Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Abstinence'

English Word: Abstinence

Key Russian Translations:

• воздержание [vəzdʲɪrˈʐanʲɪjə] - [Formal, Neutral]
• абстиненция [ɐbstʲɪˈnʲentsɪjə] - [Medical, Formal]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "воздержание"; C1 (Advanced) for "абстиненция"

Pronunciation (Russian):

воздержание: [vəzdʲɪrˈʐanʲɪjə]

Note on воздержание: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

абстиненция: [ɐbstʲɪˈnʲentsɪjə]

Note on абстиненция: Stress on the third syllable. This term is less common and often tied to medical contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Self-restraint or abstaining from indulgence (e.g., food, alcohol, etc.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• воздержание - Commonly used for abstaining from pleasures or desires, such as fasting or avoiding alcohol.

Usage Examples:

• Он соблюдает воздержание во время поста.

  He observes abstinence during the fast.

• Воздержание от алкоголя помогло ему восстановить здоровье.

  Abstinence from alcohol helped him recover his health.

• Её воздержание от сладкого удивило всех.

  Her abstinence from sweets surprised everyone.

2. Medical or psychological withdrawal (e.g., substance abstinence)

Translation(s) & Context:

• абстиненция - Used specifically in medical or psychological contexts to describe withdrawal symptoms.

Usage Examples:

• У пациента наблюдается абстиненция после отказа от наркотиков.

  The patient is experiencing abstinence symptoms after quitting drugs.

• Абстиненция может быть опасной без медицинского контроля.

  Abstinence can be dangerous without medical supervision.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

воздержание (noun, neuter gender):

Note: This noun does not typically form a plural as it represents an abstract concept.

абстиненция (noun, feminine gender):

Note: Like "воздержание," it is rarely used in plural form due to its abstract nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for воздержание:

• сдержанность (restraint)
• умеренность (moderation)

Note: "сдержанность" often implies emotional restraint, while "умеренность" focuses on moderation in habits.

Antonyms for воздержание:

• излишество (excess)
• распущенность (indulgence)

Related Phrases:

• воздержание от пищи - Abstinence from food (e.g., fasting).
• полное воздержание - Complete abstinence (e.g., total avoidance of something).
• абстинентный синдром - Abstinence syndrome (medical term for withdrawal symptoms).

Usage Notes:

• "воздержание" is the more versatile and commonly used term for general abstinence, applicable to contexts like fasting, avoiding alcohol, or other indulgences. It carries a neutral or slightly formal tone.
• "абстиненция" is highly specialized and restricted to medical or psychological contexts, often referring to withdrawal symptoms. Using it outside such contexts would sound unnatural.
• Be mindful of the cultural context when discussing abstinence in Russian, as it may often be tied to religious or moral discussions, especially with "воздержание."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "абстиненция" for general abstinence, e.g., "Я соблюдаю абстиненцию от сладкого" (incorrect).
• Correction: Use "воздержание" instead: "Я соблюдаю воздержание от сладкого."
• Explanation: "абстиненция" is strictly medical and implies physical or psychological withdrawal, not voluntary restraint.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "воздержание" is often associated with religious practices, such as fasting during Orthodox Christian holidays like Lent (Великий пост). Discussions around abstinence may carry a moral or spiritual connotation more frequently than in English-speaking contexts.

Related Concepts:

• пост (fasting)
• умеренность (moderation)
• самоконтроль (self-control)