Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fragility'

English Word: fragility

Key Russian Translations:

• хрупкость /xrupkəsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, often used in scientific or material contexts]
• уязвимость /uˈjɑzvʲɪməsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, Informal; used for emotional or abstract vulnerability]

Frequency: Medium - Commonly encountered in technical, medical, or everyday discussions about materials and emotions, but not in casual small talk.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for 'хрупкость'; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for 'уязвимость' - Learners at this level should grasp basic noun inflections and contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

хрупкость: /xrupkəsʲtʲ/ - The 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'.

уязвимость: /uˈjɑzvʲɪməsʲtʲ/ - Stress on the second syllable; note the palatalized 'зв' sound, which can be tricky for beginners.

Note on хрупкость: Be careful with the initial 'х' sound, as it's not present in English; it may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on уязвимость: The word can have a softer pronunciation in poetic contexts, emphasizing emotional nuance.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state of being easily broken or damaged (physical fragility)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хрупкость - Used in contexts involving materials, objects, or physical structures, such as in engineering or daily life (e.g., describing glassware).

Usage Examples:

• Эта хрупкость стекла делает его идеальным для художественных инсталляций, но не для повседневного использования.

  This fragility of glass makes it ideal for artistic installations but not for everyday use.

• Из-за хрупкости керамики, её нужно аккуратно упаковывать перед транспортировкой.

  Due to the fragility of ceramics, it needs to be packed carefully before transportation.

• Хрупкость старых книг требует специальных условий хранения в библиотеках.

  The fragility of old books requires special storage conditions in libraries.

• В архитектуре хрупкость материалов часто балансируется с прочностью для создания устойчивых конструкций.

  In architecture, the fragility of materials is often balanced with durability to create stable structures.

The state of being emotionally or psychologically vulnerable (abstract fragility)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уязвимость - Applied in psychological, emotional, or social contexts, such as in therapy or relationships (e.g., describing personal weaknesses).

Usage Examples:

• Её уязвимость в отношениях проявилась после потери близкого человека.

  Her fragility in relationships became evident after the loss of a loved one.

• Дети часто показывают уязвимость в новых социальных ситуациях, что требует поддержки от взрослых.

  Children often display fragility in new social situations, which requires support from adults.

• Уязвимость лидера может быть силой, если она приводит к эмпатии и лучшему пониманию команды.

  A leader's fragility can be a strength if it leads to empathy and better understanding of the team.

• В психологии уязвимость рассматривается как часть человеческой природы, а не как слабость.

  In psychology, fragility is viewed as part of human nature, not as a weakness.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'хрупкость' and 'уязвимость' are feminine nouns in Russian, following the standard first declension pattern. They are abstract nouns and do not change in the nominative singular form but inflect based on case, number, and gender agreements.

These nouns are regular and follow standard patterns, with no irregular inflections. Always ensure agreement with adjectives and verbs based on gender and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ломкость (lomkost') - Similar to 'хрупкость' but implies more brittleness in materials.
  • неустойчивость (neustoichivost') - Used for instability, often interchangeable with 'уязвимость' in emotional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • прочность (prochnost') - Directly opposes physical fragility, meaning durability.
  • устойчивость (ustoichivost') - Opposes abstract fragility, implying resilience or stability.

Related Phrases:

• Хрупкий материал - A fragile material; refers to substances that break easily, common in manufacturing contexts.
• Эмоциональная уязвимость - Emotional fragility; used in psychology to describe susceptibility to stress.
• Хрупкость жизни - The fragility of life; a poetic phrase often in literature to highlight life's impermanence.

Usage Notes:

'Хрупкость' best matches the physical aspect of 'fragility' in English, while 'уязвимость' aligns more with emotional or metaphorical uses. In formal Russian writing, prefer 'хрупкость' for tangible objects and 'уязвимость' for abstract concepts. Be mindful of context: in scientific texts, these words require precise case agreements. When choosing between translations, consider the audience—'уязвимость' might sound more sophisticated in interpersonal discussions. Avoid direct word-for-word translations; instead, adapt based on the sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'хрупкость' for emotional contexts, e.g., saying "Его хрупкость в отношениях" instead of "Его уязвимость в отношениях".
  Correct: 'Уязвимость' is more appropriate for emotions. Explanation: 'Хрупкость' implies physical breakage, leading to confusion in non-literal uses.
• Mistake: Incorrect inflection, e.g., using nominative 'хрупкость' in genitive contexts like "из-за хрупкость" instead of "из-за хрупкости".
  Correct: Always inflect to 'хрупкости' in genitive. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook, resulting in grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'уязвимость' often carry a deeper philosophical connotation, influenced by literature (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works, emotional fragility is portrayed as a path to redemption). This reflects a cultural emphasis on introspection and resilience in the face of adversity, differing from more pragmatic Western views of fragility.

Related Concepts:

• прочность (durability)
• устойчивость (resilience)
• ломкость (brittleness)