Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'weaken'

English Word: weaken

Key Russian Translations:

• ослабить [ɐ.sɐˈbʲitʲ] - [Informal, General use]
• ослаблять [ɐ.sɐˈblʲætʲ] - [Formal, Continuous or ongoing action]
• сделать слабее [sdʲɪˈlatʲ ˈsla.bʲe.ɪ] - [Informal, Descriptive phrase]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in discussions of health, strength, or abstract concepts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to be" or "to go").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb conjugation and aspect in Russian, which can be challenging for beginners, but manageable with practice. For 'ослабить', it's B1; for 'ослаблять', it might lean towards B2 due to imperfective aspect nuances.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ослабить: [ɐ.sɐˈbʲitʲ] (The stress is on the second syllable; note the palatalized 'бʲ' sound, which is a common Russian feature.)

ослаблять: [ɐ.sɐˈblʲætʲ] (Emphasize the 'лʲ' palatalization; this verb often has a softer ending in spoken Russian.)

сделать слабее: [sdʲɪˈlatʲ ˈsla.bʲe.ɪ] (The phrase has a natural flow; 'слабее' features a soft 'бʲ' and is pronounced with even stress.)

Note on ослабить: Be cautious with the imperfective-perfective pair; 'ослабить' is perfective, implying a completed action, while 'ослаблять' is imperfective for ongoing processes. This is a key aspect in Russian verbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To make something weaker (e.g., reducing strength, intensity, or power)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ослабить - Used in contexts involving physical or metaphorical weakening, such as in health or politics (e.g., weakening a grip or an economy).
• ослаблять - Applied to ongoing processes, like gradually weakening a structure or influence.
• сделать слабее - Informal and descriptive, often in casual conversations about personal abilities or objects.

Usage Examples:

• Он ослабил хватку на руле, чтобы не повредить машину. (He weakened his grip on the steering wheel to avoid damaging the car.)

  He weakened his grip on the steering wheel to avoid damaging the car.

• Эта диета помогает ослаблять иммунную систему при хронических заболеваниях. (This diet helps weaken the immune system in chronic illnesses.)

  This diet helps weaken the immune system in chronic illnesses.

• Правительство пытается ослабить экономические санкции. (The government is trying to weaken economic sanctions.)

  The government is trying to weaken economic sanctions.

• Я стараюсь ослаблять напряжение в мышцах после тренировки. (I'm trying to weaken the tension in my muscles after the workout.)

  I'm trying to weaken the tension in my muscles after the workout.

• Сделать слабее голос во время выступления можно, если говорить тише. (You can make your voice weaker during a speech by speaking more quietly.)

  You can make your voice weaker during a speech by speaking more quietly.

To diminish or reduce in quality or effect (e.g., in abstract senses)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ослаблять - Ideal for processes over time, like weakening resolve or arguments.
• ослабить - For a sudden or complete reduction, such as weakening defenses.

Usage Examples:

• Время может ослабить воспоминания о прошлом. (Time can weaken memories of the past.)

  Time can weaken memories of the past.

• Она старается ослаблять влияние негативных мыслей на свою жизнь. (She tries to weaken the influence of negative thoughts on her life.)

  She tries to weaken the influence of negative thoughts on her life.

• Ослабить аргументы оппонента — это ключ к победе в дебатах. (Weakening the opponent's arguments is key to winning debates.)

  Weakening the opponent's arguments is key to winning debates.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Ослабить' and 'ослаблять' are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. 'Ослабить' is a perfective verb, while 'ослаблять' is imperfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

'Сделать слабее' is a phrase and doesn't inflect as a single word; 'сделать' conjugates as a regular verb, while 'слабее' is an adverb and remains unchanged.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: уменьшить (to reduce; more general), ослабевать (to become weaker; for self-weakening processes)
• Antonyms: усилить (to strengthen; direct opposite, often used in similar contexts)

Related Phrases:

• ослабить контроль - To loosen control (e.g., in management or parenting contexts).
• ослабить давление - To ease pressure (commonly used in negotiations or stress-related situations).
• сделать слабее связь - To weaken a connection (e.g., in relationships or networks).

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like 'ослабить' and 'ослаблять' directly correspond to 'weaken' but differ in aspect: use 'ослабить' for completed actions and 'ослаблять' for ongoing ones, which is crucial in Russian grammar. In formal contexts, prefer 'ослабить' over 'сделать слабее' for precision. Be mindful of word order; Russian often places the verb at the end for emphasis. When choosing between translations, select based on the context's aspect and formality to avoid awkward phrasing.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'ослабить' for ongoing actions, e.g., saying "Я ослабить здоровье" instead of "Я ослабляю здоровье". Correct: "Я ослабляю здоровье" (I am weakening my health). Explanation: 'Ослабить' implies a finished action, so it doesn't fit progressive contexts.
• Mistake: Confusing with similar verbs like 'уменьшить', leading to overuse; e.g., "Ослабить размер" instead of "Уменьшить размер". Correct: Use 'ослабить' only for weakening in strength, not size. Explanation: 'Уменьшить' is better for reduction in quantity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like weakening strength or resolve often appear in literature and proverbs, such as in references to historical events where endurance is key. For instance, during wartime narratives, 'ослабить' might symbolize vulnerability, reflecting Russia's emphasis on resilience in folklore and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• укрепить (to strengthen)
• ослабление (weakening, as a noun)
• слабость (weakness)