Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vying'

English Word: vying

Key Russian Translations:

• соперничать /sə.pʲɪrʲ.nʲɪˈt͡ɕatʲ/ - [Verb, Formal, Used in competitive or professional contexts]
• состязаться /sə.stəˈza.tsə/ - [Verb, Informal, Plural forms may apply in group competitions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in contexts like sports, business, and literature, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of verb conjugations and competitive language structures. For 'соперничать', it's B2; for 'состязаться', it's also B2 due to similar complexity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

соперничать: /sə.pʲɪrʲ.nʲɪˈt͡ɕatʲ/

Note on соперничать: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'р' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. It may vary slightly in fast speech.

состязаться: /sə.stəˈza.tsə/

Note on состязаться: Pronounce the 'з' as a voiced 'z' sound; common in spoken Russian, with potential softening in informal dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Competing or contending eagerly for something, often in a rivalry

Translation(s) & Context:

• соперничать - Used in formal or professional settings, such as business competitions or sports, to imply ongoing rivalry.
• состязаться - Applied in informal or group contexts, like games or debates, emphasizing direct confrontation.

Usage Examples:

• Они соперничают за звание лучшего игрока в команде.

  They are vying for the title of the best player on the team.

• Компании соперничают на рынке, предлагая инновационные продукты.

  Companies are vying in the market by offering innovative products.

• В политике кандидаты состязаются за голоса избирателей.

  In politics, candidates are vying for voters' support.

• Дети состязаются в беге, чтобы выиграть приз.

  The children are vying in the race to win a prize.

Meaning 2: Striving to outdo others in achievement or attention

Translation(s) & Context:

• соперничать - In educational or personal development contexts, highlighting ambition.
• состязаться - In casual social settings, like hobbies or friendships, to denote light-hearted competition.

Usage Examples:

• Студенты соперничают за высшие оценки в классе.

  Students are vying for the highest grades in the class.

• Художники состязаются на выставке, чтобы привлечь внимание критиков.

  Artists are vying at the exhibition to catch the critics' attention.

• В семейном кругу братья соперничают в рассказах о своих приключениях.

  In the family circle, brothers are vying with stories of their adventures.

• Спортсмены состязаются за медали, демонстрируя свою подготовку.

  Athletes are vying for medals, showcasing their training.

• Бизнесмены соперничают за инвестиции, представляя смелые идеи.

  Businessmen are vying for investments by presenting bold ideas.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'соперничать' and 'состязаться' are verbs, which follow imperfective aspect patterns in Russian. They are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing actions. Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender.

For 'соперничать' (imperfective):

For 'состязаться' (perfective counterpart for completed actions): It follows similar conjugation but is less common in ongoing contexts. It does not change irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • соревноваться (more neutral, used in organized events; differs by implying structured competition)
  • бороться (implies struggle or fight, often with more intensity)
• Antonyms:
  • сдаваться (to give up)
  • уступать (to yield or concede)

Related Phrases:

• Соперничать в бизнесе - A common phrase meaning "to vie in business," often used in professional contexts to describe market competition.
• Состязаться за внимание - Meaning "to vie for attention," typically in social or media settings, highlighting efforts to stand out.
• Жесткое соперничество - Translates to "fierce vying," referring to intense rivalry in any field.

Usage Notes:

'Vying' corresponds most closely to 'соперничать' in Russian, which is an imperfective verb ideal for describing ongoing actions. Use 'состязаться' for more perfective, completed competitions. Be mindful of context: 'соперничать' is formal and suits written or professional language, while 'состязаться' can be informal. Grammatically, always conjugate based on subject; for example, choose based on person and number to match English subjects accurately.

• In sentences, pair with prepositions like 'за' (for) to indicate what is being vied for, e.g., 'за победу' (for victory).
• When multiple translations exist, select 'соперничать' for rivalry and 'состязаться' for direct contests to ensure precision.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the aspect: for instance, using 'состязаться' for ongoing actions instead of 'соперничать', leading to errors like "Я состязаюсь за работу" (incorrect for ongoing vying; correct is "Я соперничаю за работу"). Another common mistake is forgetting conjugation, such as saying "Они соперничают" without proper agreement. Explanation: Russian verbs must match the subject's person and number; always check the table above for accuracy to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'соперничать' often reflect the historical emphasis on competition in areas such as sports (e.g., Soviet-era Olympics) or academia. It carries a connotation of resilience and determination, rooted in Russia's collective history of overcoming challenges, which can add a layer of national pride in contexts like international events.

Related Concepts:

• соревнование
• борьба
• победа