Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ambivalence'

English Word: ambivalence

Key Russian Translations:

• амбивалентность /ɐmbʲɪˈvalʲənstʲ/ - [Formal, Technical]
• двоемыслие /dvɐɪ̯ɪˈmɨslʲɪje/ - [Informal, Literary]

Frequency: Low (Primarily used in psychological, philosophical, or academic contexts; not common in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: Advanced (C1-C2 per CEFR; Requires familiarity with abstract concepts and psychological terminology. For 'амбивалентность', it's more advanced due to its borrowed nature; 'двоемыслие' may be intermediate for literary enthusiasts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

амбивалентность: /ɐmbʲɪˈvalʲənstʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'бʲ' is a palatalized 'b' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

двоемыслие: /dvɐɪ̯ɪˈmɨslʲɪje/ (The diphthong 'ой' is pronounced as a single smooth sound; stress on the third syllable.)

Note on амбивалентность: This word is a direct borrowing from English/French, so pronunciation closely mirrors its Latin roots, but in Russian, the palatalization (e.g., 'бʲ') adds a softer, more fluid quality. Be cautious with the final 'тʲ' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The state of having simultaneous and conflicting attitudes or feelings toward an object, person, or idea.

Translation(s) & Context:

• амбивалентность - Used in formal psychological or academic discussions, such as in therapy or research, to describe emotional conflicts.
• двоемыслие - Applied in literary or everyday contexts to imply double-thinking or internal contradiction, often with a philosophical connotation.

Usage Examples:

• В психологии амбивалентность часто проявляется в отношениях, когда человек испытывает как любовь, так и ненависть к партнеру.

  In psychology, ambivalence often manifests in relationships, where a person experiences both love and hate toward their partner.

• Его двоемыслие по поводу переезда в другой город сделало принятие решения очень сложным.

  His ambivalence about moving to another city made the decision very difficult.

• Амбивалентность чувств героя в романе отражает реалии современной жизни, полной противоречий.

  The ambivalence of the hero's feelings in the novel reflects the realities of modern life, full of contradictions.

• В повседневной речи двоемыслие может описывать ситуацию, когда человек колеблется между двумя опциями, например, при выборе карьеры.

  In everyday speech, ambivalence can describe a situation where a person wavers between two options, such as when choosing a career.

• Амбивалентность общественного мнения по поводу новых законов привела к массовым протестам.

  The ambivalence of public opinion regarding the new laws led to mass protests.

Secondary Meaning: Uncertainty or hesitation in decision-making due to mixed emotions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• амбивалентность - In professional settings, like business or counseling, to highlight indecision stemming from emotional duality.
• двоемыслие - In informal or creative writing, to emphasize internal debate.

Usage Examples:

• Амбивалентность инвестора по поводу рынка акций помешала ему принять timely решение.

  The investor's ambivalence about the stock market prevented him from making a timely decision.

• Её двоемыслие в выборе между двумя работами отразило её неуверенность в будущем.

  Her ambivalence in choosing between two jobs reflected her uncertainty about the future.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Амбивалентность' is a feminine noun (from the first declension) and follows standard Russian noun patterns with inflections for case and number. It is not irregular but requires attention to its borrowed structure.

For 'двоемыслие', a neuter noun, it has similar inflections but is less commonly pluralized:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неоднозначность (neodnoznachnost') - More general term for ambiguity, often used interchangeably but less emotionally charged.
  • неопределенность (neopredelennost') - Emphasizes uncertainty, suitable for decision-making contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • уверенность (uverenost') - Direct opposite, implying clear and decisive feelings.
  • решимость (reshimost') - Conveys determination, contrasting with hesitation.

Related Phrases:

• Чувство амбивалентности - Feeling of ambivalence; Used to describe internal emotional conflict in personal narratives.
• Двоемыслие в отношениях - Ambivalence in relationships; Common in psychological discussions about partnerships.
• Амбивалентность выбора - Ambivalence of choice; Refers to hesitation in decision-making processes.

Usage Notes:

'Амбивалентность' directly corresponds to the English 'ambivalence' in psychological contexts, making it ideal for translations in academic or therapeutic settings. However, in everyday Russian, 'двоемыслие' might be preferred for its more literary flavor, especially in creative writing. Be mindful of formal vs. informal registers: use 'амбивалентность' in professional emails or reports, but 'двоемыслие' in casual conversations. Grammatically, as a noun, it must agree with adjectives and cases, e.g., 'сильная амбивалентность' (strong ambivalence). When choosing between translations, opt for 'амбивалентность' if the context is scientific, and 'двоемыслие' for philosophical or emotional nuances.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'амбивалентность' with 'амбиция' (ambition), leading to misuse like saying 'амбиция чувств' instead of 'амбивалентность чувств'.

  Correct: 'Амбивалентность чувств' means 'ambivalence of feelings'; Explanation: 'Амбиция' refers to drive or aspiration, not conflict, so this mix-up alters the meaning entirely.

• Error: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., using nominative 'амбивалентность' in a genitive context like 'ощущение амбивалентность' instead of 'ощущение амбивалентности'.

  Correct: 'Ощущение амбивалентности'; Explanation: Russian requires proper case agreement, which English learners often overlook, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'амбивалентность' or 'двоемыслие' are often explored in literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where characters experience profound internal conflicts reflecting societal uncertainties. This ties into Russia's historical context of ideological shifts, making these words resonate deeply in discussions of personal and national identity.

Related Concepts:

• конфликт (konflikt)
• эмоции (emotsii)
• неуверенность (neuvrennost')