Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'indiscretion'

English Word: indiscretion

Key Russian Translations:

• Неосторожность /nʲɪɐˈsto.rəʐ.nəs.tʲ/ - [Formal, often used in legal or ethical contexts]
• Опрометчивость /ɐ.prɐˈmʲet.ʂɪ.vəs.tʲ/ - [Informal, emphasizes rashness in everyday situations]
• Небрежность /nʲɪˈbrʲeʐ.nəs.tʲ/ - [Plural, can imply multiple careless acts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, news, and conversations about behavior, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of abstract nouns and nuanced contexts. For 'Опрометчивость', it might be B2 due to its subtle connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Неосторожность: /nʲɪɐˈsto.rəʐ.nəs.tʲ/

Опрометчивость: /ɐ.prɐˈmʲet.ʂɪ.vəs.tʲ/

Небрежность: /nʲɪˈbrʲeʐ.nəs.tʲ/

Note on Неосторожность: The stress is on the third syllable; be cautious with the 'ж' sound, which is a voiced fricative, often challenging for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A lack of judgment or caution in behavior (e.g., a foolish action)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неосторожность - Used in formal settings, such as legal or professional discussions, to describe unintentional errors.
• Опрометчивость - Applied in informal contexts, like personal relationships, to highlight impulsive decisions.

Usage Examples:

• Его неосторожность в обращении с деньгами привела к финансовым потерям. (His indiscretion in handling money led to financial losses.)

  Translation: His indiscretion in handling money led to financial losses.

• Из-за опрометчивости она раскрыла секрет раньше времени. (Due to her indiscretion, she revealed the secret ahead of time.)

  Translation: Due to her indiscretion, she revealed the secret ahead of time.

• Небрежность в работе может стоить компании репутации. (Indiscretion in work can cost the company its reputation.)

  Translation: Indiscretion in work can cost the company its reputation.

• Молодёжь часто проявляет неосторожность в социальных сетях. (Youth often exhibit indiscretion on social media.)

  Translation: Youth often exhibit indiscretion on social media.

• Её опрометчивость в выборе друзей вызвала семейные разногласия. (Her indiscretion in choosing friends caused family disagreements.)

  Translation: Her indiscretion in choosing friends caused family disagreements.

Meaning 2: An act that is morally or socially inappropriate (e.g., a breach of etiquette)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неосторожность - In social contexts, implying accidental social faux pas.
• Небрежность - Often used for repeated or negligent behavior in professional etiquette.

Usage Examples:

• Это была неосторожность, но она обидела многих. (It was an indiscretion, but it offended many people.)

  Translation: It was an indiscretion, but it offended many people.

• Небрежность в общении с коллегами может повредить карьере. (Indiscretion in communicating with colleagues can harm your career.)

  Translation: Indiscretion in communicating with colleagues can harm your career.

• Опрометчивость в публичных заявлениях часто приводит к скандалам. (Indiscretion in public statements often leads to scandals.)

  Translation: Indiscretion in public statements often leads to scandals.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are feminine nouns in Russian, which typically follow standard declension patterns for third-declension nouns. Below is a table for 'Неосторожность' as an example; similar patterns apply to others with minor variations.

For 'Опрометчивость', it follows the same pattern but is less commonly used in plural forms. These nouns do not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Безрассудство (implies more extreme recklessness, often in high-stakes situations)
  • Легкомыслие (suggests frivolity, particularly in social contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • Осторожность (caution, the direct opposite in formal settings)
  • Разумность (reasonableness, emphasizing wise decision-making)

Related Phrases:

• Проявление неосторожности (Manifestation of indiscretion) - Refers to visible signs of careless behavior in daily life.
• Из-за опрометчивости (Due to indiscretion) - Used in explanations of negative outcomes from impulsive actions.
• Небрежность в деталях (Indiscretion in details) - Highlights carelessness in precise tasks, like work or planning.

Usage Notes:

'Неосторожность' is the most direct translation for 'indiscretion' in formal contexts, such as legal or ethical discussions, and aligns closely with unintentional lapses. In contrast, 'Опрометчивость' is better for impulsive actions in informal speech. Always consider the context: Russian nouns like these require appropriate case agreement with verbs and prepositions. For English learners, choose based on whether the indiscretion is accidental or deliberate—'Небрежность' works for repeated errors.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'Неосторожность' with 'Опрометчивость': Learners might use 'Опрометчивость' in formal writing, where 'Неосторожность' is more appropriate. Incorrect: "Его опрометчивость в контракте" (His indiscretion in the contract). Correct: "Его неосторожность в контракте" – Explanation: 'Опрометчивость' implies rashness, while 'Неосторожность' fits professional errors.
• Overusing in plural: English speakers might incorrectly pluralize unnecessarily, e.g., saying "неосторожности" when singular suffices. Correct usage involves checking context for quantity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'indiscretion' like 'неосторожность' often ties to collectivist values, where individual actions can harm group harmony. For instance, in literature such as Dostoevsky's works, such behaviors reflect deeper moral flaws, emphasizing the cultural importance of caution in social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• Ответственность (responsibility)
• Самоконтроль (self-control)
• Этикет (etiquette)