Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'harm'

English Word: harm

Key Russian Translations:

• вред [/vret/] - [Noun, Common; used in everyday contexts]
• вредить [/vrʲɪˈdʲitʲ/] - [Verb, Informal; used for causing damage or injury]
• ущерб [/ˈuʂːɨrp/] - [Noun, Formal; often in legal or financial contexts]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations are commonly encountered in daily conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, though nuances in inflections and contexts may require practice. For 'вредить' as a verb, it might be slightly more challenging due to verb conjugations.

Pronunciation (Russian):

вред: /vret/ - The 'в' is a voiced labiodental fricative, similar to 'v' in English "victory". Stress is on the first syllable.

Note on вред: Be mindful of the soft 'р' sound, which can be tricky for non-native speakers; it's a rolled 'r' with a slight palatalization.

вредить: /vrʲɪˈdʲitʲ/ - Stress on the second syllable; the 'й' at the end indicates an infinitive verb form.

ущерб: /ˈuʂːɨrp/ - The 'щ' is a voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative, pronounced like a prolonged 'sh' with a hiss.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: Physical, emotional, or environmental damage

Translation(s) & Context:

• вред - Used in general contexts like health, environment, or personal injury; common in informal and formal settings.
• ущерб - Applied in more formal or legal scenarios, such as financial loss or property damage.

Usage Examples:

• Курение наносит вред здоровью.

  Smoking causes harm to health.

• Этот инцидент причинил большой вред экосистеме.

  This incident caused significant harm to the ecosystem.

• Ущерб от пожара оценивается в миллионы рублей.

  The harm from the fire is estimated at millions of rubles.

• Эмоциональный вред от критики может быть долгосрочным.

  Emotional harm from criticism can be long-lasting.

• Вред окружающей среде от пластика накапливается годами.

  Harm to the environment from plastic accumulates over years.

As a verb: To cause damage or injury

Translation(s) & Context:

• вредить - Used for actions that negatively affect something or someone; versatile in everyday and professional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Слишком много сахара вредить зубам.

  Too much sugar harms teeth.

• Стресс может вредить твоему благополучию.

  Stress can harm your well-being.

• Эти химикаты вредить почве и растениям.

  These chemicals harm the soil and plants.

• Не вредить природе ради краткосрочной выгоды.

  Do not harm nature for short-term gain.

• Ложь вредить отношениям между людьми.

  Lying harms relationships between people.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'вред' (a masculine noun, 3rd declension):

It follows standard noun declension patterns. Note that it is invariable in plural forms in some contexts.

For 'вредить' (a verb, imperfective aspect):

It is a regular first-conjugation verb with standard endings. Conjugations vary by tense, person, and number.

For 'ущерб' (a masculine noun): It is largely invariable and follows similar patterns to 'вред', but is less commonly pluralized.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ущерб - Similar to 'harm' but with a financial or material connotation.
  • повреждение - Emphasizes physical damage, often used in medical or mechanical contexts.
  • вредоносность - Implies a harmful nature or quality.
• Antonyms:
  • польза - Benefit or advantage.
  • выгода - Gain or profit.

Related Phrases:

• причинить вред - To cause harm; used in legal or descriptive contexts. (e.g., in reports of accidents)
• нанести ущерб - To inflict damage; common in formal or official language. (e.g., in insurance claims)
• вред здоровью - Harm to health; a frequent phrase in public health discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Вред' directly corresponds to 'harm' as a noun and is neutral in tone, making it suitable for both spoken and written Russian. 'Вредить' as a verb aligns with 'to harm' and is often used in imperfective aspects to describe ongoing actions. Be cautious with context: in formal settings, opt for 'ущерб' to convey more serious or quantifiable harm. Russian verbs like 'вредить' require agreement in gender, number, and case, which differs from English. When choosing between translations, use 'вред' for everyday harm and 'ущерб' for economic or legal implications.

Common Errors:

• Confusing verb conjugations: English speakers might incorrectly say "вредить" as "вред" in verb form. Correct: Use full conjugation, e.g., "Я вредю" instead of the infinitive in sentences.
• Misusing cases: For example, saying "вред человек" instead of "вред человеку" (dative case for indirect objects). Error: "вред человек" (incorrect). Correct: "вред человеку" – Explanation: Nouns require proper declension based on their role in the sentence.
• Overgeneralizing: Learners might use 'вред' for all types of harm, ignoring 'ущерб' in formal contexts. Error: "Этот договор вредит компании" when 'ущерб' is more appropriate for financial harm. Correct: "Этот договор наносит ущерб компании" – This ensures precision in professional language.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'вред' often appear in discussions around environmental protection or health, reflecting historical emphasis on collective well-being during the Soviet era. For instance, anti-smoking campaigns frequently use 'вред здоровью' to highlight societal harms, underscoring the cultural value placed on community health over individual actions.

Related Concepts:

• опасность (danger)
• риск (risk)
• повреждение (injury or damage)
• загрязнение (pollution)