Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'transcend'

English Word: transcend

Key Russian Translations:

• преодолевать [prʲɪ.ɐ.dɐˈlʲivətʲ] - [Formal, commonly used in philosophical or literary contexts]
• возвыситься [vɐzˈvɨ.sʲɪt͡sə] - [Informal, often in personal or emotional contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear in advanced discussions, literature, and philosophy, but not in everyday casual speech.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual nuances. For 'преодолевать', it's B2; for 'возвыситься', it's also B2 due to irregular aspects.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

преодолевать: [prʲɪ.ɐ.dɐˈlʲivətʲ]

возвыситься: [vɐzˈvɨ.sʲɪt͡sə]

Note on преодолевать: This verb has stress on the third syllable, which can be tricky for learners as Russian stress is not always predictable. The 'л' sound is palatalized.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To go beyond the usual limits, especially in excellence or achievement (e.g., surpassing expectations).

Translation(s) & Context:

• преодолевать - Used in formal contexts like philosophy or self-improvement, to indicate overcoming barriers.
• возвыситься - Applied in informal or emotional settings, such as personal growth or spiritual elevation.

Usage Examples:

• Он смог преодолеть свои страхи и возвыситься над повседневными проблемами.

  He was able to overcome his fears and transcend everyday problems.

• В своей книге автор преодолевает традиционные границы жанра, предлагая новый взгляд на мир.

  In his book, the author transcends traditional genre boundaries, offering a new perspective on the world.

• Чтобы возвыситься духовно, ей пришлось преодолеть множество препятствий.

  To transcend spiritually, she had to overcome numerous obstacles.

• Искусство помогает преодолевать рутину и возвыситься над материальными заботами.

  Art helps to transcend routine and rise above material concerns.

Meaning 2: To surpass or exceed in a spiritual or metaphysical sense (e.g., in philosophy or religion).

Translation(s) & Context:

• преодолевать - Common in academic or introspective contexts, emphasizing effort to surpass limitations.
• возвыситься - Often used in poetic or religious discourse to denote elevation beyond the physical.

Usage Examples:

• Философы учат, как преодолеть эго и возвыситься до высшего сознания.

  Philosophers teach how to transcend the ego and rise to a higher consciousness.

• В медитации человек может преодолеть временные границы и возвыситься над реальностью.

  In meditation, a person can transcend temporal boundaries and rise above reality.

• Её музыка преодолевает культурные барьеры, позволяя слушателям возвыситься над обыденностью.

  Her music transcends cultural barriers, allowing listeners to rise above the ordinary.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Преодолевать' is an imperfective verb, while 'возвыситься' is perfective. Russian verbs often have aspect pairs, and these follow standard patterns with some irregularities.

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

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • превышать (to exceed) - Often used in quantitative contexts, less emotional than 'преодолевать'.
  • превзойти (to surpass) - Similar to 'возвыситься' but more competitive.
• Antonyms:
  • ограничивать (to limit)
  • падать (to fall, decline)

Related Phrases:

• Преодолевать себя - To overcome oneself; used in self-improvement contexts.
• Возвыситься над проблемами - To rise above problems; implies emotional resilience.
• Преодолеть барьеры - To transcend barriers; common in motivational language.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'transcend' is best translated as 'преодолевать' for ongoing processes and 'возвыситься' for completed actions, mirroring English's abstract nature. Be mindful of aspect: use imperfective for habitual actions and perfective for results. These words are more formal and appear in literature or philosophy, not casual conversation. When choosing between translations, opt for 'преодолевать' in contexts of effort and 'возвыситься' for spiritual elevation.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing aspect and using 'возвыситься' for ongoing actions. Incorrect: Я возвышаюсь каждый день. (This is wrong because it's perfective.) Correct: Я преодолеваю себя каждый день. (Uses imperfective for habit.) Explanation: Russian requires matching verb aspect to the action's completeness.
• Mistake: Over-literal translation leading to awkward phrasing. Incorrect: Транслировать страх (mixing with 'transmit'). Correct: Преодолевать страх. Explanation: 'Transcend' doesn't mean 'transmit'; ensure contextual accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'преодолевать' often tie to resilience in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) and historical contexts like overcoming Soviet-era hardships. 'Возвыситься' may evoke spiritual themes in Orthodox Christianity, symbolizing elevation beyond worldly concerns, which aligns with Russian philosophical traditions.

Related Concepts:

• превосходить
• духовный рост
• самосовершенствование