Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'diurnal'

English Word: diurnal

Key Russian Translations:

• дневной [ˈdnʲevnoj] - [Adjective, used in general and scientific contexts, such as biology]
• ежедневный [jɪʐɨˈdnevnyj] - [Adjective, more common for 'daily' routines, [Formal]]
• суточный [suˈtočnyj] - [Adjective, technical, often in scientific or medical contexts, [Formal]]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in scientific literature, biology, and everyday descriptions, but less frequent in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective forms and contexts; for 'дневной', it's straightforward, but 'суточный' may be more advanced)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дневной: [ˈdnʲevnoj]

ежедневный: [jɪʐɨˈdnevnyj]

суточный: [suˈtočnyj]

Note on дневной: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'дн' cluster can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'н' sound. For ежедневный, the 'ж' is a soft fricative, similar to 's' in "measure".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to the daytime, especially in biology (e.g., active during the day)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дневной - Used in biological or natural contexts to describe animals or phenomena active during daylight hours; common in formal writing or education.

Usage Examples:

• Русские: Многие птицы, такие как воробьи, являются дневными животными, в отличие от сов.

  English: Many birds, such as sparrows, are diurnal animals, unlike owls.

• Русские: В зоопарке мы наблюдали за дневными млекопитающими, которые активны днём.

  English: At the zoo, we observed diurnal mammals that are active during the day.

• Русские: Исследования показывают, что дневной цикл влияет на поведение дневных насекомых.

  English: Studies show that the diurnal cycle affects the behavior of diurnal insects.

• Русские: В тропических лесах дневные обезьяны прячутся от ночных хищников.

  English: In tropical forests, diurnal monkeys hide from nocturnal predators.

Meaning 2: Occurring daily or on a regular daily basis

Translation(s) & Context:

• ежедневный - Used for routines or schedules that happen every day; suitable for formal or everyday contexts like planning.
• суточный - Used in technical contexts, such as medicine or astronomy, for 24-hour cycles; more formal and precise.

Usage Examples:

• Русские: Ежедневный обход врачей важен для пациентов в больнице.

  English: Daily rounds by doctors are important for patients in the hospital.

• Русские: Суточный ритм сна и бодрствования нарушается при сменной работе.

  English: The daily rhythm of sleep and wakefulness is disrupted by shift work.

• Русские: В нашей рутине ежедневные упражнения помогают поддерживать здоровье.

  English: In our routine, daily exercises help maintain health.

• Русские: Суточные колебания температуры влияют на сельскохозяйственные культуры.

  English: Daily fluctuations in temperature affect agricultural crops.

• Русские: Ежедневный журнал помогает отслеживать прогресс в учёбе.

  English: A daily journal helps track progress in studies.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Дневной' and 'ежедневный' follow standard first-declension adjective patterns, while 'суточный' is similar but less common.

These adjectives do not have irregular inflections; they follow standard rules. If the word is used as an adverb (e.g., 'дневно'), it remains unchanged.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дневной - Similar to 'суточный' in technical contexts, but more general.
  • ежедневный - Often interchangeable with 'повседневный' for daily routines.
• Antonyms:
  • ночной (nochnoy) - Meaning 'nocturnal' or night-related.
  • редкий (redkiy) - For infrequent events, contrasting with daily frequency.

Related Phrases:

• Дневной свет - Daylight; used in contexts describing natural illumination.
• Ежедневный рацион - Daily diet; refers to regular meal plans.
• Суточный цикл - Daily cycle; common in biology or health discussions, meaning a 24-hour period.

Usage Notes:

'Diurnal' corresponds most directly to 'дневной' in biological contexts, but for everyday 'daily' meanings, 'ежедневный' is preferred. Be mindful of formality: 'суточный' is more technical and suits scientific writing, while 'дневной' works in general descriptions. In Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, so always inflect accordingly. When choosing between translations, select based on context—e.g., use 'ежедневный' for schedules and 'дневной' for natural phenomena.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'дневной' incorrectly in non-biological contexts, e.g., saying "дневной работа" instead of "ежедневная работа". Correct: "Ежедневная работа" (Daily work). Explanation: 'Дневной' implies daytime activity, not regularity, leading to confusion.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "дневной животные" instead of "дневные животные". Correct: Always match case, number, and gender, as in "дневные животные". Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with their nouns, unlike in English where 'diurnal' remains unchanged.

• Error: Confusing with 'ночной', e.g., mistakenly using 'дневной' for night activities. Correct: Use 'ночной' for nocturnal. Explanation: This mix-up often stems from direct translation without considering opposites.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'дневной' (diurnal) often tie into traditional folklore, where animals are depicted as diurnal or nocturnal to symbolize human traits—e.g., owls as wise nocturnal creatures in stories. This reflects a broader Slavic emphasis on nature's rhythms in literature and daily life, such as in seasonal festivals that align with daily cycles.

Related Concepts:

• ночной
• цикл
• биологические ритмы