Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'foresight'

English Word: foresight

Key Russian Translations:

• предвидение /prʲɪdˈvʲidʲɪnʲjə/ - [Formal, often used in philosophical or scientific contexts]
• предусмотрительность /prʲɪdusmɐtʲrʲɪˈtʲɛlnəsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, emphasizing careful planning and prudence]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, business discussions, and everyday planning contexts, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections; for 'предвидение', it's straightforward, but 'предусмотрительность' may vary slightly in nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

предвидение: /prʲɪdˈvʲidʲɪnʲjə/

Note on предвидение: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ви'), which can be challenging for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronounce with a soft 'д' sound.

предусмотрительность: /prʲɪdusmɐtʲrʲɪˈtʲɛlnəsʲtʲ/

Note on предусмотрительность: Stress on the fourth syllable ('тель'); the word is longer and involves palatalized consonants, making it a good exercise for intermediate learners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The ability to predict what will happen or be needed in the future.

Translation(s) & Context:

• предвидение - Used in formal contexts like philosophy, science, or personal insight, where foresight implies innate or intuitive prediction.
• предусмотрительность - Applied in practical scenarios, such as business or daily life, emphasizing proactive planning and caution.

Usage Examples:

• Его предвидение помогло компании избежать кризиса.

  His foresight helped the company avoid the crisis. (Demonstrates use in a business context with a direct object.)

• В литературе предвидение часто ассоциируется с пророческими видениями.

  In literature, foresight is often associated with prophetic visions. (Shows usage in an abstract, cultural discussion.)

• Благодаря предусмотрительности родителей, дети были готовы к неожиданностям.

  Thanks to the parents' foresight, the children were prepared for surprises. (Illustrates practical application in family scenarios.)

• Политическое предвидение лидера спасло страну от ошибок прошлого.

  The leader's foresight saved the country from past mistakes. (Highlights use in historical or political contexts.)

• Ее предусмотрительность в инвестициях принесла значительную прибыль.

  Her foresight in investments yielded significant profit. (Emphasizes financial planning, showing variation in word choice.)

Alternative meaning: Prudent planning or caution in advance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• предусмотрительность - Common in everyday contexts involving risk management or strategic decisions.

Usage Examples:

• Предусмотрительность в путешествиях включает запас еды и медикаментов.

  Foresight in traveling includes stocking up on food and medications. (Focuses on practical preparation.)

• Без должной предусмотрительности проект потерпел неудачу.

  Without proper foresight, the project failed. (Demonstrates negative outcomes in a professional setting.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'предвидение' and 'предусмотрительность' are feminine nouns in Russian, following standard inflection patterns for abstract concepts. They are invariable in some forms but change according to case and number.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular inflections; they follow the standard third declension for feminine nouns. In plural forms, they are rarely used due to their abstract nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: прозорливость (prozorlivost' - emphasizes insight with a subtle connotation of wisdom); интуиция (intuiciya - focuses on instinctive understanding, often less formal)
• Antonyms: слепота (slepota - blindness, implying a lack of awareness); невежество (nevezhestvo - ignorance, highlighting intellectual shortfall)

Related Phrases:

• Дальнее предвидение - Long-term foresight; Meaning: Refers to planning for distant future events, commonly used in strategic discussions.
• Предусмотрительность в действии - Foresight in action; Meaning: Describes practical application of caution in real-time scenarios, often in motivational contexts.
• Потеря предвидения - Loss of foresight; Meaning: Indicates a failure to anticipate, typically in reflective or critical analyses.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'предвидение' closely aligns with the English 'foresight' in terms of predicting future events, but it's more formal and often implies a deeper, almost prophetic quality. Use 'предусмотрительность' for contexts involving proactive planning, as it carries a nuance of prudence that mirrors English 'forethought'. Be mindful of grammatical gender (feminine) and case changes in sentences. When choosing between translations, opt for 'предвидение' in abstract or intellectual discussions and 'предусмотрительность' in practical ones. Avoid direct word-for-word translations; instead, consider the context to ensure natural flow.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'предвидение' with 'предсказание' (prediction), which is more about explicit forecasts. Correct: Use 'предвидение' for innate ability, e.g., Incorrect: "Его предсказание спасло компанию" (His prediction saved the company) – Better: "Его предвидение спасло компанию" (His foresight saved the company). Explanation: 'Предсказание' implies a specific prophecy, while 'предвидение' suggests broader insight.

• Error: Forgetting noun inflections, such as using nominative in all cases. Correct: In genitive contexts, say "благодаря предвидению" instead of "благодаря предвидение". Explanation: This can make sentences grammatically incorrect and sound unnatural to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'предвидение' often appears in literature and folklore, such as in works by Dostoevsky or Pushkin, where it symbolizes prophetic wisdom or mystical insight. This reflects a historical fascination with fate and destiny in Russian society, differing from Western views that emphasize practical planning over intuition.

Related Concepts:

• интуиция
• прозорливость
• предчувствие