Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Damage'

English Word: Damage

Key Russian Translations:

• ущерб [ˈuʂːerb] - [Formal, Often used for material or financial loss]
• повреждение [pɐvrʲɪʐˈdʲenʲɪje] - [Neutral, Often used for physical damage]
• вред [vrʲet] - [Neutral, Often used for harm or negative impact]

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

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; varies slightly by translation and context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ущерб: [ˈuʂːerb]

Note on ущерб: Stress falls on the first syllable; the 'щ' sound is a soft 'shch' unique to Russian.

повреждение: [pɐvrʲɪʐˈdʲenʲɪje]

Note on повреждение: Stress on the fourth syllable; the 'ж' sound is a voiced 'zh'.

вред: [vrʲet]

Note on вред: A short, stressed single syllable; straightforward for most learners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physical Damage (e.g., to objects or property)

Translation(s) & Context:

• повреждение - Commonly used for physical harm to objects, like a broken car or damaged goods.

Usage Examples:

• Повреждение машины оказалось серьёзным.

  The damage to the car turned out to be serious.

• Товары получили повреждение во время транспортировки.

  The goods sustained damage during transportation.

• Из-за бури было много повреждений на крыше.

  There was a lot of damage to the roof due to the storm.

2. Financial or Abstract Loss (e.g., to reputation or economy)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ущерб - Used for financial loss, reputational harm, or abstract damage.

Usage Examples:

• Скандал нанёс ущерб репутации компании.

  The scandal caused damage to the company's reputation.

• Ущерб от наводнения оценивается в миллионы.

  The damage from the flood is estimated in millions.

• Его действия принесли ущерб бизнесу.

  His actions caused damage to the business.

3. Harm or Negative Impact (e.g., to health or environment)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вред - Refers to harm or negative effects, often on health, environment, or well-being.

Usage Examples:

• Курение наносит вред здоровью.

  Smoking causes damage to health.

• Завод причиняет вред окружающей среде.

  The factory causes damage to the environment.

• Его слова нанесли вред нашим отношениям.

  His words caused damage to our relationship.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

ущерб (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate):

Note: No plural form; used only in singular.

повреждение (Noun, Neuter, Inanimate):

вред (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate):

No plural form; used only in singular. Declension follows standard masculine patterns (similar to ущерб).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for ущерб:

• потеря (loss, often financial or material)
• убыток (loss, often in business contexts)

Synonyms for повреждение:

• поломка (breakage, often for machinery)
• дефект (defect, flaw)

Synonyms for вред:

• ущерб (overlap in some contexts)
• пагуба (detriment, often moral or spiritual)

Antonyms:

• польза (benefit, advantage - opposite of вред)
• восстановление (restoration - opposite of повреждение)

Related Phrases:

• нанести ущерб - to cause damage (often financial or reputational)
• получить повреждение - to sustain damage (often physical)
• причинить вред - to cause harm (often to health or environment)
• возместить ущерб - to compensate for damage (legal or financial contexts)

Usage Notes:

• Choosing the Right Translation: Use "ущерб" for abstract or financial damage, "повреждение" for physical damage to objects, and "вред" for harm to health or environment.
• Register: "ущерб" is more formal and often appears in legal or economic contexts. "вред" and "повреждение" are neutral and widely used in everyday speech.
• Collocations: Pay attention to verb pairings like "нанести ущерб" (cause damage) vs. "причинить вред" (cause harm).

Common Errors:

• Mixing Translations: English learners often use "вред" when "ущерб" is more appropriate in formal contexts. Incorrect: "Скандал нанёс вред репутации" (should be "ущерб"). Correct: "Скандал нанёс ущерб репутации."
• Wrong Case Usage: Failing to decline nouns properly in sentences. Incorrect: "Я вижу вред здоровью" (wrong case after "вижу"). Correct: "Я вижу вред для здоровья."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussing "ущерб" often carries a formal or legal connotation, as it is frequently used in contexts of compensation or lawsuits. The concept of "вред" may also extend to moral or ethical harm, reflecting a broader cultural sensitivity to personal and communal well-being.

Related Concepts:

• потеря (loss)
• разрушение (destruction)
• убыток (financial loss)
• травма (injury)