Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'farming'

English Word: farming

Key Russian Translations:

• сельское хозяйство [sɛlʲskəje xɐzʲajstvə] - [Formal, General use in economic or agricultural contexts]
• фермерство [fʲɛrmʲɪrstvə] - [Informal or specific to small-scale farming operations]
• земледелие [zʲɪmlʲɪdʲɛlʲɪje] - [Formal, Emphasizing cultivation and crop production]

Frequency: Medium - This term is commonly encountered in discussions about economics, rural life, or policy, but less so in everyday casual conversation.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Requires basic understanding of Russian noun phrases and vocabulary related to professions and industries. For 'фермерство', it may be slightly easier (A2 for beginners), while 'сельское хозяйство' could reach B2 due to its compound structure.

Pronunciation (Russian):

сельское хозяйство: [sɛlʲskəje xɐzʲajstvə]

фермерство: [fʲɛrmʲɪrstvə]

земледелие: [zʲɪmlʲɪdʲɛlʲɪje]

Note on сельское хозяйство: The stress falls on the first syllable of 'сельское' [sɛlʲskəje], and the 'х' in 'хозяйство' is a guttural sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'l' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The practice of agriculture, including cultivation, livestock, and land management.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сельское хозяйство - Used in formal contexts like government reports or academic discussions, referring to the broader agricultural sector.
• фермерство - Applied in informal or personal contexts, such as family farming or rural lifestyles.
• земледелие - Specific to crop farming, often in historical or scientific contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В России сельское хозяйство играет ключевую роль в экономике, особенно в регионах с плодородными почвами.

  In Russia, farming plays a key role in the economy, especially in regions with fertile soils.

• Мой дедушка посвятил жизнь фермерству, выращивая зерновые культуры на семейной земле.

  My grandfather dedicated his life to farming, growing grain crops on the family land.

• Современное земледелие использует передовые технологии для повышения урожайности.

  Modern farming employs advanced technologies to increase yields.

• Из-за климатических изменений сельское хозяйство в Сибири сталкивается с новыми вызовами.

  Due to climate change, farming in Siberia is facing new challenges.

• Молодые люди все реже выбирают фермерство как профессию в эпоху urbanization.

  Young people are increasingly avoiding farming as a profession in the era of urbanization.

Subsidiary meaning: The business or management of a farm.

Translation(s) & Context:

• фермерство - Informal, focusing on day-to-day farm operations.
• сельское хозяйство - Formal, when discussing business aspects.

Usage Examples:

• Управление фермерством требует знаний в области экологии и маркетинга.

  Managing farming requires knowledge in ecology and marketing.

• Сельское хозяйство как бизнес развивается благодаря государственным субсидиям.

  Farming as a business is growing thanks to government subsidies.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Сельское хозяйство' is a noun phrase where 'сельское' is an adjective and 'хозяйство' is a neuter noun. It follows standard Russian inflection patterns.

For 'фермерство' (neuter noun): It is mostly invariable in singular forms but can take plural as 'фермерства'. Example: Genitive - фермерства.

'Земледелие' (neuter noun): Follows regular neuter patterns, e.g., Genitive - земледелия.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • агрокультура - More technical, emphasizing agricultural culture.
  • аграрный сектор - Focuses on the agricultural sector as a whole.
• Antonyms:
  • промышленность - Refers to industry or manufacturing, contrasting with agricultural activities.
  • городская жизнь - Urban life, highlighting the opposition to rural farming.

Related Phrases:

• развитие сельского хозяйства - Development of farming; Used in policy contexts to discuss economic growth.
• современное земледелие - Modern farming; Refers to innovative agricultural practices.
• семейное фермерство - Family farming; Implies small-scale, hereditary operations with cultural ties.

Usage Notes:

When translating 'farming' to Russian, choose 'сельское хозяйство' for broad, formal contexts like economics or national policy, as it captures the systemic aspects. 'Фермерство' is better for personal or small-business scenarios, while 'земледелие' suits discussions on cultivation techniques. Be mindful of gender and number agreements in sentences; for example, adjectives like 'сельское' must agree with the noun. In informal speech, Russians might use these interchangeably, but in writing, precision is key to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'сельское хозяйство' with 'сельская местность' (rural areas) - Error: Using it to mean just countryside living. Correct: 'Сельское хозяйство' specifically refers to agricultural activities, not geography. Example of error: "Я живу в сельском хозяйстве" (incorrect); Correct: "Я живу в сельской местности" for "I live in the countryside".
• Misinflecting nouns - Error: Saying 'сельского хозяйства' in nominative cases. Correct: Use the proper case, e.g., in genitive for possession. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook.
• Overgeneralizing translations - Error: Assuming 'фермерство' always means large-scale farming. Correct: It can include small farms; use context to differentiate from 'промышленное земледелие' for industrial agriculture.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'сельское хозяйство' evoke historical significance, such as the Soviet-era collective farms (kolkhozy), which shaped rural life and economy. Farming is often romanticized in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy) as a symbol of resilience and connection to the land, but it also reflects modern challenges like urbanization and climate change in Russia.

Related Concepts:

• ферма
• урожай
• агрономия
• сельский