Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Comparatively'

English Word: Comparatively

Key Russian Translations:

• сравнительно [sravˈnʲitʲɪlnə] - [Formal, Neutral]
• относительно [atnəˈsʲitʲɪlnə] - [Formal, Often used in comparisons]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

сравнительно: [sravˈnʲitʲɪlnə]

Note on сравнительно: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'и' is pronounced as a short 'i' sound.

относительно: [atnəˈsʲitʲɪlnə]

Note on относительно: Stress on the third syllable. The 'о' in the first syllable is reduced to a schwa sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. In Comparison to Something Else (Adverb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сравнительно - Used to compare one thing with another, often in a neutral or formal tone.
• относительно - Used to indicate a relative comparison, often with an implied reference point.

Usage Examples:

• Этот город сравнительно небольшой по сравнению с Москвой.

  This city is comparatively small compared to Moscow.

• Сравнительно с прошлым годом, цены выросли.

  Comparatively to last year, prices have increased.

• Относительно других стран, Россия имеет огромную территорию.

  Comparatively to other countries, Russia has a vast territory.

• Этот метод относительно простой для начинающих.

  This method is comparatively simple for beginners.

• Сравнительно мало людей знают об этом событии.

  Comparatively few people know about this event.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сравнительно: This is an adverb and does not inflect. It remains unchanged regardless of the context.

относительно: This can function as both an adverb and a preposition. As an adverb, it does not inflect. As a preposition, it governs the genitive case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• в сравнении
• по сравнению

Note: "в сравнении" and "по сравнению" are often used in more explicit comparative structures and are slightly more formal or literary.

Antonyms:

• абсолютно (absolutely)

Related Phrases:

• сравнительно с (in comparison with) - Used to draw explicit comparisons.
• относительно говоря (relatively speaking) - A common phrase to soften a statement or indicate a relative perspective.
• относительно этого (concerning this) - Often used in formal or written contexts to specify a topic.

Usage Notes:

• Both "сравнительно" and "относительно" can often be used interchangeably when translating "comparatively," but "относительно" may carry a slightly broader sense of relativity, often implying a specific context or reference point.
• "сравнительно" is more straightforward for direct comparisons and is often used with adjectives like "большой" (big) or "маленький" (small).
• Be mindful of the prepositional usage of "относительно," which requires the genitive case and is more common in formal or written Russian.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "относительно" without the genitive case when it functions as a preposition.
  Incorrect: относительно вопрос (should be "вопроса").
  Correct: относительно вопроса (concerning the question).
  Explanation: "относительно" as a preposition always governs the genitive case in Russian.
• Error: Overusing "сравнительно" in contexts where a native speaker would prefer "по сравнению с."
  Incorrect: Сравнительно вчера, сегодня холоднее.
  Correct: По сравнению со вчерашним днём, сегодня холоднее.
  Explanation: For explicit temporal comparisons, "по сравнению с" is more natural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, comparisons often carry a nuanced tone depending on the context. Using "сравнительно" or "относительно" can soften a statement, which aligns with a cultural tendency to avoid absolute or overly direct assertions in polite conversation. These terms are frequently used in academic, journalistic, or diplomatic contexts to present balanced or cautious opinions.

Related Concepts:

• сравнение (comparison)
• соотношение (correlation, ratio)
• аналогия (analogy)