Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ignorance'

English Word: ignorance

Key Russian Translations:

• невежество [nʲɪˈvʲeʐɨstvə] - [Formal, Abstract noun, Used in educational or philosophical contexts]
• неосведомленность [nʲɪɐsˈvʲedəmlʲɪnnəstʲ] - [Informal, Contextual, Used when referring to lack of specific information]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, literature, and discussions, but less frequent in everyday spoken language)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract nouns and Russian case systems; for 'неосведомленность', also B2 due to its derivational nature)

Pronunciation (Russian):

невежество: [nʲɪˈvʲeʐɨstvə]

неосведомленность: [nʲɪɐsˈvʲedəmlʲɪnnəstʲ]

Note on невежество: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'вʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. A soft pronunciation helps convey the formal tone.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Lack of knowledge or awareness

Translation(s) & Context:

• невежество - Used in formal or academic contexts to describe a general state of ignorance, often implying intellectual deficiency.
• неосведомленность - Applied in everyday situations for temporary or specific lack of information, such as in news or casual conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Его невежество в области науки не позволяет ему участвовать в обсуждениях.

  His ignorance in the field of science does not allow him to participate in discussions.

• Из-за неосведомленности о местных обычаях, она совершила непреднамеренную ошибку.

  Due to her ignorance of local customs, she made an unintentional mistake.

• Общество должно бороться с невежеством, чтобы продвигать образование.

  Society must fight ignorance to promote education.

• Его неосведомленность в политических делах сделала его уязвимым для манипуляций.

  His ignorance of political matters made him vulnerable to manipulation.

• Невежество в истории часто приводит к повторению ошибок прошлого.

  Ignorance of history often leads to repeating past mistakes.

Willful or deliberate ignorance

Translation(s) & Context:

• невежество - In contexts implying intentional avoidance, often with a negative connotation in debates or ethics.

Usage Examples:

• Его невежество относительно экологических проблем кажется deliberateным.

  His ignorance regarding environmental issues seems deliberate.

• Невежество в этом вопросе не оправдывает его действий.

  Ignorance on this matter does not justify his actions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'невежество' and 'неосведомленность' are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard neuter declension patterns. They are indeclinable in some contexts but typically inflect for case and number. Below is a table for 'невежество' as an example; 'неосведомленность' follows similar rules.

For 'неосведомленность', it is less commonly used in plural forms but inflects similarly when needed. These nouns do not have gender variations but must agree in case with accompanying words in a sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неграмотность (negramotnost') - More specific to illiteracy, often used interchangeably in educational contexts.
  • невежественность (nevežestvennost') - Emphasizes a state of being ignorant, with a slight nuance of inherent quality.
• Antonyms:
  • знание (znanie) - Knowledge, directly opposite in meaning.
  • осведомленность (osvedomlennost') - Awareness or informed state, contrasting with 'неосведомленность'.

Related Phrases:

• в состоянии невежества - In a state of ignorance; Used to describe someone who is completely uninformed.
• бороться с невежеством - To fight against ignorance; Common in motivational or educational contexts.
• невежество масс - Ignorance of the masses; Refers to widespread lack of knowledge in society.

Usage Notes:

'Невежество' is the most direct translation for 'ignorance' in formal English contexts, but it often carries a stronger negative connotation in Russian, implying not just a lack of knowledge but also a willful or foolish state. Use 'неосведомленность' for more neutral, situational ignorance, such as in casual conversations. Be mindful of Russian case agreements when using these nouns in sentences. For English speakers, choose 'невежество' in academic or philosophical discussions, but avoid it in polite everyday language where it might offend.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'невежество' interchangeably with 'неосведомленность' without considering context. For example, an English speaker might say "Мое невежество в этом" for "My ignorance in this," but if it's temporary, 'неосведомленность' is better. Correct: "Моя неосведомленность в этом" – This avoids implying permanent stupidity.
• Mistake: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., saying "о невежество" instead of "о невежестве" in prepositional case. Explanation: Russian requires nouns to change based on their role in the sentence; always check the case for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'невежество' is often linked to historical emphasis on education during the Soviet era, where ignorance was seen as a barrier to progress. It appears in literature like Tolstoy's works, symbolizing societal flaws, and is frequently used in modern discussions about media literacy to highlight the dangers of misinformation.

Related Concepts:

• глупость (glupost') - Stupidity
• невежда (nevežda) - Ignoramus (a person embodying ignorance)
• образование (obrazovanie) - Education