Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'amoral'

English Word: amoral

Key Russian Translations:

• аморальный [ɐmɐˈralʲnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• безнравственный [bʲɪzˈnravstʲvʲɪnnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

аморальный: [ɐmɐˈralʲnɨj]

Note on аморальный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'л' sound is palatalized, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

безнравственный: [bʲɪzˈnravstʲvʲɪnnɨj]

Note on безнравственный: Stress falls on the second syllable. Pay attention to the soft consonants 'з' and 'в'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Lacking moral principles (General sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• аморальный - Used to describe behavior or actions that defy moral standards, often in formal or written contexts.
• безнравственный - Stronger connotation of immorality, often used in critical or judgmental contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его аморальное поведение вызвало осуждение в обществе.

  His amoral behavior caused condemnation in society.

• Этот поступок можно назвать безнравственным.

  This act can be called immoral.

• Она вела аморальный образ жизни, игнорируя нормы.

  She led an amoral lifestyle, ignoring norms.

• Безнравственные действия руководства привели к протестам.

  The immoral actions of the management led to protests.

• В его взглядах было что-то аморальное, хотя и законное.

  There was something amoral in his views, though legal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

аморальный (Adjective): Follows standard Russian adjective declension rules based on gender, number, and case.

безнравственный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for аморальный/безнравственный:

• неэтичный (less intense, often used in professional contexts)
• развратный (stronger, often related to personal behavior)

Antonyms for аморальный/безнравственный:

• моральный
• нравственный

Related Phrases:

• аморальное поведение - Immoral/amoral behavior, often used in formal critiques.
• безнравственный поступок - Immoral act, used to describe unethical actions.
• жить аморально - To live amorally, referring to a lifestyle.

Usage Notes:

• Both "аморальный" and "безнравственный" translate to "amoral" or "immoral" in English, but "безнравственный" often carries a harsher, more judgmental tone.
• Use "аморальный" in formal or neutral descriptions of behavior lacking moral standards, while "безнравственный" is more common in emotionally charged or critical contexts.
• These adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, following standard Russian grammar rules.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "аморальный" and "безнравственный" interchangeably without considering tone. For example, saying "аморальный поступок" in a highly critical context may sound too mild compared to "безнравственный поступок".
  Correction: Choose "безнравственный" for stronger criticism.
• Error: Incorrect adjective agreement, e.g., "аморальный женщина" instead of "аморальная женщина".
  Correction: Ensure proper gender agreement with the noun.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, morality and ethics are often deeply tied to societal and historical norms. Terms like "безнравственный" may evoke strong emotional reactions, especially in discussions of personal or public behavior, due to the influence of traditional values and Orthodox Christian ethics in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• мораль
• этика
• нравственность