Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'disintegration'

English Word: disintegration

Key Russian Translations:

• распад /rɐˈspad/ - [Formal, Scientific/Political contexts]
• разрушение /rɐˈzruʂenʲje/ - [Formal, General or Destructive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly used in academic, political, and scientific discussions, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections in Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

распад: /rɐˈspad/

Note on распад: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'р' is a rolled 'r', which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations may occur in fast speech.

разрушение: /rɐˈzruʂenʲje/

Note on разрушение: The 'ш' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh'; pay attention to the final 'e' which softens the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The process of breaking up into parts (e.g., physical or chemical disintegration)

Translation(s) & Context:

• распад - Used in scientific contexts, such as atomic or material breakdown.
• разрушение - Applied in contexts involving destruction or erosion, often metaphorical.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: В лаборатории мы наблюдали распад радиоактивных элементов.

  English Translation: In the laboratory, we observed the disintegration of radioactive elements.

• Русский пример: Из-за коррозии произошло разрушение металлической конструкции.

  English Translation: Due to corrosion, the disintegration of the metal structure occurred.

• Русский пример: Солнечный свет может ускорить распад органических материалов.

  English Translation: Sunlight can accelerate the disintegration of organic materials.

• Русский пример: В химических реакциях часто наблюдается разрушение молекул.

  English Translation: In chemical reactions, the disintegration of molecules is often observed.

2. The collapse or breakdown of a society, organization, or system

Translation(s) & Context:

• распад - Common in historical or political contexts, implying a gradual breakdown.
• разрушение - Used for more forceful or catastrophic collapses, often with emotional connotations.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Распад Советского Союза повлиял на весь мир.

  English Translation: The disintegration of the Soviet Union influenced the entire world.

• Русский пример: Экономический кризис привел к разрушению многих компаний.

  English Translation: The economic crisis led to the disintegration of many companies.

• Русский пример: Социальные изменения могут вызвать распад традиционных структур.

  English Translation: Social changes can cause the disintegration of traditional structures.

• Русский пример: Война ускорила разрушение старого режима.

  English Translation: The war accelerated the disintegration of the old regime.

• Русский пример: Политический распад страны был неизбежен из-за внутренних конфликтов.

  English Translation: The political disintegration of the country was inevitable due to internal conflicts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "распад" and "разрушение" are masculine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard noun declension patterns. "распад" is a third-declension noun and can inflect based on case and number, while "разрушение" is more regular as a neuter noun in some contexts but typically treated as masculine.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively straightforward for learners at B2 level.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • крушение (krusheniye) - Often used for sudden collapses, with a more dramatic connotation.
  • рассыпание (rassypaniye) - Implies scattering or fragmentation, common in physical contexts.
  • деградация (degradatsiya) - Focuses on gradual decline, especially in social or moral senses.
• Antonyms:
  • создание (sozdaniye) - Creation or formation.
  • укрепление (ukrepleniye) - Strengthening or consolidation.
  • единство (yedinstvo) - Unity or cohesion.

Related Phrases:

• распад общества - Disintegration of society; refers to the breakdown of social structures.
• ядерный распад - Nuclear disintegration; a term from physics for radioactive decay.
• разрушение экосистемы - Disintegration of the ecosystem; used in environmental discussions.
• политический распад - Political disintegration; common in analyses of state failures.

Usage Notes:

"Распад" is the most precise translation for "disintegration" in contexts involving natural or inevitable breakdown, such as in science or history, and is preferred in formal writing. "Разрушение" is better for scenarios implying external force or destruction. English speakers should note that Russian nouns like these change based on case, so always consider the sentence structure. For example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "из-за" (because of). When choosing between translations, opt for "распад" if the process is gradual, and "разрушение" if it's more abrupt.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "распад" interchangeably with "разрушение" without considering context. For instance, saying "распад здания" (disintegration of a building) when "разрушение здания" is more accurate for physical destruction.

  Correct Usage: "Разрушение здания произошло из-за пожара." (The disintegration of the building occurred due to a fire.)

  Explanation: "Распад" implies a natural process, while "разрушение" suggests external causes; confusing them can lead to imprecise meaning.

• Error: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., using nominative "распад" in a genitive context like "после распад" instead of "после распада".

  Correct Usage: "После распада империи..." (After the disintegration of the empire...)

  Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, terms like "распад" are often associated with significant events such as the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, symbolizing the end of an era and the complexities of national identity. This word carries emotional weight in discussions of political change, reflecting Russia's turbulent 20th-century history.

Related Concepts:

• революция (revolyutsiya)
• кризис (krizis)
• стабильность (stabilnost)
• эволюция (evolyutsiya)