Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'expectation'

English Word: expectation

Key Russian Translations:

• ожидание (/ɐʐɨˈdanʲɪjə/) - [Formal, Noun, Used in general contexts]
• предположение (/prʲɪd.pɐˈlɔʐənʲɪjə/) - [Informal, Noun, Used for assumptions or hypotheses]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversation, literature, and professional settings, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic sentence structures. For "ожидание", it's straightforward; for "предположение", it may vary slightly due to its abstract nature).

Pronunciation (Russian):

ожидание: /ɐʐɨˈdanʲɪjə/

предположение: /prʲɪd.pɐˈlɔʐənʲɪjə/

Note on ожидание: The stress falls on the third syllable, and the 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers—similar to the 's' in "measure".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The act of expecting something to happen (e.g., anticipation or waiting).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ожидание - Used in formal or neutral contexts, such as describing waiting for an event or outcome.
• предположение - Less common for pure anticipation; used when implying a guess or expectation based on evidence.

Usage Examples:

• Я с нетерпением жду этого ожидания, так как это мой первый визит в Москву.

  I am eagerly awaiting this expectation, as it's my first visit to Moscow.

• Его ожидание новостей от друга длилось несколько дней.

  His expectation of news from his friend lasted several days.

• В предположении, что погода будет хорошей, мы планируем пикник.

  In the expectation that the weather will be good, we're planning a picnic.

• Ожидание праздника всегда наполняет дом атмосферой радости.

  The expectation of the holiday always fills the house with an atmosphere of joy.

Meaning 2: Something that is expected, such as a belief or standard (e.g., societal norms).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ожидание - Applied in contexts involving social or personal standards, often with a sense of obligation.
• предположение - Used for hypothetical or inferred expectations, like in scientific or everyday assumptions.

Usage Examples:

• Социальное ожидание требует, чтобы люди были пунктуальными.

  Social expectation requires people to be punctual.

• Его предположение о повышении зарплаты не оправдалось.

  His expectation of a salary raise did not come true.

• В этой культуре ожидание семьи играет ключевую роль в жизни.

  In this culture, the expectation of family plays a key role in life.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "ожидание" and "предположение" are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard neuter declension patterns. They are regular and do not have irregular forms.

Note: These nouns do not change in gender but inflect based on case and number as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ожидание: ожидание (exact synonym), предвкушение (with a sense of excitement)
  • предположение: гипотеза (more scientific), домысл (informal, implying speculation)
• Antonyms:
  • For ожидание: разочарование (disappointment)
  • For предположение: уверенность (certainty)

Related Phrases:

• В состоянии ожидания - In a state of expectation (Used to describe suspenseful waiting).
• Ложное предположение - False expectation (Common in discussions of mistakes or deceptions).
• Ожидание чуда - Expectation of a miracle (Often in literary or emotional contexts).

Usage Notes:

"Ожидание" directly corresponds to the general sense of "expectation" in English, making it the most versatile translation, while "предположение" is better for intellectual or hypothetical scenarios. Be mindful of context: in formal Russian, use "ожидание" with prepositions like "в ожидании" (in expectation of). For beginners, note that Russian nouns require case agreement, so always adjust based on sentence structure. When choosing between translations, opt for "ожидание" in everyday situations and "предположение" in analytical ones.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "ожидание" interchangeably with "предположение" without considering context. For example, English learners might say "Мое предположение праздника" (incorrect) instead of "Мое ожидание праздника".
  Correct: "Мое ожидание праздника" – Explanation: "Предположение" implies a guess, not simple anticipation.
• Mistake: Forgetting noun declensions, e.g., saying "в ожидание" (incorrect genitive) instead of "в ожидании" (correct prepositional case).
  Correct: "В ожидании" – Explanation: Proper case usage ensures grammatical accuracy in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "ожидание" often carries a deeper emotional weight, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where waiting symbolizes life's uncertainties. This reflects the historical context of Russia's long winters and periods of anticipation for change, helping users appreciate how expectations are portrayed in Russian art and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• надежда (hope)
• разочарование (disappointment)
• предвидение (foresight)