Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Agitation'

English Word: Agitation

Key Russian Translations:

• волнение [vɐlˈnʲenʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Common in Emotional Contexts]
• агитация [ɐɡʲɪˈtat͡sɨjə] - [Formal, Often Used in Political or Social Contexts]
• беспокойство [bʲɪspɐˈkojstvə] - [Neutral, Related to Worry or Unease]

Frequency: Medium (волнение and беспокойство are more common in daily speech; агитация is context-specific)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (волнение and беспокойство - B1; агитация - B2 due to formal usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

волнение: [vɐlˈnʲenʲɪjə]

Note on волнение: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'е' is pronounced as a soft 'ye' sound.

агитация: [ɐɡʲɪˈtat͡sɨjə]

Note on агитация: Stress on the third syllable; the 'ц' is a hard 'ts' sound.

беспокойство: [bʲɪspɐˈkojstvə]

Note on беспокойство: Stress on the third syllable; the 'о' in unstressed positions may reduce to a schwa-like sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Emotional Disturbance or Excitement

Translation(s) & Context:

• волнение - Often used for emotional agitation, such as nervousness or excitement before an event.
• беспокойство - Refers to a state of worry or unease, less intense than волнение in some contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Она испытывала волнение перед экзаменом.

  She felt agitated (nervous) before the exam.

• Его беспокойство по поводу работы было очевидным.

  His agitation (worry) about work was evident.

• Волнение охватило толпу, когда объявили результаты.

  Agitation (excitement) gripped the crowd when the results were announced.

2. Political or Social Campaigning

Translation(s) & Context:

• агитация - Specifically used for political or social agitation, such as propaganda or campaigning.

Usage Examples:

• Агитация за новые реформы началась в прошлом месяце.

  Agitation (campaigning) for new reforms started last month.

• Политическая агитация была запрещена в этом районе.

  Political agitation was banned in this area.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

волнение (Noun, Neuter): Regular declension in all cases.

агитация (Noun, Feminine): Regular declension, follows first declension pattern for feminine nouns.

беспокойство (Noun, Neuter): Regular declension, similar to волнение.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for волнение:

• тревога (anxiety, more intense)
• нервозность (nervousness, more colloquial)

Synonyms for агитация:

• пропаганда (propaganda, broader term)

Antonyms for волнение/беспокойство:

• спокойствие (calmness)
• уравновешенность (balance, composure)

Related Phrases:

• прийти в волнение - To become agitated or excited.
• вызывать беспокойство - To cause agitation (worry).
• политическая агитация - Political agitation or campaigning.

Usage Notes:

• "волнение" is the most versatile translation for personal emotional agitation, suitable for both excitement and nervousness.
• "агитация" is almost exclusively used in formal or political contexts and should not be used for personal emotions.
• "беспокойство" often implies a milder or more persistent state of worry compared to "волнение".
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between translations, as they are not interchangeable.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "агитация" to describe personal emotions. Incorrect: "Я чувствую агитацию перед экзаменом." (I feel agitation before the exam.) Correct: "Я чувствую волнение перед экзаменом."

Error 2: Misusing "беспокойство" in contexts of excitement. Incorrect: "Толпа была в беспокойстве от радости." Correct: "Толпа была в волнении от радости."

Cultural Notes:

The term "агитация" has strong historical connotations in Russian, often associated with Soviet-era propaganda and political campaigns. It may evoke specific imagery or emotions for native speakers, particularly in older generations.

Related Concepts:

• тревога (anxiety)
• страх (fear)
• пропаганда (propaganda)