Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'surrender'

English Word: surrender

Key Russian Translations:

• сдаться /sdɐˈtatsə/ - [Formal, Informal; Used in contexts of conflict or yielding]
• капитулировать /kəpɪtʊˈlʲirəvɐtʲ/ - [Formal; Often used in military or diplomatic scenarios]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, news, and everyday discussions about conflicts or personal decisions)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of reflexive verbs and basic verb conjugations; For 'капитулировать', it may be B2 due to its more formal register)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сдаться: /sdɐˈtatsə/

Note on сдаться: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'д' is soft, which can be challenging for beginners. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

капитулировать: /kəpɪtʊˈlʲirəvɐtʲ/

Note on капитулировать: The 'лʲ' indicates a palatalized 'l', common in Russian; practice with native speakers for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To give up or yield in a conflict, war, or competition

Translation(s) & Context:

• сдаться - Used in personal or informal contexts, such as surrendering in a game or battle.
• капитулировать - Applied in formal or official settings, like international negotiations or historical events.

Usage Examples:

• Они сдались после долгой осады. (They surrendered after a long siege.)

  English Translation: They surrendered after a long siege.

• Войска решили сдаться, чтобы избежать дальнейших потерь. (The troops decided to surrender to avoid further losses.)

  English Translation: The troops decided to surrender to avoid further losses.

• Генерал приказал капитулировать перед превосходящими силами противника. (The general ordered to capitulate before the superior enemy forces.)

  English Translation: The general ordered to capitulate before the superior enemy forces.

• В детской игре дети сдались, уступив старшему. (In the children's game, the kids surrendered to the older one.)

  English Translation: In the children's game, the kids surrendered to the older one.

Meaning 2: To yield to an emotion, temptation, or pressure

Translation(s) & Context:

• сдаться - Informal; Common in emotional or personal contexts, like giving in to fatigue.

Usage Examples:

• Я сдался и съел весь шоколад. (I surrendered and ate all the chocolate.)

  English Translation: I surrendered and ate all the chocolate.

• После бессонной ночи она сдалась и легла спать. (After a sleepless night, she surrendered and went to bed.)

  English Translation: After a sleepless night, she surrendered and went to bed.

• Не сдавайся перед трудностями! (Don't surrender to difficulties!)

  English Translation: Don't surrender to difficulties!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'сдаться' (a reflexive verb, imperfective aspect), it follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. It is irregular in some forms due to its reflexive ending '-ся'.

For 'капитулировать' (a verb, imperfective), it is more regular but follows first conjugation rules:

Note: These verbs do not change in gender for the infinitive form but adjust in past tense based on subject gender.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: отступить (to retreat; less formal, implies movement away), уступить (to yield; often in negotiations)
• Antonyms: продолжить (to continue; straightforward opposition), сопротивляться (to resist; implies active struggle)

Related Phrases:

• Сдаться без боя (To surrender without a fight) - Refers to giving up easily without resistance.
• Капитулировать под давлением (To capitulate under pressure) - Used for yielding due to external forces, common in political contexts.
• Не сдавайся (Don't surrender) - An encouraging phrase, often in motivational speeches.

Usage Notes:

'Сдаться' is the most direct translation for everyday uses of 'surrender', especially in reflexive contexts, while 'капитулировать' is reserved for formal or historical scenarios. English speakers should note that Russian verbs often require perfective/imperfective pairs (e.g., сдаться vs. сдаться in perfective form like 'сдать'). Use 'сдаться' in informal speech but opt for 'капитулировать' in professional or written contexts to match register. Grammatically, always pair with appropriate prepositions like 'перед' (before) for enemies.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'сдаться' without the reflexive particle, e.g., saying 'сдать' instead, which means 'to hand over' or 'to fail an exam'.

Correct: Сдаться в бою (To surrender in battle). Explanation: The '-ся' is essential for reflexive meaning; omitting it changes the verb entirely.

• Error: Confusing with 'сдать', leading to misuse in emotional contexts.

Correct: Use 'сдаться' for yielding emotions; e.g., 'Я сдался' not 'Я сдал'. Explanation: This avoids semantic shift and ensures accurate expression.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'сдаться' often carries connotations of defeat or weakness, influenced by historical events like World War II, where surrender was stigmatized. Phrases like 'Не сдавайся' are popular in motivational contexts, reflecting a cultural emphasis on resilience and perseverance.

Related Concepts:

• отступление (retreat)
• победа (victory)
• сопротивление (resistance)