Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'distress'

English Word: distress

Key Russian Translations:

• тревога [trʲɪˈvoɡə] - [Informal, Emotional contexts]
• бедствие [bʲɪˈdstvʲɪjə] - [Formal, Referring to disasters or severe situations]
• беспокойство [bʲɪspɐˈkojstvə] - [Neutral, Everyday usage for worry]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, news, and casual conversations, but not as frequent as basic emotion words like "радость" for joy)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and emotional vocabulary; for "бедствие", it may be B2 due to more formal contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тревога: [trʲɪˈvoɡə]

Note on тревога: The stress falls on the second syllable ("vo"). Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech, where the "rʲ" sound softens.

бедствие: [bʲɪˈdstvʲɪjə]

Note on бедствие: The initial "bʲ" is a soft consonant, which might be challenging for English speakers; emphasize the "ds" cluster for clarity.

беспокойство: [bʲɪspɐˈkojstvə]

Note on беспокойство: This word has a rolling "r" sound in some dialects, but standard pronunciation is straightforward.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A state of mental or emotional suffering, anxiety, or worry

Translation(s) & Context:

• тревога - Used in personal, emotional, or psychological contexts, such as describing inner turmoil.
• беспокойство - Applied in everyday situations, like daily worries or concerns.

Usage Examples:

• Его тревога не давала ему спать по ночам.

  His distress kept him awake at night.

• Я чувствую беспокойство из-за предстоящей встречи.

  I feel distress about the upcoming meeting.

• Тревога охватила всю семью после новости.

  Distress gripped the entire family after the news.

• Её беспокойство проявилось в нервных жестах.

  Her distress showed through nervous gestures.

Meaning 2: A situation of danger, hardship, or disaster

Translation(s) & Context:

• бедствие - Used for large-scale events like natural disasters or emergencies.

Usage Examples:

• Землетрясение стало настоящим бедствием для города.

  The earthquake became a real distress for the city.

• Во время бедствия люди объединились для помощи.

  During the distress, people united to provide help.

• Экономическое бедствие затронуло многие страны.

  The economic distress affected many countries.

• Спасатели прибыли на место бедствия вовремя.

  Rescuers arrived at the site of distress in time.

• Бедствие природы разрушило посевы.

  The distress of nature destroyed the crops.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily nouns, which in Russian undergo declension based on case, number, and gender. "Тревога" is a feminine noun, "бедствие" is neuter, and "беспокойство" is neuter. Below is a table for their key inflections:

Note: These follow regular patterns for Russian nouns. "Тревога" and similar words do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: волнение (agitation, similar to тревога but often implies physical excitement), страдание (suffering, more intense than беспокойство)
• Antonyms: спокойствие (calmness), радость (joy)

Brief note: "Волнение" is often used interchangeably with "тревога" in informal settings, but it can carry a nuance of excitement rather than pure distress.

Related Phrases:

• В состоянии тревоги (In a state of distress) - Describes someone overwhelmed by worry.
• Природное бедствие (Natural distress/disaster) - Refers to events like earthquakes or floods.
• Вызвать беспокойство (To cause distress) - Used for actions that lead to worry or anxiety.

Usage Notes:

"Тревога" and "беспокойство" are more psychological and align closely with the emotional aspect of "distress" in English, while "бедствие" emphasizes external, catastrophic events. Choose "тревога" for informal personal contexts and "бедствие" for formal or news-related scenarios. Be mindful of Russian's case system; for example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "из-за" (because of), as in "из-за тревоги". These words are versatile but avoid overusing them in positive contexts, as they inherently convey negativity.

• In formal writing, "бедствие" is preferred for official reports.
• For verbs, pair with words like "испытывать" (to experience) for emotional distress.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "тревога" with "страх" (fear), using them interchangeably, but "тревога" implies ongoing worry rather than immediate fear. For example:

• Incorrect: Я чувствую страх из-за работы. (If the intent is distress, not terror.)
• Correct: Я чувствую тревогу из-за работы. (This better matches "distress" as ongoing anxiety.)
• Another error is neglecting declensions; e.g., saying "в тревога" instead of "в тревоге" (in distress), which is grammatically incorrect and sounds unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "тревога" often appear in literature and poetry, reflecting the historical emphasis on emotional depth in works by authors like Dostoevsky. "Бедствие" is commonly associated with Russia's history of natural disasters and wars, evoking resilience and communal response in media and folklore.

Related Concepts:

• страх
• волнение
• кризис
• эмоциональный стресс