Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'graft'

English Word: graft

Key Russian Translations:

• Взятка /vzɪˈtka/ - [Informal, often used in everyday contexts for bribery]
• Коррупция /kɐrʊpˈtsɨjə/ - [Formal, referring to systemic corruption]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of politics, business, and law, but not everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of ethical and legal contexts, with some variations in formality)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Взятка: /vzɪˈtka/

Note on Взятка: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the 'з' sound, which is voiced and similar to the English 'z'. This word has a soft 'т' in some regional accents.

Audio: []

Коррупция: /kɐrʊpˈtsɨjə/

Note on Коррупция: Stress on the third syllable; the 'р' is rolled, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations may occur in faster speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Bribery or illegal financial gain (e.g., in politics or business)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Взятка - Used in informal or direct accusations of bribe-taking, such as in criminal investigations or media reports.
• Коррупция - Applied in formal contexts like legal documents or academic discussions to describe widespread corrupt practices.

Usage Examples:

• Он был пойман на взятке от бизнесмена.

  He was caught taking a graft from the businessman.

• Взятка часто используется для ускорения бюрократических процессов в некоторых странах.

  Graft is often used to speed up bureaucratic processes in some countries.

• Коррупция в правительстве подрывает доверие общества.

  Graft in the government undermines public trust.

• Чтобы избежать взятки, многие компании теперь используют прозрачные процедуры.

  To avoid graft, many companies now use transparent procedures.

Meaning 2: Medical or botanical grafting (less common for this word, but possible in specialized contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Прививка - Used in medical or agricultural contexts for tissue or plant grafting, though not the primary translation for 'graft' in ethical senses.

Usage Examples:

• Прививка кожи была необходима после операции.

  A skin graft was necessary after the surgery.

• В садоводстве прививка помогает комбинировать разные сорта деревьев.

  In horticulture, graft helps combine different tree varieties.

• Несмотря на риск отторжения, прививка органов спасает жизни.

  Despite the risk of rejection, organ graft saves lives.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'Взятка' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

Note: This follows regular feminine noun patterns with no irregularities.

For 'Коррупция' (feminine noun, 1st declension, similar to above):

It is invariant in most forms and does not change significantly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Взяточничество (more specific to habitual bribery, often in legal contexts)
  • Хабар (slang for bribe, less formal)
• Antonyms:
  • Честность (honesty)
  • Прозрачность (transparency)

Related Phrases:

• Дать взятку - To give a bribe; often used in contexts of offering illegal payments.
• Борьба с коррупцией - Fight against corruption; a common phrase in political reform discussions.
• Коррупционный скандал - Corruption scandal; refers to high-profile cases of graft in media.

Usage Notes:

'Graft' in English often implies personal financial gain through dishonesty, which aligns closely with 'взятка' in informal Russian usage. However, 'коррупция' is more formal and encompasses broader systems of abuse. English learners should note the context: use 'взятка' for specific acts and 'коррупция' for institutional issues. Be mindful of the genitive case in phrases like "получение взятки" (receiving graft). In spoken Russian, these words carry strong negative connotations and are common in news or legal settings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'взятка' with 'прививка' (graft in medical sense) due to similar sounds. Correct: Use 'взятка' only for bribery; for medical grafting, say 'прививка'. Example of error: "Он сделал взятку на операции" (wrong); Correct: "Он сделал прививку на операции".

• Error: Forgetting case endings, e.g., using nominative 'взятка' in all contexts. Correct: In genitive, say 'взятки' as in "Обвиняемый в взятки" (Accused of graft). This can make sentences grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'взятка' and 'коррупция' are heavily associated with historical and modern issues, such as those under the Soviet era or contemporary anti-corruption campaigns led by figures like President Putin. They often evoke frustration with bureaucracy, highlighting a cultural emphasis on personal networks ('blat') as a workaround, which can sometimes blur ethical lines.

Related Concepts:

• Взяточничество
• Нечестность
• Прозрачность