Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'harrowing'

English Word: harrowing

Key Russian Translations:

• ужасный /ʊˈʒasnɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal, used for describing intensely frightening or distressing situations]
• терзающий /tʲɪrˈzaʊjʊʂɕɪj/ - [Adjective, Literary, often in poetic or narrative contexts to convey emotional torment]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly encountered in literature, media, and everyday discussions of emotional experiences, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and nuanced emotional vocabulary, suitable for upper-intermediate learners per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ужасный: /ʊˈʒasnɨj/

Note on ужасный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("жас"), and the "ж" sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, buzzing quality.

терзающий: /tʲɪrˈzaʊjʊʂɕɪj/

Note on терзающий: This word features a palatalized "т" and a soft "щ" sound; it's less common in casual speech, so practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Extremely distressing, disturbing, or emotionally painful, often referring to experiences that cause intense fear or suffering.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужасный - Typically used in formal or descriptive contexts to emphasize the severity of an event, such as a harrowing journey or story.
• терзающий - Applied in literary or introspective contexts, like internal emotional struggles, to convey ongoing torment.

Usage Examples:

• Это был ужасный опыт, который навсегда изменил её жизнь.

  This was a harrowing experience that changed her life forever. (Shows use in a personal narrative context.)

• Фильм полон терзающих сцен, заставляющих зрителей задуматься о войне.

  The film is full of harrowing scenes that make viewers reflect on war. (Illustrates literary usage in media criticism.)

• Его ужасная болезнь терзала его годами, не давая покоя.

  His harrowing illness tormented him for years, offering no respite. (Demonstrates combination with other vocabulary in a health-related context.)

• В новостях показали ужасные кадры аварии, шокировавшие всю страну.

  The news showed harrowing footage of the accident, shocking the entire country. (Example in journalistic or current events usage.)

• Терзающий ветер и холод сделали путешествие по горам настоящим испытанием.

  The harrowing wind and cold turned the mountain journey into a real ordeal. (Highlights usage in descriptive, environmental contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "ужасный" and "терзающий" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with nouns. "Ужасный" is a regular adjective, while "терзающий" (a present active participle) has similar but slightly more complex forms due to its verbal origins.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form (e.g., "ужасен" for short masculine), but in modern usage, the full form is more common. They are invariable in terms of aspect but must agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • страшный (strashnyy) - Similar to ужасный but often implies more immediate fear; used in everyday contexts.
  • жуткий (zhutkiy) - Conveys a chilling or eerie quality, slightly more informal than ужасный.
• Antonyms:
  • приятный (priyatnyy) - Pleasant or enjoyable, directly contrasting the distressing nature.
  • спокойный (spokoynyy) - Calm or peaceful, emphasizing the absence of torment.

Related Phrases:

• ужасный сон - A nightmare; used to describe a frightening dream that causes distress. (Literal translation: "harrowing dream")
• терзающие воспоминания - Harrowing memories; refers to painful recollections that continue to cause emotional pain.
• ужасная правда - The harrowing truth; often in contexts revealing difficult realities.

Usage Notes:

"Ужасный" directly corresponds to "harrowing" in formal English contexts, such as describing traumatic events, and is versatile across written and spoken Russian. However, "терзающий" is more literary and should be reserved for narrative or poetic language to avoid sounding overly dramatic in casual conversation. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns—always match gender, number, and case. When choosing between translations, opt for "ужасный" in everyday scenarios and "терзающий" for emotional depth in stories. This vocabulary is common in media and personal stories but may carry a stronger emotional weight in Russian than in English equivalents.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "ужасный" interchangeably with "страшный" without considering nuance. For example, English learners might say "страшный опыт" when "ужасный опыт" better captures the prolonged distress of "harrowing."
  • Correct: Это был ужасный опыт. (This conveys deep emotional impact.)
  • Incorrect: Это был страшный опыт. (This implies more immediate fear, like a horror movie, rather than ongoing torment.)
  • Explanation: "Страшный" focuses on fear, while "ужасный" emphasizes the overall distressing nature.
• Mistake: Forgetting to decline the adjective, e.g., saying "ужасный опыты" instead of "ужасные опыты" for plural.
  • Correct: ужасные опыты
  • Incorrect: ужасный опыты
  • Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun's case, number, and gender to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "ужасный" often appear in literature and historical narratives, such as those describing the hardships of World War II or the Soviet era. They reflect a cultural emphasis on endurance and emotional resilience, where "harrowing" experiences are frequently portrayed as transformative, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy or in modern films about personal struggles.

Related Concepts:

• страх (fear)
• мука (torment)
• травма (trauma)