Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'temporize'

English Word: temporize

Key Russian Translations:

• временить [vreménit'] - [Formal, used in contexts requiring delay or temporary compromise]
• откладывать [atkládyvat'] - [Informal, often implies postponing actions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions, negotiations, and literature, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts; for 'временить', it's straightforward, but 'откладывать' may vary slightly in formality)

Pronunciation (Russian):

временить: [vreménit']

откладывать: [atkládyvat']

Note on временить: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on откладывать: Pronounce the 'о' as a short vowel; common variations in fast speech may reduce the emphasis on 'ды'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To delay or avoid decisive action for strategic reasons

Translation(s) & Context:

• временить - Used in formal or professional settings, such as politics or business negotiations, to imply temporary stalling without confrontation.
• откладывать - More general, informal context, often for everyday delays like postponing a meeting.

Usage Examples:

• Он решил временить с ответом, чтобы лучше оценить ситуацию.

  He decided to temporize with his response to better assess the situation.

• В переговорах они начали откладывать решения, чтобы выиграть время.

  In the negotiations, they started temporizing decisions to buy time.

• Политик временил объявление реформ, ожидая общественного мнения.

  The politician temporized announcing the reforms, waiting for public opinion.

• Она всегда откладывает важные разговоры, что раздражает коллег.

  She always temporizes important conversations, which annoys her colleagues.

• Чтобы избежать конфликта, менеджер временил принятие окончательного решения.

  To avoid conflict, the manager temporized on making a final decision.

To make temporary compromises

Translation(s) & Context:

• временить - In strategic or diplomatic contexts, emphasizing compromise without full commitment.

Usage Examples:

• Дипломаты временили соглашение, чтобы учесть интересы всех сторон.

  The diplomats temporized the agreement to consider the interests of all parties.

• В бизнесе иногда приходится временить сделки для лучшего исхода.

  In business, you sometimes have to temporize deals for a better outcome.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'временить' and 'откладывать' are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. 'Временить' is an imperfective verb, while 'откладывать' can be imperfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a conjugation table for 'временить' in the present tense:

For 'откладывать', it is irregular in some forms due to its aspect. It remains mostly consistent but changes in past tense: e.g., откладывал (otkládyval) for masculine singular past.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отсрочить (otsrochit') - More formal, implies delaying with a specific postponement.
  • замедлить (zamedlit') - Emphasizes slowing down rather than full delay.
• Antonyms:
  • решать (reshat') - To decide immediately.
  • действовать (deystvovat') - To act without delay.

Related Phrases:

• Временить с ответом - To temporize with a response; used in decision-making scenarios.
• Откладывать на потом - To put off until later; implies procrastination in informal contexts.
• Временная мера - A temporary measure; related to making compromises without permanence.

Usage Notes:

'Временить' is a precise translation for 'temporize' in formal contexts, such as diplomacy or strategy, where the goal is to gain time without confrontation. In contrast, 'откладывать' is better for everyday delays and may not capture the strategic nuance. English speakers should note that Russian verbs often require perfective/imperfective pairs; use 'временить' for ongoing actions. Be mindful of context: in business, it's common, but in casual speech, simpler verbs might be preferred.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'временить' with 'откладывать': Learners might use 'откладывать' in formal settings where 'временить' is more appropriate. Error: "Он отложил решение в политике" (incorrect for strategic temporizing). Correct: "Он временил решение в политике." Explanation: 'Откладывать' implies simple postponement, while 'временить' suggests a tactical delay.
• Improper conjugation: Forgetting aspect changes, e.g., using 'временить' in perfective form incorrectly. Error: "Я временил вчера" (wrong; should be 'временял' for past imperfective). Correct: "Я временял вчера." Explanation: Russian verbs must align with the intended aspect and tense.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'временить' often reflects a pragmatic approach in negotiations, influenced by historical contexts like Soviet-era diplomacy, where delaying tactics were common to navigate complex political landscapes. This can convey caution and strategic thinking rather than indecisiveness.

Related Concepts:

• отсрочка (otsrochka)
• задержка (zaderzhka)
• компромисс (kompromiss)