slightly in fast speech; the 'r' is rolled, and the ending '-ся' indicates reflexivity, common in Russian verbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To make great efforts to achieve or obtain something, often involving determination.

Translation(s) & Context:

• стремиться - Used in formal or motivational contexts, such as personal development or goal-setting.
• бороться - Applied in scenarios involving active struggle, like overcoming challenges in daily life or competitions.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда стремится к совершенству в своей работе.

  He always strives for perfection in his work.

• Молодые ученые борются за признание своих идей.

  Young scientists strive for recognition of their ideas by fighting against skepticism.

• Чтобы добиться успеха, нужно стремиться преодолевать препятствия.

  To achieve success, one must strive to overcome obstacles.

• В спорте атлеты стремятся к новым рекордам, борясь с собой.

  In sports, athletes strive for new records by struggling against their own limits.

• Она стремится улучшить свои навыки, несмотря на трудности.

  She strives to improve her skills, despite the difficulties.

Secondary Meaning: To compete or contend, often with rivalry.

Translation(s) & Context:

• стремиться - In competitive contexts, emphasizing aspiration rather than direct conflict.
• бороться - More intense, used for direct competition or battles.

Usage Examples:

• Компании стремятся к лидерству на рынке.

  Companies strive for leadership in the market.

• Политики борются за власть в предвыборной кампании.

  Politicians strive for power in the election campaign by fighting against opponents.

• Студенты стремятся к высоким баллам, борясь с давлением.

  Students strive for high grades while struggling against pressure.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'стремиться' and 'бороться' are reflexive verbs in Russian, which means they end in '-ся' and follow imperfective aspect patterns. They conjugate based on person, number, tense, and aspect. Below is a table for key conjugations:

Note: These verbs are irregular in their conjugation patterns due to the reflexive ending, but they follow standard Russian verb rules for aspects. They do not change in form for plurality alone but adjust for person and tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • добиваться (to achieve or pursue, often with more focus on results)
  • стараться (to try hard, less formal than стремиться)
• Antonyms:
  • сдавать (to give up, implying surrender)
  • отступать (to retreat, used in contexts of conflict)

Related Phrases:

• стремиться к цели - Aiming for a goal; used in motivational or planning contexts.
• бороться за справедливость - Fighting for justice; common in social or ethical discussions.
• стремиться вверх - Striving upward; metaphorical for career advancement.

Usage Notes:

'Стремиться' directly corresponds to 'strive' in English when emphasizing aspiration and effort, making it ideal for formal writing or speeches. 'Бороться' is better for scenarios involving active resistance, which might not perfectly align with 'strive' in peaceful contexts. Always consider the aspect: use imperfective for ongoing efforts. In Russian, these verbs require the dative case for the object (e.g., стремиться к чему-то). Choose 'стремиться' for positive, goal-oriented language and 'бороться' for adversarial situations to avoid mistranslation.

• Grammar tip: Both are followed by prepositions like 'к' (to) or 'за' (for), depending on the context.
• Semantic nuance: 'Стремиться' implies direction and hope, while 'бороться' suggests conflict—select based on the English word's connotation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'стремиться' interchangeably with 'бороться' without considering intensity, e.g., saying "Я борюсь за успех" when a gentler effort is meant.
  Correct: "Я стремлюсь к успеху" (I strive for success). Explanation: 'Бороться' implies a fight, which can escalate the meaning unnecessarily.
• Error: Forgetting the reflexive ending, e.g., saying "стремить" instead of "стремиться".
  Correct: Always use "стремиться" as it's inherently reflexive. Explanation: Omitting '-ся' changes the verb to non-reflexive, altering the meaning entirely.
• Error: Incorrect conjugation in past tense, e.g., "Я стремил" for feminine speaker.
  Correct: "Я стремила" for a female subject. Explanation: Russian verbs agree with the subject's gender in the past tense, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'стремиться' reflect the value placed on perseverance and collective effort, often seen in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy) and modern motivational contexts. 'Бороться' evokes historical struggles, such as those during the Soviet era, symbolizing resilience against adversity, which can add a layer of national pride to its usage.

Related Concepts:

• успех (success)
• цель (goal)
• препятствие (obstacle)