Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'harmful'

English Word: harmful

Key Russian Translations:

• вредный [ˈvrʲed.nɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used in general contexts to describe something damaging]
• вредоносный [vrʲɪˈdo.nəs.nɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used in technical or legal contexts, implying a more active form of harm]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in discussions about health, environment, and safety)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic adjective agreement; for 'вредный', it's straightforward, but 'вредоносный' may require more advanced vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вредный: [ˈvrʲed.nɨj] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'р' is rolled, and the 'ы' sound is a back vowel unique to Russian)

вредоносный: [vrʲɪˈdo.nəs.nɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; note the soft 'н' before 'о')

Note on вредный: Be cautious with the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation; it's not always intuitive for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the 'р' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Causing harm, damage, or negative effects, often in physical, emotional, or environmental contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• вредный - Used in everyday situations, such as describing unhealthy habits or environmental pollutants (e.g., in health warnings or casual conversations).
• вредоносный - Applied in more formal or technical settings, like cybersecurity or legal documents, to emphasize intentional or severe harm.

Usage Examples:

• Этот продукт вредный для здоровья, так как содержит химические вещества.

  This product is harmful to health because it contains chemicals.

• Курение — это вредоносная привычка, которая может привести к серьёзным заболеваниям.

  Smoking is a harmful habit that can lead to serious illnesses.

• Вредные выбросы фабрики загрязняют воздух в городе.

  Harmful emissions from the factory are polluting the air in the city.

• Этот вирус вредный для компьютерных систем, поэтому нужно установить антивирус.

  This virus is harmful to computer systems, so you need to install antivirus software.

• Вредные слова в споре могут навредить отношениям между друзьями.

  Harmful words in an argument can damage relationships between friends.

Meaning: Potentially dangerous or detrimental in a broader sense, such as in moral or social contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• вредный - Common in educational or advisory contexts, like warning about negative influences.
• вредоносный - Less common, but used for intentional harm, such as in discussions of misinformation.

Usage Examples:

• Вредные стереотипы в СМИ могут повлиять на общественное мнение.

  Harmful stereotypes in the media can influence public opinion.

• Этот совет оказался вредоносным, так как привёл к финансовым потерям.

  This advice turned out to be harmful, as it led to financial losses.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'вредный' and 'вредоносный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for agreement with nouns. 'Вредный' is a regular adjective, while 'вредоносный' follows similar rules but may vary slightly in formal contexts.

For 'вредоносный', the inflections are similar: e.g., Nominative: вредоносный (m), вредоносная (f), etc. These adjectives do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • опасный (opasnyy) - More emphasis on danger, often used interchangeably in safety contexts.
  • неблагоприятный (neblagopriyatnyy) - Neutral term for unfavorable or adverse effects.
• Antonyms:
  • полезный (poleznyy) - Beneficial or advantageous.
  • безвредный (bezvrednyy) - Harmless or safe.

Related Phrases:

• вредная привычка - A harmful habit (e.g., used in health advice to describe addictive behaviors).
• вредные вещества - Harmful substances (common in environmental or medical discussions).
• вредоносное ПО - Harmful software (refers to malware in tech contexts).

Usage Notes:

'Вредный' is the most direct translation of 'harmful' and is versatile for everyday use, while 'вредоносный' is better for formal or technical scenarios where intent is implied. In Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, so always adjust accordingly (e.g., 'вредный продукт' for masculine). It's commonly used in warnings or advice, but avoid overusing it in casual speech to prevent sounding alarmist. Choose 'вредный' for general purposes and 'вредоносный' when emphasizing malice, as in legal or digital contexts.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget adjective agreement: Incorrect: "вредный машина" (should be "вредная машина" for feminine noun). Correct: "Эта вредная машина может вызвать аварию." Explanation: Russian nouns have genders, so the adjective must match.

• Misusing 'вредоносный' for everyday situations: Incorrect: "Это вредоносный еда" (implies intentional harm, which is overly dramatic). Correct: "Это вредная еда." Explanation: Reserve 'вредоносный' for contexts like viruses or threats.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'вредный' are frequently used in public health campaigns, such as anti-smoking initiatives or environmental protection efforts, reflecting a strong emphasis on collective well-being. Historically, during the Soviet era, 'вредный' was common in propaganda against 'harmful' Western influences, adding a layer of ideological connotation in modern usage.

Related Concepts:

• опасность (danger)
• загрязнение (pollution)
• риск (risk)