Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'human'

English Word: human

Key Russian Translations:

• человек [ˈtʃʲɪlɐvʲɪk] - [Formal, Singular, Used in general contexts for a person or human being]
• люди [ˈlʲʉdʲɪ] - [Informal, Plural, Used when referring to humans as a group]
• человеческий [tɕɪlɐˈvʲetɕkʲɪj] - [Adjective form, Formal, Used to describe something related to humans]

Frequency: High (This word is commonly used in everyday Russian speech, literature, and media.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as the basic forms are straightforward and frequently encountered in introductory Russian learning.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

человек: [ˈtʃʲɪlɐvʲɪk]

люди: [ˈlʲʉdʲɪ]

человеческий: [tɕɪlɐˈvʲetɕkʲɪj]

Note on человек: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'ч' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A member of the Homo sapiens species (referring to an individual human being).

Translation(s) & Context:

• человек - Used in formal or neutral contexts, such as describing a person in everyday life or philosophical discussions.
• люди - Used when referring to humans collectively, in social or general statements.

Usage Examples:

• Этот человек очень добрый и отзывчивый. (This human is very kind and responsive.)

  English: This person is very kind and responsive.

• Люди всегда стремятся к лучшему будущему. (Humans always strive for a better future.)

  English: People always strive for a better future. (Shows plural usage in a motivational context.)

• В науке изучают, как человек эволюционировал. (In science, they study how humans have evolved.)

  English: In science, they study how humans have evolved. (Demonstrates usage in an educational or scientific context.)

• Этот фильм показывает человеческие эмоции в кризисных ситуациях. (This film depicts human emotions in crisis situations.)

  English: This film depicts human emotions in crisis situations. (Uses the adjective form for broader application.)

• Каждый человек имеет право на образование. (Every human has the right to education.)

  English: Every person has the right to education. (Illustrates singular usage in legal or rights-based contexts.)

2. Relating to or characteristic of humanity (as an adjective, e.g., human qualities).

Translation(s) & Context:

• человеческий - Used to describe attributes, behaviors, or aspects typical of humans, often in contrast to animals or machines.

Usage Examples:

• Человеческий разум способен к творчеству. (The human mind is capable of creativity.)

  English: The human mind is capable of creativity. (Highlights intellectual aspects.)

• В этой истории подчеркивается человеческий дух выживания. (This story emphasizes the human spirit of survival.)

  English: This story emphasizes the human spirit of survival. (Shows emotional or resilient contexts.)

• Человеческие ошибки неизбежны в любой работе. (Human errors are inevitable in any job.)

  English: Human errors are inevitable in any job. (Used in professional or error-prone scenarios.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translation "человек" is a masculine noun in Russian, which follows standard first-declension patterns. It has regular inflections based on case and number. "Люди" is the plural form, and "человеческий" is an adjective with its own declensions.

For "человеческий" (adjective), it agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, e.g., человеческий (masc. sg.), человеческая (fem. sg.), человеческое (neut. sg.), and человеческие (pl.).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • индивид [ɪndʲɪˈvʲid] (individual, more formal in scientific contexts)
  • личность [ˈlʲɪtɕnəstʲ] (personality, emphasizing character)
• Antonyms:
  • животное [ʐɨˈvotnəje] (animal, contrasting with human beings)
  • машина [mɐˈʂɨnə] (machine, in contexts of human vs. artificial intelligence)

Related Phrases:

• Человеческое существо - (Human being; Used in philosophical or biological contexts to emphasize the essence of humanity.)
• Человек разумный - (Homo sapiens; A direct reference in scientific or evolutionary discussions.)
• Люди труда - (Working people; Common in social or historical contexts, e.g., labor movements.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "человек" directly corresponds to the English "human" as a noun, but it's versatile and can mean "person" in everyday use. Choose "человек" for singular references and "люди" for plurals. The adjective "человеческий" is ideal for describing human-like qualities. Be mindful of context: in formal writing, it's common, but in informal speech, synonyms like "чувак" (slang for guy) might appear, though not recommended for standard usage. Grammar-wise, always decline nouns according to case for correct sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "человек" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я видел человек" instead of "Я видел человека" (I saw a human/person).

  Correct: "Я видел человека" – Explanation: Russian requires accusative case after verbs like "видеть" (to see), so the ending changes to match.

• Error: Confusing "человек" with "человека" in nominative contexts, e.g., "Человека хороший" instead of "Человек хороший" (Human is good).

  Correct: "Человек хороший" – Explanation: Use the base form in nominative case for subject descriptions.

• Error: Overusing "человеческий" where a noun is needed, e.g., translating "human" as just the adjective without context.

  Correct: Specify with a noun, like "человеческий фактор" for "human factor" – Explanation: Adjectives must modify nouns to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "человек" often carries connotations of dignity and moral responsibility, influenced by literary works like those of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky. It reflects the philosophical idea of the "human condition," emphasizing empathy and social interconnectedness, which is a key theme in Russian literature and history.

Related Concepts:

• общество (society)
• культура (culture)
• эволюция (evolution)