Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'craving'

English Word: craving

Key Russian Translations:

• жажда [ˈʐaʐdə] - [Formal, often metaphorical for intense desires]
• желание [ʐɨˈlanʲɪje] - [Informal, general contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language and literature, but not as frequent as basic nouns)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and metaphorical usage for жажда, while желание is slightly easier at A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жажда: [ˈʐaʐdə]

Note on жажда: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in English "measure." Stress on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'д' sound.

Audio: []

желание: [ʐɨˈlanʲɪje]

Note on желание: Stress on the second syllable; the 'е' at the end is often softened in casual speech. The 'ж' sound is the same as in жажда.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A strong desire or longing, often for food, drink, or something abstract like power.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жажда - Used in formal or literary contexts for intense, almost physical cravings, such as thirst or metaphorical desires (e.g., in poetry or discussions of addiction).
• желание - Applied in everyday, informal situations for general wants or urges, like emotional or material desires.

Usage Examples:

• У меня постоянная жажда шоколада, особенно по вечерам. (U menya postoyannaya zhazhda shokolada, osobenno po vecheram.)

  I have a constant craving for chocolate, especially in the evenings. (This example shows жажда in a casual, everyday context related to food.)

• Его желание новых приключений толкнуло на путешествие. (Yego zhelaniye novykh priklyucheniy tolknulo na puteshestviye.)

  His craving for new adventures pushed him to travel. (Here, желание illustrates a broader, motivational use in narrative contexts.)

• Жажда власти часто приводит к разрушительным решениям в истории. (Zhazhda vlasti chasto privodit k razrushitel'nym resheniyam v istorii.)

  The craving for power often leads to destructive decisions in history. (This demonstrates жажда in a metaphorical, formal context.)

• Это внезапное желание мороженого испортило мой рацион. (Eto vnezapnoye zhelaniye morozhenogo isportilo moy ratsion.)

  This sudden craving for ice cream ruined my diet. (желание in an informal, impulsive scenario.)

• В жаждe знаний она провела всю ночь за книгами. (V zhazhde znaniy ona provela vsyu noch' za knigami.)

  In her craving for knowledge, she spent the whole night with books. (A literary use of жажда to show intellectual desire.)

2. An overwhelming urge, particularly in medical or psychological contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жажда - In medical contexts, like "thirst" in dehydration, but extended to cravings in addiction.
• желание - Less common here; used for emotional or habitual urges.

Usage Examples:

• Пациент жаловался на жажду никотина во время лечения. (Patsient zhalovalsya na zhazhdu nikotina vo vremya lecheniya.)

  The patient complained of a craving for nicotine during treatment. (жажда in a health-related context.)

• Его неконтролируемое желание еды указывало на проблему. (Yego nekontroliruyemoye zhelaniye yedy ukazyvalo na problemu.)

  His uncontrollable craving for food indicated a problem. (желание in a psychological setting.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "жажда" (feminine noun, first declension):

Note: Irregular in plural forms; does not change in some poetic uses.

For "желание" (neuter noun, second declension):

Note: Regular declension; no significant irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: тоска (toska - with a sense of longing or melancholy), влечение (vlecheniye - attraction or pull)
• Antonyms: отвращение (otvrascheniye - repulsion or aversion), равнодушие (ravnodushiye - indifference)

Related Phrases:

• жажда власти - Thirst for power (Used in political or historical contexts to describe ambition.)
• нестерпимое желание - Intolerable craving (Emphasizes overwhelming urges in emotional narratives.)
• вечная жажда - Eternal craving (Common in literature for perpetual desires.)

Usage Notes:

• жажда is more poetic and formal, often implying an uncontrollable or deep-seated craving, whereas желание is neutral and versatile for everyday use. Choose жажда for metaphorical expressions and желание for direct statements.
• In Russian, these words can vary by context; for example, жажда is ideal for physical or existential cravings, while желание fits emotional or decision-making scenarios.
• Grammar note: Both nouns require proper declension based on case, as shown in the inflections table, to maintain sentence flow.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using жажда interchangeably with голод (hunger), which is more specific to food needs. Correct: "жажда" for cravings like thirst; Example of error: "У меня жажда еды" (incorrect, implies literal thirst); Correct: "У меня аппетит" or "желание еды".
• Mistake: Forgetting declension; e.g., saying "в жажда" instead of "в жажде". Explanation: Always adjust for genitive or other cases to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, жажда often appears in literature (e.g., in works by Dostoevsky) to symbolize existential desires or spiritual quests, reflecting the depth of human emotions. This contrasts with English usage, where "craving" is more casual, highlighting Russia's emphasis on introspection and passion in language.

Related Concepts:

• страсть (strast' - passion)
• аппетит (appetit - appetite)
• влечение (vlecheniye - attraction)