Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Accomplishment'

English Word: accomplishment

Key Russian Translations:

• достижение [dɐˈstʲiʐɛnʲɪjə] - [Formal, Neutral]
• успех [ʊˈspʲex] - [Informal, Neutral]

Frequency: High (both translations are commonly used)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "достижение" may be slightly more formal and thus B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

достижение: [dɐˈstʲiʐɛnʲɪjə]

Note on достижение: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'.

успех: [ʊˈspʲex]

Note on успех: Stress on the second syllable. The final "х" is a voiceless fricative, like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Achievement or Success (General Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• достижение - Often used in formal or academic contexts to denote a significant achievement or result.
• успех - More casual, can refer to personal or professional success in a broader sense.

Usage Examples:

• Это было великое достижение для нашей команды.

  This was a great accomplishment for our team.

• Его успех в бизнесе вдохновляет многих.

  His success in business inspires many.

• Достижение этой цели заняло годы упорного труда.

  Achieving this goal took years of hard work.

• Успех не приходит без усилий.

  Success does not come without effort.

• Мы гордимся твоими достижениями в учебе.

  We are proud of your accomplishments in studies.

2. Skill or Talent (Personal Ability)

Translation(s) & Context:

• достижение - Rarely used in this sense; more about tangible results.
• успех - Can sometimes imply a personal skill, though less common.

Usage Examples:

• Его успех в игре на пианино поразителен.

  His accomplishment in playing the piano is remarkable.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

достижение (noun, neuter): Follows the standard neuter noun declension pattern in Russian.

успех (noun, masculine): Follows the standard masculine noun declension pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "достижение":

• результат
• победа

Note: "результат" emphasizes the outcome, while "победа" implies a victory or triumph.

Synonyms for "успех":

• удача
• преуспевание

Antonyms for both:

• неудача
• провал

Related Phrases:

• большое достижение - "a great accomplishment"
• достичь успеха - "to achieve success"
• успех в жизни - "success in life"

Usage Notes:

• "достижение" is more formal and often used in written or official contexts, referring to concrete achievements or milestones.
• "успех" is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings, often implying a broader sense of success or personal triumph.
• Choose "достижение" when discussing specific results (e.g., scientific or academic accomplishments) and "успех" for general success or personal achievements.

Common Errors:

1. Mixing up formality: English learners often use "успех" in formal contexts where "достижение" would be more appropriate. For example, saying "успех науки" (success of science) sounds less formal than "достижение науки" (achievement of science).

2. Incorrect case usage: Beginners may forget to decline nouns properly, e.g., using nominative "успех" instead of genitive "успеха" after prepositions like "без" (without). Correct: "Без успеха не бывает победы" (Without success, there is no victory).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "успех" often carries a connotation of personal effort and perseverance, reflecting the value placed on hard work. Public acknowledgment of "достижение" (achievements) is common in academic and professional settings, often celebrated with formal recognition or awards.

Related Concepts:

• цель (goal)
• прогресс (progress)
• награда (reward)