Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'importance'

English Word: importance

Key Russian Translations:

• важность /vɐʐnəsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, Abstract noun used in discussions of significance]
• значимость /znɐʧʲiməsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, Emphasizing relevance or impact, often in academic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in written Russian, such as in news, literature, and formal speech, but less so in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections, making it suitable for learners beyond beginner level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

важность: /vɐʐnəsʲtʲ/ (The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure', and the final 'ть' is palatalized.)

значимость: /znɐʧʲiməsʲtʲ/ (Note on значимость: Pay attention to the soft 'чʲ', which is a voiceless palatal affricate, and the word may vary slightly in rapid speech.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The quality or state of being important, significant, or influential.

Translation(s) & Context:

• важность - Used in formal contexts to denote the essential value of something, such as in philosophical or professional discussions.
• значимость - Applied when emphasizing the relevance or consequences, often in scientific or analytical settings.

Usage Examples:

• Важность образования в современном мире невозможно переоценить.

  The importance of education in the modern world cannot be overstated.

• Эта задача имеет высокую значимость для успеха проекта.

  This task has high importance for the success of the project.

• В политике важность дипломатии часто недооценивается.

  In politics, the importance of diplomacy is often underestimated.

• Значимость культурного наследия для национальной идентичности огромна.

  The importance of cultural heritage to national identity is immense.

• Родители подчеркивают важность дисциплины в воспитании детей.

  Parents emphasize the importance of discipline in raising children.

Secondary Meaning: Weight or prominence in a specific context, such as rank or priority.

Translation(s) & Context:

• важность - In contexts like prioritization, e.g., in business or daily life.
• значимость - When referring to hierarchical or evaluative prominence.

Usage Examples:

• В списке приоритетов важность здоровья стоит на первом месте.

  In the list of priorities, the importance of health comes first.

• Значимость этого события в истории страны трудно переоценить.

  The importance of this event in the country's history is hard to overestimate.

• Важность экологических проблем растет с каждым годом.

  The importance of environmental issues is growing every year.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "важность" and "значимость" are feminine nouns of the first declension in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns for inflection based on case, number, and gender. They do not have irregular forms but change according to standard rules.

For "значимость", the inflections are identical in pattern: e.g., Genitive: значимости; Instrumental: значимостью.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • значение (znachenie) - More general, often implying meaning or value, with subtle differences in emphasis on inherent worth.
  • вес (ves) - Used in contexts of weight or influence, particularly in informal or metaphorical speech.
• Antonyms:
  • незначительность (neznachitelnost') - Lacking importance or relevance.
  • бессмысленность (bessmyslennost') - Pointlessness or lack of meaning, often in philosophical contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Важность вопроса - Importance of the issue (Used in debates or decision-making to highlight critical topics.)
• Значимость события - Significance of the event (Common in historical or news contexts to denote lasting impact.)
• Подчеркивать важность - To emphasize importance (A phrase for stressing the need for attention in various scenarios.)

Usage Notes:

"Важность" and "значимость" both translate to "importance" but differ subtly: "важность" is more about inherent essentiality, while "значимость" implies measurable or contextual relevance. Choose based on the situation—use "важность" for general discussions and "значимость" in analytical or formal writing. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender; both are feminine, so they agree with feminine adjectives and verbs. In spoken Russian, these words are often paired with verbs like "иметь" (to have) or "подчеркивать" (to emphasize) for natural flow.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "важность" with "значение": English learners might use "значение" interchangeably, but it's broader (e.g., "meaning"). Error: Saying "Значение здоровья" instead of "Важность здоровья". Correct: "Важность здоровья" for emphasis on importance. Explanation: "Значение" focuses on inherent worth, not priority.
• Overlooking inflections: Forgetting to change cases, e.g., using nominative "важность" in genitive contexts. Error: "Я думаю о важность" (incorrect). Correct: "Я думаю о важности". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always adjust based on sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "важность" often tie into the value placed on intellectual and moral significance, influenced by historical events such as the Soviet era's emphasis on collective importance in society. For instance, in literature by authors like Tolstoy, the "важность" of personal ethics is a recurring theme, reflecting Russia's philosophical traditions.

Related Concepts:

• значение
• влияние
• приоритет