Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'closeness'

English Word: closeness

Key Russian Translations:

• близость /blʲɪˈzostʲ/ - [Formal, Singular]
• интимность /ɪnˈtʲimnəsʲtʲ/ - [Informal, Contextual, Used in emotional or personal settings]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about relationships and emotions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and abstract concepts, with "близость" being straightforward and "интимность" slightly more nuanced).

Pronunciation (Russian):

близость: /blʲɪˈzostʲ/ (The "blʲ" sound is a palatalized 'b', similar to the 'bl' in "blue" but softer; stress on the second syllable.)

интимность: /ɪnˈtʲimnəsʲtʲ/ (The "tʲ" is a palatalized 't', pronounced with the tongue touching the palate; stress on the second syllable.)

Note on близость: Be cautious with the palatalization; non-native speakers often soften it too much, making it sound like "vlee-zost".

Note on интимность: This word can vary slightly in fast speech, with the final 'tʲ' sometimes devoiced.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The state of being physically or emotionally near to someone (e.g., intimacy or proximity in relationships).

Translation(s) & Context:

• близость - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe emotional closeness, such as in family or friendships.
• интимность - Applied in informal settings for personal or romantic closeness, often implying privacy.

Usage Examples:

• В нашей семье всегда была большая близость, несмотря на расстояния.

  In our family, there was always great closeness, despite the distances.

• Интимность этого момента сделала нашу беседу незабываемой.

  The intimacy of this moment made our conversation unforgettable.

• Близость к природе помогает мне расслабиться после работы.

  Closeness to nature helps me relax after work.

• Без интимности в отношениях они кажутся пустыми.

  Without intimacy in relationships, they seem empty.

• Эмоциональная близость развивается со временем через общие опыты.

  Emotional closeness develops over time through shared experiences.

Meaning 2: A sense of tightness or nearness in a physical sense (e.g., spatial proximity).

Translation(s) & Context:

• близость - Common in geographical or spatial descriptions, often in neutral contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Близость к морю делает этот город привлекательным для туристов.

  The closeness to the sea makes this city attractive to tourists.

• Из-за близости домов шум от соседей был неизбежным.

  Due to the closeness of the houses, noise from neighbors was inevitable.

• Близость парка позволяет нам гулять ежедневно.

  The closeness of the park allows us to walk there daily.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "близость" and "интимность" are feminine nouns in Russian, following the standard third-declension patterns for abstract nouns. They are invariable in the nominative singular but change in other cases. Below is a table for "близость" as an example; "интимность" follows similar rules.

For "интимность", it is mostly regular but can have slight variations in poetic or archaic usage. These nouns do not change for gender but must agree in case with adjectives or verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • близость: родство (rodstvo) - More familial connotation.
  • интимность: доверие (doverie) - Emphasizes trust over physical closeness.
• Antonyms:
  • отдаленность (otdalennost') - Distance or remoteness.
  • отчужденность (otchuzhdennost') - Alienation or detachment.

Related Phrases:

• Эмоциональная близость - Emotional closeness; Refers to deep personal bonds in relationships.
• Близость к сердцу - Close to the heart; Indicates something personally meaningful.
• Интимная обстановка - Intimate setting; Describes a private or cozy environment.

Usage Notes:

"Closeness" translates most directly to "близость" in formal contexts, such as academic or literary discussions, while "интимность" is better for informal, emotional scenarios. Be mindful of the cultural emphasis on emotional depth in Russian; overuse in casual speech might sound overly dramatic. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use "близость" for spatial or general proximity and "интимность" for relational intimacy. Grammatically, these nouns require proper case agreement, e.g., with prepositions like "к" (to), as in "к близости" (to closeness).

Common Errors:

• Confusing case endings: English learners often use the nominative form everywhere, e.g., saying "о близость" instead of "о близости" (about closeness). Correct: Use genitive for prepositional phrases.
• Misapplying translations: Using "интимность" in non-romantic contexts, like "spatial closeness," which might imply unintended intimacy. Correct: Stick to "близость" for neutral uses.
• Over-palatalizing pronunciation: Non-natives might pronounce "близость" as /blɪzost/ without the palatalized 'blʲ', making it sound unnatural. Correct pronunciation: Emphasize the soft 'l' sound.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "близость" often carry a deeper emotional weight, influenced by historical emphasis on community and family ties. For instance, "интимность" might evoke ideas from Russian literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy), where personal closeness is tied to themes of soulful connection rather than just physical proximity, reflecting a cultural value on introspection and relational depth.

Related Concepts:

• дружба (druzhba) - Friendship
• любовь (lyubov') - Love
• отдаление (otdaleniye) - Separation