Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'immoral'

English Word: immoral

Key Russian Translations:

• неморальный /nʲɪmɐˈralʲnɨj/ - [Formal]
• аморальный /ɐmɐˈralʲnɨj/ - [Formal, often used in philosophical contexts]
• неэтичный /nʲɪˈɛtʲɪtɕnɨj/ - [Semi-formal, common in everyday discussions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in ethical discussions, literature, and media, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of abstract concepts and adjective declensions; 'неморальный' and 'аморальный' may be B2, while 'неэтичный' could be A2 for basic forms)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неморальный: /nʲɪmɐˈralʲnɨj/

аморальный: /ɐmɐˈralʲnɨj/

неэтичный: /nʲɪˈɛtʲɪtɕnɨj/

Note on неэтичный: The stress falls on the second syllable, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'т' sound; pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Not conforming to accepted standards of morality or ethics

Translation(s) & Context:

• неморальный - Used in formal or academic contexts to describe actions or behaviors that violate moral principles, often in philosophical or legal discussions.
• аморальный - Applied in contexts involving a lack of moral sense, such as in psychology or ethics, emphasizing absence rather than opposition.
• неэтичный - Common in everyday situations, like business or personal ethics, to denote something unfair or against societal norms.

Usage Examples:

• Его действия были совершенно неморальными, так как он обманул доверие друзей.

  His actions were completely immoral, as he betrayed the trust of his friends.

• В романе главный герой изображен как аморальный человек, не способный различать добро и зло.

  In the novel, the main character is depicted as an immoral person, unable to distinguish between good and evil.

• Неэтичное поведение менеджера привело к потере доверия сотрудников.

  The immoral behavior of the manager led to the loss of trust from the employees.

• Общество осуждает неморальные поступки, такие как коррупция и обман.

  Society condemns immoral acts, such as corruption and deception.

• Аморальный подход к бизнесу может привести к долгосрочным проблемам.

  An immoral approach to business can lead to long-term problems.

Secondary Meaning: Lacking moral principles in a broader sense, often implying ethical ambiguity

Translation(s) & Context:

• неэтичный - In contexts where the focus is on professional ethics, such as journalism or medicine.
• аморальный - In abstract or theoretical discussions, like philosophy.

Usage Examples:

• Неэтичный эксперимент ученого шокировал общественность.

  The immoral experiment conducted by the scientist shocked the public.

• Аморальная политика правительства вызвала протесты.

  The immoral policies of the government sparked protests.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ('неморальный', 'аморальный', 'неэтичный') are adjectives, which follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They are inflected based on the noun's characteristics.

These adjectives have regular declensions, with no irregularities. For feminine and neuter forms, add appropriate endings (e.g., неморальная for feminine singular).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • безнравственный (beznravstvennyj) - Emphasizes lack of moral standards, often in a more emotional context.
  • порочный (poročnyj) - Implies moral corruption or vice, with a connotation of inherent flaw.
  • грешный (grešnyj) - Used in religious contexts, meaning sinful or wicked.
• Antonyms:
  • моральный (moral'nyj)
  • этичный (ėtičnyj)
  • добродетный (dobrodetnyj)

Related Phrases:

• Неэтичное поведение - Immoral behavior; often used in professional settings to describe unethical actions.
• Аморальные ценности - Immoral values; refers to principles that lack ethical grounding.
• Неморальный акт - Immoral act; typically in legal or philosophical discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Неморальный' is the most direct translation of 'immoral' and is preferred in formal contexts, while 'неэтичный' is more versatile for everyday use. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe, which can affect sentence structure. For example, choose 'неморальный' for moral philosophy but 'аморальный' when discussing a complete absence of morals. Be cautious with context: in Russian culture, these words often carry stronger judgmental tones than in English.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'неморальный' interchangeably with 'аморальный' without considering nuance. For instance, saying "аморальный человек" when you mean someone who actively violates morals, but it actually implies a lack of moral awareness.

  Correct: Use 'неморальный' for active immorality. Example: Incorrect: "Он аморальный" (implying no moral sense); Correct: "Он неморальный" if he knowingly acts against morals.

  Explanation: This confusion arises from similar English meanings, but Russian distinguishes between opposition to morals and absence of them.

• Error: Failing to decline the adjective properly, e.g., using 'неморальный' with a feminine noun without changing to 'неморальная'.

  Correct: "Неморальная женщина" instead of "Неморальный женщина".

  Explanation: Russian grammar requires agreement, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'неморальный' and 'неэтичный' are often linked to historical contexts, such as Soviet-era discussions on morality in literature and propaganda. They can carry implications of state-imposed ethics, making them sensitive in conversations about personal freedom versus societal norms.

Related Concepts:

• этика (ethics)
• мораль (morality)
• добро и зло (good and evil)