Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'failure'

English Word: failure

Key Russian Translations:

• неудача /nʲɪˈudətɕə/ - [Informal, General use]
• провал /prɐˈval/ - [Formal, Often implies complete failure]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and literature, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp the concept with practice, as it involves understanding noun inflections and contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неудача: /nʲɪˈudətɕə/

Note on неудача: The initial 'н' is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like "nyuh-DAH-chuh". Stress is on the second syllable.

провал: /prɐˈval/

Note on провал: Pronounce with a rolled 'р' if possible; stress on the second syllable, common in formal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The fact of not achieving success or the state of failing

Translation(s) & Context:

• неудача - Used in everyday contexts for minor failures, such as in personal or professional setbacks.
• провал - Applied in more serious or formal contexts, like project failures or exams.

Usage Examples:

• Эта неудача не должна остановить тебя от дальнейших попыток.

  This failure shouldn't stop you from further attempts.

• После провала эксперимента ученые внесли необходимые изменения.

  After the failure of the experiment, the scientists made the necessary changes.

• Неудача в бизнесе часто приводит к новым идеям.

  Failure in business often leads to new ideas.

• Его провал на экзамене был неожиданным для всех.

  His failure in the exam was unexpected for everyone.

Meaning 2: A person or thing that is not successful

Translation(s) & Context:

• неудача - Informally refers to a person as a failure, though this can be pejorative.
• провал - Less common for people; more for things or events.

Usage Examples:

• Он считает себя неудачей из-за потери работы.

  He considers himself a failure because of losing his job.

• Эта машина – сплошной провал; она постоянно ломается.

  This car is a total failure; it keeps breaking down.

• Неудача как личность часто недооценивает свои способности.

  A failure as a person often underestimates their abilities.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'неудача' and 'провал' are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow the standard feminine declension patterns. 'Неудача' is irregular in some forms due to its structure, while 'провал' is more straightforward.

Plural forms exist but are less common; for example, 'неудачи' (nominative plural). These nouns do not change for gender but must agree in case with other words in the sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ошибка (oshibka) - More neutral, implies a mistake rather than a complete failure.
  • крах (krah) - Similar to провал, for catastrophic failure; often used in economic contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • успех (uspekh) - Success, direct opposite in achievement contexts.
  • победа (pobeda) - Victory, especially in competitive or historical scenarios.

Related Phrases:

• Страх неудачи (Strakh neudachi) - Fear of failure; a common psychological concept in Russian culture.
• Полный провал (Polnyy proval) - Total failure; emphasizes complete unsuccess.
• Извлечь урок из неудачи (Izvlech' urok iz neudachi) - To learn from failure; a motivational phrase.

Usage Notes:

'Неудача' is the most straightforward translation for everyday 'failure' and is versatile across contexts, while 'провал' carries a stronger connotation of defeat. English speakers should note that Russian nouns require case agreement, so 'failure' might change based on sentence structure (e.g., genitive for possession). Choose 'неудача' for informal settings and 'провал' for formal or dramatic ones to match tone accurately.

• In idiomatic expressions, 'неудача' often pairs with verbs like 'испытывать' (to experience).
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; consider the emotional weight in Russian communication.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'неудача' with 'неудачник' (a person who is a failure) - Error: Using 'неудача' to describe a person directly. Correct: Use 'неудачник' for people; e.g., Incorrect: "Он неудача." Correct: "Он неудачник." Explanation: 'Неудача' is a noun for the event, not the person.
• Misapplying cases - Error: Saying "из неудача" instead of "из неудачи" (genitive). Correct: "Из неудачи я выучил урок." Explanation: Russian requires the correct case for prepositions, which English speakers often overlook.
• Overusing 'провал' - Error: Using 'провал' for minor failures. Correct: Reserve it for significant events; e.g., Incorrect: "Мой ужин был провал." Correct: "Мой ужин был неудачей." Explanation: This maintains appropriate intensity in language.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'неудача' is often viewed through a lens of resilience, influenced by historical events like the Great Patriotic War, where failures led to eventual victories. Phrases like 'из неудачи в успех' (from failure to success) reflect a cultural emphasis on learning from setbacks rather than dwelling on them, as seen in literature by authors like Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• успех (uspekh)
• ошибка (oshibka)
• кризис (krizis)