Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stymie'

English Word: stymie

Key Russian Translations:

• Препятствовать [prʲɪˈpʲætstvəvətʲ] - [Formal, used in contexts involving obstruction or hindrance]
• Мешать [ˈmʲeʂətʲ] - [Informal, used in everyday situations for general interference]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal writing, business, and discussions, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugation and abstract concepts. For 'Препятствовать', it's B2 due to its formal nature; for 'Мешать', it's slightly easier at B1.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Препятствовать: [prʲɪˈpʲætstvəvətʲ]

Мешать: [ˈmʲeʂətʲ]

Note on Препятствовать: The stress falls on the third syllable, which can be tricky for learners due to the consonant cluster; pronounce it with a soft 't' sound. Variations may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To hinder or obstruct something (the primary meaning of 'stymie')

Translation(s) & Context:

• Препятствовать - Used in formal or professional contexts, such as legal, political, or business discussions, to indicate deliberate obstruction.
• Мешать - Applied in informal, everyday situations to describe unintentional or minor interference.

Usage Examples:

• Его бюрократические процедуры препятствовали быстрому развитию проекта.

  His bureaucratic procedures stymied the quick development of the project.

• Эта ошибка мешает нам достичь поставленных целей.

  This mistake is stymieing us from reaching our set goals.

• Конкуренция с крупными компаниями может препятствовать успеху малого бизнеса.

  Competition from large companies can stymie the success of small businesses.

• Дождь мешает нашим планам на пикник, но мы найдем альтернативу.

  The rain is stymieing our picnic plans, but we'll find an alternative.

• Политические разногласия препятствуют мирному разрешению конфликта.

  Political disagreements are stymieing a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Препятствовать' and 'Мешать' are imperfective verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Препятствовать' is more formal and follows standard verb patterns, while 'Мешать' is irregular in some forms.

For 'Препятствовать' (imperfective):

For 'Мешать' (imperfective, with some irregularities in present tense):

Note: These verbs do not change in infinitive form and are aspectually paired with perfective verbs like 'препятствовать' with 'препятствовать' (though 'препятствовать' can be used alone in some contexts).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Тормозить [tor'moz'it'] - Similar to 'препятствовать' but implies slowing down; often used in mechanical or metaphorical contexts.
  • Блокировать [blɐk'ɪrəvətʲ] - Means to block completely; more direct than 'мешать'.
• Antonyms:
  • Помогать [pəmɐ'ɡatʲ] - To help or assist.
  • Содействовать [sədʲe'jstvəvətʲ] - To facilitate or promote.

Related Phrases:

• Препятствовать развитию - (To hinder development; used in contexts like economic or personal growth.)
• Мешать работе - (To interfere with work; common in professional or daily life scenarios.)
• Создавать препятствия - (To create obstacles; a phrase implying active obstruction, similar to 'stymie' in strategy.)

Usage Notes:

'Препятствовать' is the most precise translation for 'stymie' in formal English contexts, as it conveys deliberate hindrance, while 'мешать' is better for informal or accidental interference. Use 'препятствовать' in written reports or official discussions, but opt for 'мешать' in casual conversation. Note the grammatical requirement for these verbs to agree with the subject in person and number. When choosing between translations, consider the context: if the obstruction is intentional and significant, 'препятствовать' is ideal; for lighter interruptions, use 'мешать'.

Common Errors:

• Confusing conjugation: Learners often misuse the present tense, e.g., saying "Я препятствую" incorrectly as "Я препятствовать" (incorrect: the infinitive form). Correct usage: "Я препятствую" for "I am hindering." Explanation: Always conjugate based on the subject to maintain proper Russian verb agreement.

• Overusing in informal settings: English speakers might use 'препятствовать' where 'мешать' is more natural, e.g., saying "Это препятствует моему отдыху" instead of "Это мешает моему отдыху." Correct: Use 'мешать' for everyday annoyances to sound more idiomatic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'препятствовать' often appear in discussions of bureaucracy or historical events, such as Soviet-era obstacles to innovation, reflecting a broader theme of resilience against systemic hindrances. This can help English users understand why such verbs carry a connotation of frustration in Russian discourse.

Related Concepts:

• Препятствие (obstacle)
• Барьер (barrier)
• Торможение (slowing down)