Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fault'

English Word: fault

Key Russian Translations:

• ошибка [ɐˈʂɨbkə] - [Informal, Common in everyday contexts]
• вина [ˈvʲinə] - [Formal, Legal or moral contexts]
• разлом [rɐˈzɫom] - [Technical, Geological contexts]
• дефект [dʲɪˈfʲɛkt] - [Technical, Engineering contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word 'fault' and its translations are commonly used in daily conversations, literature, and technical fields, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp basic usages, but understanding nuances and inflections requires familiarity with Russian grammar. For 'разлом' and 'дефект', difficulty may rise to B2 due to specialized contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ошибка: [ɐˈʂɨbkə]

вина: [ˈvʲinə]

разлом: [rɐˈzɫom]

дефект: [dʲɪˈfʲɛkt]

Note on ошибка: The 'ш' sound ([ʂ]) can be challenging for English speakers, as it's a retroflex fricative; practice with minimal pairs like 'шапка' vs. 'сапка'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A mistake or error (e.g., in behavior or judgment)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ошибка - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as personal errors in speech or actions.
• вина - Applied in formal or legal contexts, implying moral responsibility or blame.

Usage Examples:

• Я допустил ошибку в расчётах.

  I made a mistake in the calculations. (This example shows 'ошибка' in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting everyday errors.)

• Его вина в том, что он не проверил документы.

  His fault is that he didn't check the documents. (Here, 'вина' is used in a formal context to assign blame.)

• Из-за этой ошибки проект задержался.

  Because of this fault, the project was delayed. (Demonstrates 'ошибка' in a causal structure.)

• Не стоит перекладывать вину на других.

  Don't shift the fault onto others. (Illustrates 'вина' in an idiomatic expression.)

• Моя ошибка стоила мне работы.

  My fault cost me my job. (Shows 'ошибка' in a consequence-based sentence.)

A defect or flaw (e.g., in an object or system)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дефект - Common in technical or mechanical contexts, such as product manufacturing.
• разлом - Specific to geological or structural faults, like in earthquakes.

Usage Examples:

• Этот дефект в машине сделал её небезопасной.

  This fault in the car made it unsafe. (This example uses 'дефект' in a descriptive context for mechanical issues.)

• Геологи изучили разлом в земле.

  Geologists studied the fault in the ground. (Shows 'разлом' in a scientific setting.)

• Из-за дефекта продукта пришлось отозвать партию.

  Due to the fault in the product, the batch had to be recalled. (Illustrates 'дефект' in a business or quality control scenario.)

• Разлом вызвал землетрясение.

  The fault caused the earthquake. (Demonstrates 'разлом' in a causal geological context.)

• Обнаружили дефект в конструкции моста.

  They found a fault in the bridge's design. (Shows 'дефект' with structural implications.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'ошибка' (feminine noun):

It follows the standard first declension pattern for Russian nouns. Note its inflections for case and number:

For 'вина' (feminine noun): Similar to 'ошибка', it is inflected regularly, but often used in fixed expressions.

For 'разлом' (masculine noun): Follows second declension; e.g., Genitive: разлома, Plural: разломы.

For 'дефект' (masculine noun): Generally uninflected in informal use but follows standard patterns; e.g., Genitive: дефекта.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • погрешность (slight error, often in measurements; more precise than ошибка)
  • недостаток (flaw or shortcoming, especially in character or objects)
• Antonyms:
  • правильность (correctness)
  • безупречность (flawlessness)

Related Phrases:

• Сделать ошибку - To make a mistake; often used in reflective or apologetic contexts.
• Принять вину - To accept fault; implies taking responsibility in interpersonal situations.
• Геологический разлом - Geological fault; a technical phrase in earth sciences.
• Исправить дефект - To fix a fault; common in engineering or repair scenarios.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'fault' corresponds most directly to 'ошибка' in casual settings, but 'вина' is preferred when emphasizing moral or legal accountability, similar to 'guilt' in English. Be mindful of context: in technical fields, 'разлом' or 'дефект' are more appropriate. Russian nouns like these decline by case, so always adjust for grammar (e.g., use accusative for direct objects). When choosing between translations, opt for 'ошибка' for everyday errors and 'вина' for formal blame to ensure natural expression.

Common Errors:

• Confusing case inflections: English learners often forget to change 'ошибка' to 'ошибку' in accusative sentences, e.g., Incorrect: "Я вижу ошибка" (wrong); Correct: "Я вижу ошибку" – This error stems from English's lack of cases, leading to awkward phrasing.
• Overusing 'вина' informally: Beginners might use 'вина' where 'ошибка' is sufficient, e.g., Incorrect: "Моя вина в том, что я опоздал на пять минут" (too formal); Correct: "Моя ошибка в том, что я опоздал" – Explanation: 'вина' implies deeper culpability, so reserve it for serious contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, admitting 'вина' (fault) is often tied to concepts of collective responsibility and honor, as seen in literature like Dostoevsky's works. For instance, 'ошибка' might be downplayed in social interactions to maintain harmony, reflecting the cultural value of avoiding direct confrontation.

Related Concepts:

• правило (rule)
• ответственность (responsibility)
• исправление (correction)