Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'empathy'

English Word: empathy

Key Russian Translations:

• эмпатия (/ɛmˈpatʲɪjə/) - [Formal, Psychological context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in psychological, educational, and modern discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with abstract concepts and loanwords from English)

Pronunciation (Russian):

эмпатия: /ɛmˈpatʲɪjə/

Note on эмпатия: The stress is on the second syllable ('pat'). Be mindful of the palatalized 't' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers learning Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.

Translation(s) & Context:

• эмпатия - Used in formal or professional contexts, such as psychology, therapy, or interpersonal communication, to describe emotional resonance with others.

Usage Examples:

• В психологии эмпатия играет ключевую роль в построении доверительных отношений.

  In psychology, empathy plays a key role in building trusting relationships.

• Её эмпатия помогла ему преодолеть трудности.

  Her empathy helped him overcome difficulties.

• Развитие эмпатии у детей начинается с раннего возраста через игры и общение.

  The development of empathy in children begins at an early age through games and communication.

• В повседневной жизни эмпатия может проявляться в простых актах доброты.

  In everyday life, empathy can manifest in simple acts of kindness.

• Без эмпатии конфликт может усугубиться, но с ней диалог становится конструктивным.

  Without empathy, a conflict can escalate, but with it, dialogue becomes constructive.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

эмпатия is a feminine noun (from Greek via English loanword) and follows standard Russian declension patterns for first-declension nouns. It is invariable in plural forms in most contexts but changes by case in singular. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: As a loanword, it may not always follow strict inflection in informal usage, but the above is standard.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сопереживание (soperzhivanie) - More emotional and instinctive, often used in literary contexts.
  • сочувствие (sochuvstvie) - Similar but can imply pity, which is a subtle difference from pure empathy.
• Antonyms:
  • безразличие (bezrazlichie) - Indifference, lacking any emotional connection.
  • эгоизм (egoizm) - Selfishness, focusing solely on one's own feelings.

Related Phrases:

• иметь эмпатию (imat' empatiyu) - To have empathy; used to describe possessing the trait.
• проявлять эмпатию (proyavlyat' empatiyu) - To show empathy; common in discussions about behavior.
• эмпатия к другим (empatiya k drugim) - Empathy towards others; emphasizes directionality in relationships.

Usage Notes:

Эмпатия directly corresponds to the English "empathy" as a psychological concept, often borrowed from Western psychology. It is typically used in formal or academic settings rather than casual conversation. Unlike "sympathy" (сочувствие), which may involve pity, эмпатия focuses on shared understanding. When choosing translations, opt for эмпатия in professional contexts; be aware of its feminine gender in Russian sentences. For example, always use appropriate adjectives and verbs agreeing with it (e.g., "большая эмпатия" for "great empathy").

Common Errors:

• Confusing empathy with sympathy: English learners might use "эмпатия" interchangeably with "сочувствие," but this can alter the meaning. Incorrect: "Я испытываю эмпатию к его успеху" (implying shared joy inappropriately). Correct: "Я испытываю эмпатию к его страданиям" – Empathy is better for emotional alignment in distress.

• Forgetting gender agreement: As a feminine noun, errors like "большой эмпатия" (should be "большая эмпатия") are common. This disrupts sentence grammar.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, эмпатия is a relatively modern concept, influenced by Western psychology and literature. It gained prominence in the 20th century through translations of Freud and other thinkers. However, traditional Russian values emphasize collective empathy in community settings, such as in literature by authors like Tolstoy, where deep emotional understanding is portrayed as a moral virtue.

Related Concepts:

• сочувствие (sympathy)
• сопереживание (emotional resonance)
• компассия (compassion)