Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tolerate'

English Word: tolerate

Key Russian Translations:

• терпеть [ˈtʲerpʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]
• допускать [dɐˈpuskatʲ] - [Formal, used in official or professional settings]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is frequently encountered in spoken and written Russian, particularly in personal narratives or discussions, but not as basic as everyday verbs like "быть" (to be).)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; learners at this level can grasp the concept with practice, but mastering inflections may require more effort. For "терпеть", it's B1; for "допускать", it might be B2 due to its formal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

терпеть: [ˈtʲerpʲɪtʲ]

Note on терпеть: The stress falls on the first syllable ("тер-"), and the "п" is softly pronounced. Palatalization of "т" and "п" is a common challenge for non-native speakers.

допускать: [dɐˈpuskatʲ]

Note on допускать: The stress is on the third syllable ("ска-"), and the "д" is voiced. Be mindful of the soft sign "тʲ" at the end, which affects pronunciation in inflected forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To endure or put up with something unpleasant

Translation(s) & Context:

• терпеть - Used in informal, everyday situations to express patience or endurance, such as dealing with discomfort or annoyance.
• допускать - Less common in this exact sense but can imply allowing something unpleasant in a more formal context, like tolerating behavior in a professional environment.

Usage Examples:

• Я терплю эту холодную погоду, но она меня раздражает. (Ya terpyu etu kholodnuyu pogodu, no ona menya razdrazhaet.)

  I tolerate this cold weather, but it annoys me.

• Дети терпят шум от строительства, потому что это временно. (Deti terpyat shum ot stroitelstva, potomu chto eto vremenno.)

  The children tolerate the noise from the construction because it's temporary.

• Она терпит его привычки, несмотря на их странность. (Ona terpit ego privychki, nesmotrya na ikh strannost'.)

  She tolerates his habits despite their oddity.

• Мы терпим задержки в поезде, так как это неизбежно. (My terpim zaderzhki v poezde, tak kak eto neizбежno.)

  We tolerate delays on the train since they're unavoidable.

To allow or permit something, often reluctantly

Translation(s) & Context:

• допускать - Primarily used in formal contexts, such as permitting entry or allowing an idea, with a connotation of official tolerance.
• терпеть - Can be used informally to mean putting up with something allowed, but less precise than допускать in regulatory scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство допустит импорт, если он соответствует стандартам. (Pravitelstvo dopustit import, yesli on sootvetstvuet standartam.)

  The government will tolerate imports if they meet the standards.

• Я не могу допускать такие ошибки в работе. (Ya ne mogu dopuskat' takie oshibki v rabote.)

  I can't tolerate such mistakes in my work.

• Он допустил её присутствие на встрече, несмотря на разногласия. (On dopustil yejo prisutstvie na vstreche, nesmotrya na raznoglasiya.)

  He tolerated her presence at the meeting despite disagreements.

• Школа допустит опоздания только в исключительных случаях. (Shkola dopustit opozdaniya tol'ko v isklyuchitel'nykh sluchayakh.)

  The school will tolerate lateness only in exceptional circumstances.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "терпеть" (a verb of the first conjugation), it follows regular patterns but has imperfective aspects. It is irregular in some forms due to its root changes. Below is a table for present tense inflections:

Note: In past tense, it becomes терпел/терпела (terpel/terpela) for masculine/feminine. For "допускать" (also first conjugation), inflections are more regular:

Both verbs do not change in infinitive form and are imperfective; perfective counterparts are "вытерпеть" and "допустить", respectively.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • выносить (vynosit') - Similar to терпеть but implies greater endurance; used for bearing burdens.
  • сносить (snosit') - Often interchangeable with терпеть, but more about putting up with criticism or hardship.
• Antonyms:
  • не терпеть (ne terpet') - Directly means "to not tolerate" or dislike intensely.
  • запрещать (zapreschat') - Means "to forbid," the opposite of allowing or permitting.

Related Phrases:

• терпеть неудачу (terpet' neudachu) - To tolerate failure; often used in motivational contexts to mean enduring setbacks.
• допускать ошибки (dopuskat' oshibki) - To allow mistakes; implies permitting errors as part of learning.
• терпеть боль (terpet' bol') - To endure pain; a common phrase in medical or emotional discussions.

Usage Notes:

Choose "терпеть" for informal, emotional contexts where endurance is key, as it aligns closely with the everyday English use of "tolerate." "Допускать" is better for formal or legal scenarios, emphasizing permission rather than passive acceptance. Be aware of aspect in Russian verbs: "терпеть" is imperfective, suitable for ongoing actions, while its perfective form "вытерпеть" is for completed endurance. In spoken Russian, "терпеть" can sound more intense, so use it cautiously in polite conversations.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "терпеть" in formal writing where "допускать" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я терплю это правило" instead of "Я допускаю это правило." Correct: Opt for "допускать" in official contexts to avoid sounding too casual. Explanation: "Терпеть" implies personal suffering, which may not fit professional tones.
• Mistake: Incorrect inflection, such as saying "терпитс" instead of "терпит" for third person singular. Correct: Always conjugate properly, e.g., "Он терпит" (He tolerates). Explanation: Russian verbs require accurate endings based on person and number to maintain grammatical agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "терпеть" reflects the historical value of "терпение" (patience), often linked to resilience in literature like Tolstoy's works, where enduring hardship is seen as a virtue. This can help English speakers understand why Russians might emphasize stoicism in daily life, such as tolerating long winters or bureaucratic delays.

Related Concepts:

• терпение (terpenie) - Patience
• выносливость (vynoslivost') - Endurance
• допустимый (dopustimyy) - Permissible