Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'frailty'

English Word: frailty

Key Russian Translations:

• слабость [slɐˈbosʲtʲ] - [Formal, can be used in general contexts]
• хрупкость [xrʊpˈkostʲ] - [Informal, specifically for physical fragility]
• несовершенство [nʲɪsəvʲɪrʂʲɪnʲstvə] - [Formal, emphasizing moral or inherent flaws]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, medical, and philosophical discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves abstract concepts; for 'слабость' and 'хрупкость', it's straightforward, but 'несовершенство' may require B2 for nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

слабость: [slɐˈbosʲtʲ]

хрупкость: [xrʊpˈkostʲ]

несовершенство: [nʲɪsəvʲɪrʂʲɪnʲstvə]

Note on слабость: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 's' sound, which is common in Russian and may be challenging for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physical weakness or vulnerability (e.g., bodily frailty)

Translation(s) & Context:

• слабость - Used in medical or everyday contexts to describe physical debility, such as in health discussions.
• хрупкость - Applied in contexts involving fragility of objects or bodies, like in descriptions of health or materials.

Usage Examples:

• Его слабость проявилась после долгой болезни. (His frailty became evident after a long illness.)

  English: His frailty became evident after a long illness.

• Хрупкость костей у пожилых людей часто приводит к переломам. (The frailty of bones in elderly people often leads to fractures.)

  English: The frailty of bones in elderly people often leads to fractures.

• Из-за своей слабости он не смог завершить марафон. (Due to his frailty, he couldn't finish the marathon.)

  English: Due to his frailty, he couldn't finish the marathon.

• Хрупкость её здоровья заставила её избегать физических нагрузок. (The frailty of her health made her avoid physical exertion.)

  English: The frailty of her health made her avoid physical exertion.

• Слабость в мышцах – распространённый симптом переутомления. (Frailty in muscles is a common symptom of overexertion.)

  English: Frailty in muscles is a common symptom of overexertion.

Meaning 2: Moral or character weakness (e.g., emotional or ethical frailty)

Translation(s) & Context:

• слабость - Used in psychological or ethical contexts, such as describing character flaws.
• несовершенство - Employed in more formal or philosophical discussions of human imperfections.

Usage Examples:

• Его слабость характера проявилась в момент искушения. (His frailty of character showed in the moment of temptation.)

  English: His frailty of character showed in the moment of temptation.

• Несовершенство человеческой природы часто приводит к ошибкам. (The frailty of human nature often leads to mistakes.)

  English: The frailty of human nature often leads to mistakes.

• Слабость воли – это то, что мешает многим достигать целей. (Frailty of will is what prevents many from achieving goals.)

  English: Frailty of will is what prevents many from achieving goals.

• Несовершенство общества отражается в его слабостях. (The frailty of society is reflected in its imperfections.)

  English: The frailty of society is reflected in its imperfections.

• Её слабость в принятии решений стоила ей карьеры. (Her frailty in decision-making cost her her career.)

  English: Her frailty in decision-making cost her her career.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'слабость' (feminine noun, 3rd declension):

For 'хрупкость' (feminine noun, follows similar 3rd declension patterns):

For 'несовершенство' (neuter noun, 2nd declension): It has regular inflections with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • хрупкость (similar to 'frailty' but more physical)
  • несовершенство (implies broader imperfections, often in abstract contexts)
  • неустойчивость (emphasizes instability, a subtle variation for emotional frailty)
• Antonyms:
  • сила (strength)
  • прочность (durability)
  • совершенство (perfection)

Related Phrases:

• Физическая слабость – Physical frailty, often used in medical contexts to describe bodily weakness.
• Слабость характера – Frailty of character, referring to moral or personality flaws in psychological discussions.
• Хрупкость жизни – The frailty of life, a common phrase in literature to highlight life's vulnerability.

Usage Notes:

'Слабость' directly corresponds to 'frailty' in both physical and moral senses but is more versatile in Russian; use it in formal writing or conversations. 'Хрупкость' is better for tangible, physical contexts, while 'несовершенство' suits philosophical or ethical discussions. Be mindful of gender agreements in sentences, as these are feminine or neuter nouns. When choosing among translations, opt for 'слабость' for everyday English equivalents, but consider context to avoid overgeneralization.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'слабость' with 'болезнь' (illness), leading to incorrect usage like "Его слабость – это болезнь" instead of "Его слабость проявилась как симптом болезни". Correct: Use 'слабость' for weakness, not disease itself. Explanation: 'Слабость' implies a state, not a condition, so pair it with verbs like 'проявиться' for accuracy.

• Error: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., using nominative 'слабость' in genitive contexts like "из-за слабость" instead of "из-за слабости". Correct: Always inflect based on sentence structure. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'слабость' often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works), symbolizing human vulnerability and the struggle against fate. This reflects a broader philosophical tradition in Russia, where frailty is linked to themes of resilience and the human condition, contrasting with Western individualism.

Related Concepts:

• болезнь (illness)
• усталость (fatigue)
• неустойчивость (instability)