Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'chance'

English Word: chance

Key Russian Translations:

• шанс [ʂans] - [Neutral, Commonly Used]
• возможность [vəzmɐˈʐnostʲ] - [Formal, Broad Context]
• случай [ˈslut͡ɕaj] - [Neutral, Often for 'Incident' or 'Opportunity']

Frequency: High (all translations are commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "шанс" is easiest, while "возможность" and "случай" require context understanding)

Pronunciation (Russian):

шанс: [ʂans]

Note on шанс: The stress is on the single syllable, pronounced with a distinct Russian 'ш' sound, similar to 'sh' in 'ship'.

возможность: [vəzmɐˈʐnostʲ]

Note on возможность: Stress falls on the third syllable ("жност"), and the 'ж' sound is like 's' in 'measure'.

случай: [ˈslut͡ɕaj]

Note on случай: Stress is on the first syllable, and 'ч' is like 'ch' in 'church'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Chance as an Opportunity

Translation(s) & Context:

• шанс - Used for a specific opportunity or likelihood, often in casual or neutral contexts (e.g., a chance to win).
• возможность - More formal, referring to a possibility or opportunity in broader, often abstract contexts (e.g., chance to study).

Usage Examples:

• У тебя есть шанс выиграть этот конкурс.

  You have a chance to win this competition.

• Это твой шанс показать свои способности.

  This is your chance to show your abilities.

• У нас есть возможность поехать за границу.

  We have a chance to travel abroad.

2. Chance as an Accident or Random Event

Translation(s) & Context:

• случай - Refers to an incident or random occurrence, often with a neutral or slightly negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Это был чистый случай, что мы встретились.

  It was pure chance that we met.

• По счастливому случаю никто не пострадал.

  By a happy chance, no one was hurt.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

шанс (noun, masculine): Regular declension in singular and plural.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	шанс	шансы
Genitive	шанса	шансов
Dative	шансу	шансам
Accusative	шанс	шансы
Instrumental	шансом	шансами
Prepositional	о шансе	о шансах

возможность (noun, feminine): Regular declension, derived from "возможный" (possible).

случай (noun, masculine): Regular declension, often used in idiomatic expressions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for шанс/возможность (opportunity):

• перспектива (perspective, prospect)
• опция (option, less common)

Note: "перспектива" often implies a long-term opportunity, while "опция" is more modern and situational.

Antonyms for шанс/возможность:

• невозможность (impossibility)
• безнадёжность (hopelessness)

Related Phrases:

• дать шанс - to give a chance (opportunity to prove oneself)
• по счастливому случаю - by happy chance (by fortunate accident)
• использовать возможность - to use a chance (to take advantage of an opportunity)

Usage Notes:

• "шанс" is the most direct translation for "chance" in the sense of opportunity or likelihood and is widely understood in everyday speech.
• "возможность" is more formal and often used in written or official contexts to denote possibility or opportunity.
• "случай" is context-specific and should be used when referring to random events or incidents; it may carry a slightly different nuance than the English "chance."
• Be mindful of the grammatical case when using these nouns, as Russian relies heavily on case endings to convey meaning.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "случай" when meaning an opportunity. Incorrect: "У меня есть случай выиграть." Correct: "У меня есть шанс выиграть." (I have a chance to win.) Explanation: "случай" implies a random event, not a deliberate opportunity.
• Error: Misusing "возможность" in casual speech. Incorrect: "Дай мне возможность попробовать." Correct: "Дай мне шанс попробовать." (Give me a chance to try.) Explanation: "возможность" sounds overly formal in casual contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "chance" as luck or fate (often tied to "случай") can carry a fatalistic undertone, reflecting a historical belief in destiny or unpredictability. Expressions like "по случаю" (by chance/on occasion) are common in storytelling or explanations of unexpected events.

Related Concepts:

• удача (luck)
• судьба (fate)
• вероятность (probability)