Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Detriment'

English Word: Detriment

Key Russian Translations:

• ущерб [ˈuʂːɛrp] - [Formal, Often used in legal or economic contexts]
• вред [ˈvrʲet] - [Neutral, Common in everyday speech]
• повреждение [pɐˈvrʲeʐdʲenʲɪjə] - [Specific, Often refers to physical damage]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in both formal and informal contexts depending on the translation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "ущерб" and "вред"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "повреждение" due to specificity

Pronunciation (Russian):

ущерб: [ˈuʂːɛrp]

Note on ущерб: Stress falls on the first syllable; the "щ" sound is a soft, hissing sound unique to Russian.

вред: [ˈvrʲet]

Note on вред: The "р" is rolled slightly, and the stress is on the single syllable.

повреждение: [pɐˈvrʲeʐdʲenʲɪjə]

Note on повреждение: Stress on the second syllable; complex consonant cluster in the middle.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Harm or Damage (General Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вред - Used for general harm or negative impact in everyday language.
• ущерб - Often refers to loss or damage in a broader, often abstract or economic sense.

Usage Examples:

• Этот продукт может нанести вред вашему здоровью.

  This product may cause harm to your health.

• Его действия принесли ущерб репутации компании.

  His actions caused detriment to the company's reputation.

• Курение наносит вред окружающей среде.

  Smoking causes harm to the environment.

2. Physical Damage or Injury

Translation(s) & Context:

• повреждение - Refers specifically to physical or tangible damage.

Usage Examples:

• Машина получила серьезное повреждение в аварии.

  The car sustained serious damage in the accident.

• Повреждение оборудования привело к остановке работы.

  Damage to the equipment led to a work stoppage.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

ущерб (Noun, Masculine): Follows the second declension pattern in Russian. Does not change in plural form (remains "ущерб").

Case	Singular
Nominative	ущерб
Genitive	ущерба
Dative	ущербу
Accusative	ущерб
Instrumental	ущербом
Prepositional	об ущербе

вред (Noun, Masculine): Follows a similar second declension pattern. No plural form as it is an abstract concept.

повреждение (Noun, Neuter): Regular neuter noun declension. Plural form is "повреждения".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "вред" and "ущерб":

• убыток (loss, often financial)
• потеря (loss)
• нарушение (violation or disruption)

Note: "убыток" is more specific to financial loss, while "потеря" can imply emotional or material loss.

Antonyms for "вред" and "ущерб":

• польза (benefit)
• выгода (advantage)

Related Phrases:

• нанести вред - To cause harm (used in both literal and figurative contexts).
• причинить ущерб - To inflict damage or loss (often formal or legal).
• получить повреждение - To sustain damage (often physical).

Usage Notes:

• "ущерб" is often used in formal contexts, such as legal or economic discussions, to denote loss or damage (e.g., reputational or financial detriment).
• "вред" is more versatile and can be used in casual speech to refer to harm or negative effects on health, environment, or situations.
• "повреждение" is specific to physical or tangible damage and should not be used for abstract concepts like reputational harm.
• Choosing the right translation depends on the context: use "вред" for general harm, "ущерб" for loss or abstract damage, and "повреждение" for physical damage.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "повреждение" for abstract harm (e.g., "повреждение репутации"). Correct: Use "ущерб" instead, as in "ущерб репутации" (damage to reputation). Explanation: "повреждение" is strictly for physical damage.
• Error: Overusing "вред" in formal contexts where "ущерб" is more appropriate (e.g., legal documents). Correct: Use "ущерб" for formal or legal detriment.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "вред" (harm) is often discussed in relation to health and lifestyle, reflecting a societal emphasis on well-being. For instance, warnings about "вред" are common in public health campaigns (e.g., anti-smoking ads).

Related Concepts:

• потеря (loss)
• убыток (financial loss)
• нарушение (violation)