Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'suborn'

English Word: suborn

Key Russian Translations:

• подкупить [pɐd.kʊˈpʲitʲ] - [Formal, Legal context]
• склонить [sklɐˈnʲitʲ] - [Informal, General persuasion, Used in everyday conversations]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, political, or ethical discussions but not in casual everyday language)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for 'подкупить' due to verb conjugations; B1 for 'склонить' as it follows regular patterns)

Pronunciation (Russian):

подкупить: [pɐd.kʊˈpʲitʲ]

склонить: [sklɐˈnʲitʲ]

Note on подкупить: The stress falls on the third syllable ('pʲitʲ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'п' sound; it softens before vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To bribe or induce someone to commit perjury or an illegal act (e.g., in legal contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• подкупить - Used in formal or legal settings, such as court cases, to imply corruption or unethical persuasion.

Usage Examples:

• Он подкупил свидетеля, чтобы тот солгал в суде.

  He suborned the witness to lie in court.

• Власти обвинили чиновника в том, что он подкупил подчинённых для фальсификации документов.

  The authorities accused the official of suborning his subordinates to falsify documents.

• Подкупить кого-то в бизнесе может привести к серьёзным юридическим последствиям.

  Suborning someone in business can lead to serious legal consequences.

• Если вы подкупите эксперта, это нарушит этические нормы.

  If you suborn an expert, it will violate ethical standards.

Meaning 2: To persuade or entice someone to do something dishonest or wrong (e.g., in general contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• склонить - Applied in informal or everyday situations, such as personal influence, without the strong legal connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Ему удалось склонить друга к участию в сомнительной сделке.

  He managed to suborn his friend into participating in a shady deal.

• Родители часто склоняют детей к неправомерным действиям из-за давления.

  Parents sometimes suborn their children into wrongful actions due to pressure.

• В фильме главный герой пытается склонить коллег к обману.

  In the movie, the main character tries to suborn his colleagues into deception.

• Не стоит склонить кого-то к лжи, даже если это кажется выгодным.

  Don't suborn anyone into lying, even if it seems beneficial.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'подкупить' (a verb of the first conjugation), it follows irregular patterns due to its perfective aspect. Below is a table of its key inflections:

For 'склонить' (also a verb, first conjugation, perfective), it is more regular and changes similarly: склоню, склонишь, etc. It does not have significant irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: взяточничество (bribery with nuance of corruption), завербовать (to recruit or entice subtly)
• Antonyms: отказать (to refuse), отговорить (to dissuade, often used to counter persuasion)

Related Phrases:

• Подкупить свидетеля - To suborn a witness; commonly used in legal contexts to describe corruption in trials.
• Склонить к предательству - To suborn into betrayal; implies persuading someone to act disloyally, often in interpersonal or historical narratives.
• Подкупить за деньги - To suborn for money; highlights financial motivation in unethical acts.

Usage Notes:

'Подкупить' is the most direct translation for 'suborn' in legal or formal contexts, emphasizing bribery, while 'склонить' is better for broader persuasion without financial implications. English users should note that Russian verbs require conjugation based on tense, person, and number, which can affect meaning in sentences. Use 'подкупить' in professional or official scenarios to match the precise connotation of 'suborn', and avoid it in casual speech to prevent sounding overly dramatic. When choosing between translations, consider the context: if money or corruption is involved, opt for 'подкупить'.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'подкупить' interchangeably with 'склонить' without context. Incorrect: Он склонил свидетеля (if bribery is implied). Correct: Он подкупил свидетеля. Explanation: 'Склонить' implies general persuasion, not necessarily illegal, so it dilutes the meaning of 'suborn' in legal contexts.
• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., saying 'подкупить' in the wrong tense. Incorrect: Он подкупить вчера (wrong form). Correct: Он подкупил вчера. Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject and time, unlike English, where 'suborn' doesn't change form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, terms like 'подкупить' are often associated with corruption scandals, such as those in the Soviet era or modern politics, reflecting a broader societal wariness of bribery. This word carries a strong negative connotation, linked to themes in literature like Dostoevsky's works, where moral persuasion and corruption are explored.

Related Concepts:

• взятка (bribe)
• коррупция (corruption)
• предательство (betrayal)