Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'existential'

English Word: existential

Key Russian Translations:

• экзистенциальный [ɪk.zɪs.tɛn.t͡sʲi.ˈalʲ.nɨj] - [Formal, Philosophical context]

Frequency: Low (This term is primarily used in academic, philosophical, or literary discussions and is not common in everyday conversation.)

Difficulty: Advanced (C1-C2, suitable for learners with a strong grasp of Russian grammar and vocabulary, as it involves abstract concepts and adjective declensions.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

экзистенциальный: [ɪk.zɪs.tɛn.t͡sʲi.ˈalʲ.nɨj]

Note on экзистенциальный: The stress falls on the penultimate syllable (-alʲ-), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants (e.g., 'tsʲ'). Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to existence, often in a philosophical sense (e.g., pertaining to the nature of being or existentialism).

Translation(s) & Context:

• экзистенциальный - Used in formal discussions of philosophy, literature, or psychology to describe concepts tied to human existence and meaning.

Usage Examples:

• Экзистенциальный кризис часто возникает в периоды значительных жизненных изменений.

  An existential crisis often arises during periods of significant life changes.

• В его книгах исследуются экзистенциальные вопросы бытия и свободы.

  In his books, existential questions of being and freedom are explored.

• Экзистенциальный подход к психологии фокусируется на индивидуальном опыте.

  The existential approach to psychology focuses on individual experience.

• Этот фильм затрагивает экзистенциальные темы, такие как смерть и бессмысленность.

  This film addresses existential themes such as death and meaninglessness.

• Экзистенциальный анализ помогает понять, как люди справляются с тревогой.

  Existential analysis helps understand how people cope with anxiety.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Экзистенциальный is an adjective in Russian, which means it follows the standard rules for adjective declension. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. This word is not irregular but requires attention to its full form and endings.

Note: This adjective does not have short forms, as it is a qualitative adjective derived from a foreign root.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • существенный (sushchestvennyy) - More general, meaning essential or substantial, but can overlap in philosophical contexts.
  • бытийный (bytijnyy) - Specifically related to existence, often used in ontological discussions; less common than экзистенциальный.
• Antonyms:
  • несущественный (nesushchestvennyy) - Meaning insignificant or trivial.
  • поверхностный (poverkhnostnyy) - Implies superficial, contrasting with deep existential inquiry.

Related Phrases:

• Экзистенциальный кризис (Ekzistentsial'nyy krizis) - Refers to a period of intense questioning of life's purpose; often used in psychological contexts.
• Экзистенциальная философия (Ekzistentsial'naya filosofiya) - Means existential philosophy; commonly discussed in academic settings.
• Экзистенциальные вопросы (Ekzistentsial'nye voprosy) - Denotes existential questions; used when exploring fundamental human dilemmas.

Usage Notes:

• Экзистенциальный directly corresponds to the English "existential" in philosophical contexts but is rarely used in casual speech. English learners should note that Russian often prefers native equivalents like "бытийный" for broader discussions of existence.
• It is typically formal and academic; avoid using in everyday conversations to prevent sounding overly pretentious.
• When choosing between translations, opt for экзистенциальный when discussing Western philosophy (e.g., Sartre), but use существенный for more general importance.
• Grammatically, always decline it to match the noun it modifies, as Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using the word without proper declension, e.g., saying "экзистенциальный вопрос" in all cases instead of changing to "экзистенциального вопроса" in genitive.
  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "в экзистенциальном кризисе" (in an existential crisis).
  Explanation: Russian requires adjectives to inflect, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for learners.
• Mistake: Confusing it with "существенный," leading to misuse in philosophical contexts, e.g., translating "existential dread" as "существенный страх" instead of "экзистенциальный страх."
  Correct: Use экзистенциальный for existentialist themes.
  Explanation: These words have overlapping meanings, but экзистенциальный is more precise for philosophical nuance.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, existential themes are prominent in literature and philosophy, influenced by figures like Dostoevsky and later Soviet thinkers. The word экзистенциальный often evokes Western existentialism (e.g., Camus, Nietzsche), which was adapted in Russia during the 20th century, reflecting themes of individual freedom amid historical turmoil like the Soviet era.

Related Concepts:

• абсурд (absurd) - Referring to the absurdity of life in existential philosophy.
• свобода (svoboda) - Freedom, a key concept in existentialism.
• бытие (bytie) - Being or existence, often discussed alongside existential ideas.