Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Aggression'

English Word: Aggression

Key Russian Translations:

• агрессия [ɐɡˈrʲesʲɪjə] - [Formal, General Use]
• нападение [nɐˈpadʲɪnʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Often Physical or Military Context]
• враждебность [vrɐʒˈdʲebnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Emotional or Attitudinal Context]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "агрессия" and "нападение"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "враждебность"

Pronunciation (Russian):

агрессия: [ɐɡˈrʲesʲɪjə]

Note on агрессия: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "г" is pronounced as a voiced velar stop.

нападение: [nɐˈpadʲɪnʲɪjə]

Note on нападение: Stress on the second syllable. The "д" is palatalized before "е".

враждебность: [vrɐʒˈdʲebnəsʲtʲ]

Note on враждебность: Stress on the second syllable. Complex consonant cluster at the start.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Hostile or Violent Behavior

Translation(s) & Context:

• агрессия - General term for hostile or aggressive behavior, used in both physical and abstract contexts.
• нападение - Refers specifically to a physical attack or assault, often in military or personal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его агрессия на встрече всех удивила.

  His aggression at the meeting surprised everyone.

• Нападение на деревню произошло ночью.

  The attack on the village happened at night.

• Она скрыла свою агрессию за улыбкой.

  She hid her aggression behind a smile.

2. Hostile Attitude or Feeling

Translation(s) & Context:

• враждебность - Refers to hostility or antagonistic feelings, often non-physical.

Usage Examples:

• Его враждебность к новому коллеге была очевидна.

  His hostility toward the new colleague was obvious.

• Враждебность между группами нарастала.

  Hostility between the groups was growing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

агрессия (Feminine Noun, 1st Declension):

нападение (Neuter Noun, 2nd Declension): Follows regular neuter noun declension patterns.

враждебность (Feminine Noun, 3rd Declension): Follows 3rd declension rules with stem changes in some cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "агрессия":

• насилие (violence)
• злость (anger)

Note: "насилие" often implies physical force, while "злость" is more emotional.

Antonyms for "агрессия":

• мир (peace)
• дружелюбие (friendliness)

Related Phrases:

• проявлять агрессию - to show aggression (used in behavioral contexts)
• военное нападение - military attack (common in historical or news contexts)
• чувство враждебности - feeling of hostility (used in emotional or interpersonal contexts)

Usage Notes:

• "агрессия" is the most general and versatile term for aggression, suitable for both physical and verbal contexts.
• "нападение" is more specific to physical or direct attacks and should not be used for abstract hostility.
• "враждебность" is best for describing an attitude or disposition rather than an action.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these translations, as they are not interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "нападение" to describe emotional hostility.
  Incorrect: Его нападение в разговоре было заметно. (His attack in the conversation was noticeable.)
  Correct: Его агрессия в разговоре была заметна. (His aggression in the conversation was noticeable.)
  Explanation: "нападение" implies a physical act, not an attitude or tone.
• Error: Misusing "враждебность" for a physical act.
  Incorrect: Враждебность на улице была опасна.
  Correct: Нападение на улице было опасно. (The attack on the street was dangerous.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of "агрессия" (aggression) may be perceived differently depending on the context. Direct confrontation is often avoided in favor of subtler expressions of disagreement, especially in formal settings. The term "враждебность" (hostility) might carry a stronger negative connotation, often associated with deep-seated animosity.

Related Concepts:

• конфликт (conflict)
• ссора (quarrel)
• ненависть (hatred)