Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Contingency'

English Word: contingency

Key Russian Translations:

• непредвиденный случай [nʲɪprʲɪdvʲɪˈdʲenːɨj ˈslutʃaj] - [Formal, Often used in legal or planning contexts]
• случайность [ˈslutʃajnəsʲtʲ] - [Neutral, General use for randomness or chance]
• резервный план [rʲɪˈzʲervnɨj plan] - [Neutral, Refers to a backup plan]

Frequency: Medium (often encountered in formal or technical contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "непредвиденный случай" and "резервный план"; B1 (Lower Intermediate) for "случайность"

Pronunciation (Russian):

непредвиденный случай: [nʲɪprʲɪdvʲɪˈdʲenːɨj ˈslutʃaj]

Note on непредвиденный случай: Stress falls on the second syllable of "непредвиденный" and first syllable of "случай". The double "н" in "непредвиденный" is pronounced distinctly.

случайность: [ˈslutʃajnəsʲtʲ]

Note on случайность: Stress is on the first syllable. The soft "тʲ" at the end requires a palatalized pronunciation.

резервный план: [rʲɪˈzʲervnɨj plan]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. An Unexpected Event or Emergency

Translation(s) & Context:

• непредвиденный случай - Used in formal contexts, often for unforeseen events or emergencies in planning or legal documents.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны быть готовы к любому непредвиденному случаю.

  We must be prepared for any unforeseen contingency.

• В договоре есть пункт о непредвиденных случаях.

  There is a clause in the contract about contingencies.

• Непредвиденный случай может изменить наши планы.

  An unforeseen contingency might change our plans.

2. Randomness or Chance

Translation(s) & Context:

• случайность - Refers to something happening by chance, often in everyday or philosophical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Наша встреча была чистой случайностью.

  Our meeting was a pure contingency.

• В жизни много случайностей, которые нельзя предсказать.

  There are many contingencies in life that cannot be predicted.

3. Backup Plan or Provision

Translation(s) & Context:

• резервный план - Refers to a contingency plan or backup strategy.

Usage Examples:

• У нас есть резервный план на случай неудачи.

  We have a contingency plan in case of failure.

• Резервный план помог нам избежать проблем.

  The contingency plan helped us avoid issues.

• Всегда полезно иметь резервный план.

  It’s always useful to have a contingency plan.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

непредвиденный случай (Noun Phrase):

"непредвиденный" is an adjective that agrees with "случай" (masculine noun). "случай" declines as a second-declension masculine noun.

случайность (Feminine Noun): Regular first-declension noun, declines predictably.

резервный план (Noun Phrase): "резервный" is an adjective agreeing with "план" (masculine noun). Declines similarly to "непредвиденный случай".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "непредвиденный случай":

• чрезвычайная ситуация
• нештатная ситуация

Note: "чрезвычайная ситуация" often implies a more severe emergency, while "нештатная ситуация" is used in technical contexts.

Synonyms for "случайность":

• совпадение
• случай

Antonyms for "случайность":

• закономерность
• предсказуемость

Related Phrases:

• на случай непредвиденных обстоятельств - "In case of unforeseen circumstances" (common in formal agreements).
• случайность или закономерность? - "Coincidence or pattern?" (used in discussions about probability).
• иметь резервный план - "To have a contingency plan" (common in strategic planning).

Usage Notes:

• "непредвиденный случай" is the most formal and widely used translation for "contingency" in contexts like contracts or emergency planning. It is less common in casual speech.
• "случайность" is more general and often used when referring to randomness or chance rather than a specific emergency.
• "резервный план" specifically refers to a backup or contingency plan and should not be used for unforeseen events themselves.
• Be mindful of adjective-noun agreement in Russian when using phrases like "непредвиденный случай" or "резервный план".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "случайность" in formal contexts like contracts. Wrong: "В договоре учитывается случайность." Correct: "В договоре учитывается непредвиденный случай." (Explanation: "случайность" implies randomness and is inappropriate for formal unforeseen events.)
• Error: Misusing "резервный план" to mean an unforeseen event. Wrong: "Это был резервный план." Correct: "Это был непредвиденный случай." (Explanation: "резервный план" means a backup plan, not the event itself.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, planning for "непредвиденные случаи" (unforeseen contingencies) is often emphasized in both personal and professional contexts due to historical unpredictability and bureaucratic systems. The concept of having a "резервный план" is deeply ingrained, especially in business and travel.

Related Concepts:

• чрезвычайное положение (state of emergency)
• риск (risk)
• подготовка (preparation)