Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'subsist'

English Word: subsist

Key Russian Translations:

• выживать [vɨʐɨˈvatʲ] - [Informal, often used in survival or everyday contexts]
• существовать [suʂːesʲtʲvəˈvatʲ] - [Formal, philosophical or abstract contexts]
• поддерживать существование [pədderʒɨˈvatʲ sushʲesʲtʲvəˈvanʲje] - [Formal, literal maintenance of life]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions of survival, economics, or philosophy, but not as everyday as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual nuances. For 'выживать', it's slightly easier at B1; for 'существовать', it may reach B2 due to its abstract nature.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

выживать: [vɨʐɨˈvatʲ]

Note on выживать: The stress falls on the second syllable ('-жи-'), and the 'ы' sound can be challenging for English speakers as it's a back vowel. Pronounce it with a soft 'zh' like in 'measure'.

Audio: []

существовать: [suʂːesʲtʲvəˈvatʲ]

Note on существовать: Stress on the third syllable ('-ство-'); the 'щ' is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'she' but more sibilant. This verb often has a more intellectual tone.

Audio: []

поддерживать существование: [pədderʒɨˈvatʲ sushʲesʲtʲvəˈvanʲje]

Note on поддерживать существование: This is a phrase, so pronounce each part separately; 'поддерживать' has stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To maintain life or existence with limited resources (e.g., surviving on little money)

Translation(s) & Context:

• выживать - Used in practical, everyday situations involving hardship or resilience, such as economic struggles.
• существовать - Applied in more abstract contexts, like philosophical discussions, but can overlap for basic survival.

Usage Examples:

• В кризисные времена люди выживают, полагаясь на свои сбережения.

  In times of crisis, people subsist by relying on their savings.

• Она выживает на зарплату, которая едва покрывает расходы.

  She subsists on a salary that barely covers expenses.

• В дикой природе животные выживают, адаптируясь к изменениям климата.

  In the wild, animals subsist by adapting to climate changes.

• Многие семьи выживают благодаря государственной помощи.

  Many families subsist thanks to government assistance.

Meaning 2: To exist or continue in a basic state (e.g., philosophical or minimal existence)

Translation(s) & Context:

• существовать - Ideal for abstract or formal contexts, such as in literature or debates about life.
• поддерживать существование - Used when emphasizing ongoing effort to maintain existence.

Usage Examples:

• Человечество продолжает существовать, несмотря на глобальные вызовы.

  Mankind continues to subsist despite global challenges.

• Эта традиция существует веками, поддерживая культурное наследие.

  This tradition subsists for centuries, maintaining cultural heritage.

• В условиях изоляции некоторые идеи продолжают существовать в умах людей.

  In conditions of isolation, some ideas subsist in people's minds.

• Он поддерживает существование своей семьи, работая на нескольких работах.

  He subsists his family by working multiple jobs.

• Растения существуют в пустыне, адаптируясь к недостатку воды.

  Plants subsist in the desert by adapting to water scarcity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Выживать' and 'существовать' are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing actions. 'Поддерживать' is also imperfective and can be used in various forms.

For these verbs, there are no significant inflections if used in infinitive form, but they change with subject agreement.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • выживать: переживать (perezhivat' - to endure)
  • существовать: быть (byt' - to be; very basic existence)
  • поддерживать существование: обеспечивать жизнь (obespechivat' zhizn' - to provide for life)
• Antonyms:
  • уничтожаться (unichtozhat'sya - to be destroyed)
  • исчезать (ischezat' - to disappear)
  • гибнуть (gibnut' - to perish)

Related Phrases:

• Выживать в трудных условиях - Subsisting in difficult conditions; used for describing resilience in hardship.
• Существовать на грани - Existing on the edge; implies a precarious state of subsistence.
• Поддерживать минимальное существование - Maintaining a minimal subsistence; common in economic discussions.
• Выживать за счет других - Subsisting at the expense of others; highlights dependency in survival scenarios.

Usage Notes:

'Subsist' in English often implies a struggle for basic survival, which aligns closely with 'выживать' in informal Russian contexts or 'существовать' in more formal ones. Choose 'выживать' for everyday, emotional narratives (e.g., personal stories), and 'существовать' for abstract or philosophical uses. Be mindful of aspect: Russian verbs have perfective and imperfective forms, so pair with appropriate contexts (e.g., 'выживать' is imperfective for ongoing action). In formal writing, 'поддерживать существование' offers a precise match but is wordier. Avoid direct translation in idiomatic speech; always consider the register to match English's neutral tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'существовать' in casual contexts where 'выживать' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я существую на мало денег" instead of "Я выживаю на мало денег". Correct: The latter is more natural for survival themes. Explanation: 'Существовать' sounds overly formal or abstract, making it feel out of place in everyday conversation.

• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., saying "Он выживать" instead of "Он выживает". Correct: Always conjugate based on subject (Он выживает). Explanation: Russian requires subject-verb agreement, unlike English, which can lead to grammatical errors for learners.

• Error: Misusing aspect, e.g., using 'выживать' for completed actions. Correct: For a finished event, use a perfective like 'выжить'. Explanation: This confuses ongoing vs. completed actions, common for English speakers unfamiliar with Russian verbal aspects.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'выживать' often evoke themes from literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works on human endurance) or historical contexts like the Soviet era, where subsistence living was common. This reflects a cultural emphasis on resilience and survival in the face of adversity, such as during wars or economic hardships, adding a layer of depth to everyday usage.

Related Concepts:

• адаптироваться (adaptit'sya)
• выживать в кризис (vyzhivat' v krisis)
• экономия ресурсов (ekonomiya resursov)
• жизнестойкость (zhiznestoykost')