Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inanition'

English Word: inanition

Key Russian Translations:

• истощение [ˈistəʂːenʲje] - [Formal, Medical]
• изнеможение [ɪznʲɪˈmoʐənʲje] - [Informal, Everyday]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in medical, literary, and psychological contexts, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract nouns and their inflections, though basic forms are accessible to learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

истощение: [ˈistəʂːenʲje]

изнеможение: [ɪznʲɪˈmoʐənʲje]

Note on истощение: The stress falls on the first syllable, and the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers—similar to 'sh' in 'she' but more emphatic.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Extreme physical weakness due to lack of nourishment or illness

Translation(s) & Context:

• истощение - Used in formal or medical contexts, such as describing starvation or exhaustion from disease.
• изнеможение - Applied in everyday or emotional contexts, like fatigue from overwork.

Usage Examples:

• После долгого поста он чувствовал истощение, которое не позволяло ему встать с постели.

  After a long fast, he felt inanition that prevented him from getting out of bed.

• Врачи диагностировали у пациента истощение из-за сильного недоедания.

  Doctors diagnosed the patient with inanition due to severe malnutrition.

• Её изнеможение от усталости было видно по бледному лицу.

  Her inanition from exhaustion was evident from her pale face.

• Во время войны многие люди страдали от истощения, вызванного голодом.

  During the war, many people suffered from inanition caused by famine.

• Атлет испытал изнеможение после марафона, что является нормальным состоянием.

  The athlete experienced inanition after the marathon, which is a normal condition.

2. Figurative sense: Exhaustion of resources or energy

Translation(s) & Context:

• истощение - In metaphorical contexts, such as depleting natural resources or emotional energy.

Usage Examples:

• Истощение почв в регионе привело к снижению урожая.

  Inanition of the soils in the region led to a decrease in harvest.

• Его истощение после неудач в бизнесе сделало его менее амбициозным.

  His inanition after business failures made him less ambitious.

• Финансовое истощение компании вынудило её закрыться.

  The inanition of the company's finances forced it to shut down.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns and follow standard Russian inflection patterns for third-declension nouns. "Истощение" and "изнеможение" are neuter nouns, which means they decline based on case, number, and gender rules.

For "изнеможение", the inflections are similar: Nominative Singular - изнеможение; Genitive Singular - изнеможения; etc. These nouns do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ослабление (oslablenie) - Weaker, more general term for weakening.
  • утомление (utomlénie) - Specifically for fatigue from exertion, often temporary.
• Antonyms:
  • сила (sila) - Strength, vitality.
  • энергия (énérgiya) - Energy, vigor.

Related Phrases:

• Истощение сил (istoshchenie sil) - Depletion of strength; used to describe complete exhaustion after intense activity.
• Физическое истощение (fiziché skoye istoshchenie) - Physical inanition; common in medical or sports contexts.
• Эмоциональное изнеможение (emotsionál'noye iznemozhenie) - Emotional burnout; refers to mental fatigue from stress.

Usage Notes:

"Истощение" is the most precise translation for "inanition" in formal contexts, such as medicine or literature, and aligns closely with the English term's connotation of depletion due to external factors like hunger. "Изнеможение" is better for informal or emotional scenarios. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use "истощение" for physical states and "изнеможение" for psychological ones. Grammatically, these nouns require appropriate case agreement in sentences, e.g., in genitive for possession. English learners should note that Russian often pairs these words with adjectives for specificity, like "крайнее истощение" (extreme inanition).

Common Errors:

• Confusing "истощение" with "истощённый" (an adjective meaning exhausted). Error: Saying "Я истощение" instead of "Я в состоянии истощения". Correct: Use the noun in the proper case, e.g., "Меня постигло истощение" (I am suffering from inanition). Explanation: "Истощение" is a noun and needs to be integrated into the sentence structure correctly.
• Overusing in casual speech. Error: Using "истощение" in everyday talk like "I'm tired" when "усталость" (fatigue) is more appropriate. Correct: Reserve "истощение" for severe cases. Explanation: This can make speech sound overly dramatic or formal.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "истощение" often appear in literature and historical contexts, such as descriptions of wartime hardships in works by authors like Tolstoy. It reflects a cultural emphasis on endurance and resilience in the face of adversity, symbolizing the human spirit's struggle against deprivation.

Related Concepts:

• голодуха (golodukha) - A more colloquial term for starvation.
• утомление (utomlenie) - General fatigue.
• ослабление (oslablenie) - Weakening or debility.