In the process of switching to the Ukrainian language, many people encounter difficulties in translating individual words, especially those that are ambiguous or have stylistic nuances. One of such words is the Russian verb “ухаживать”. At first glance, it seems simple, but in different contexts it can have completely different Ukrainian equivalents, writes IZ.com.ua. In this article, we will consider how to correctly translate “ухаживать” into Ukrainian depending on the situation, meaning and stylistics.
Content
- What does “to court” mean in Russian?
- Main translation options into Ukrainian
- Examples of translation in different contexts
- What is the difference between “to take care of” and “to look after”?
- When is it better to use “to court”?
- Short list of matches
- How to avoid making a mistake when translating
What does “to court” mean in Russian?
The verb “to court” in Russian is used in several main meanings:
- To take care of someone or something (a person, a sick person, plants, animals).
- To show attention, to court (in a romantic sense).
- To monitor the condition of something (for example, “to tend to the garden”).
- In a business or official style – to show care, to be supportive.
Each of these meanings has its exact equivalent in the Ukrainian language.
Main translation options into Ukrainian
The choice of the correct answer depends on the context. Here are the most common options:
- to care for — the main translation in cases of caring for a person, animal, patient, or plant;
- to court — when it comes to romantic attention;
- to monitor (something) – if we mean technical care or support;
- to take care of – in a more formal, administrative or social context;
- To care is a universal option that expresses emotional concern.
Examples of translation in different contexts
To better understand the differences, let's look at a few examples.
| In Russian | In Ukrainian |
|---|---|
| She takes care of her sick grandmother | She is taking care of her sick grandmother. |
| He looked after her for a long time | He courted her for a long time. |
| Take care of the garden | To look after (or: to watch over) the garden |
| The social service takes care of veterans | Social services take care of veterans |
What is the difference between “to take care of” and “to look after”?
These two verbs are often perceived as synonyms, but there is a difference between them:
- To care means emotional involvement, attention, a desire to help. For example: “He takes care of his parents.”
- Caring involves specific actions, physical participation in care: washing, feeding, medical care, etc.
Therefore, depending on the situation, it is better to choose the option that more accurately conveys the essence.
When is it better to use “to court”?
In a romantic context, it is common to mistranslate “ухаживать” as “to look after”, which sounds unnatural. For example, the sentence “He looked after her” can be ambiguous – either as a medical professional or as a cavalier.
It would be more correct to say: “he courted her” or “showed romantic attention to her.” In colloquial style, it is also permissible: he won her heart, showed his admiration.
Short list of matches
Here is a list of the most common translations of the word “to court” depending on the context:
- to take care of a sick person;
- to take care of children, to look after them ;
- to court a woman (in a relationship)
- to take care of , to monitor houseplants;
- for equipment – to maintain , monitor the condition ;
- in the social sphere – to take care of , to provide care services .
How to avoid making a mistake when translating
To translate the verb “to court” without distorting the meaning:
- Identify who or what is being discussed.
- Specify whether it is a physical act, emotional support, or romantic intentions.
- Avoid formulaic translation — consider the style of the text (colloquial, journalistic, official).
- If possible, replace the verb with a synonymous expression if it makes the sentence sound better.
Read also how to say “despite” in Ukrainian, all possible equivalents and translation from Russian with examples.