Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'injustice'

English Word: injustice

Key Russian Translations:

• Несправедливость /nʲɪˈspra.vʲɪdlʲɪ.vəsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, Abstract Noun]
• Неправосудие /nʲɪ.pra.vɐˈsu.dʲɪ.jɛ/ - [Formal, Legal Context]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly used in discussions of ethics, law, and social issues in Russian media and literature, but not as frequent as everyday words).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of abstract nouns and nuanced vocabulary. For 'Несправедливость', it's B2; for 'Неправосудие', it's C1 due to legal specificity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Несправедливость: /nʲɪˈspra.vʲɪdlʲɪ.vəsʲtʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'н' and 'л', which can be challenging for English speakers.)

Note on Несправедливость: The word features soft consonants (e.g., 'нʲ' and 'лʲ'), which may sound like a slight 'y' glide. Practice with native speakers for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Неправосудие: /nʲɪ.pra.vɐˈsu.dʲɪ.jɛ/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; pay attention to the vowel shifts in informal speech.)

Note on Неправосудие: This word often has a more emphatic pronunciation in legal contexts, with a clear separation between syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Injustice as unfair treatment or violation of rights

Translation(s) & Context:

• Несправедливость - Used in everyday discussions of social or moral unfairness, such as in protests or personal stories (e.g., in informal or formal settings).
• Неправосудие - Specifically for legal or judicial unfairness, often in formal contexts like court cases or official complaints.

Usage Examples:

• В современном обществе часто обсуждается несправедливость в распределении ресурсов.

  In modern society, the injustice in resource distribution is often discussed.

• Эта несправедливость не должна остаться без внимания; люди требуют изменений.

  This injustice should not go unnoticed; people are demanding changes.

• Неправосудие в судебной системе может подорвать доверие к закону.

  Injustice in the judicial system can undermine trust in the law.

• Многие исторические события были вызваны накопившейся несправедливостью по отношению к меньшинствам.

  Many historical events were triggered by accumulated injustice towards minorities.

• В романе автора ярко описано неправосудие, которое пережили герои во время войны.

  In the author's novel, the injustice that the characters experienced during the war is vividly described.

2. Injustice as a general moral wrong

Translation(s) & Context:

• Несправедливость - Applied in philosophical or ethical debates, often in educational or literary contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Несправедливость в мире часто приводит к конфликтам, но она также вдохновляет на борьбу за справедливость.

  Injustice in the world often leads to conflicts, but it also inspires the fight for justice.

• Дети быстро замечают несправедливость в правилах игры и протестуют против нее.

  Children quickly notice injustice in game rules and protest against it.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. 'Несправедливость' is a feminine noun (3rd declension) and follows standard Russian noun inflections. It is invariable in form for most uses but changes by case and number as needed.

'Неправосудие' is also a neuter noun with similar inflections, but it is less commonly used in plural forms and remains relatively stable in formal contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Несправедливость (basic synonym, no major difference)
  • Неправота (more informal, emphasizing moral wrongness)
  • Угнетение (implies oppression, often in social contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • Справедливость (direct opposite, meaning justice)
  • Правосудие (legal fairness)

Related Phrases:

• Борьба с несправедливостью - Fight against injustice (Used in activist contexts to denote efforts for equality).
• Социальная несправедливость - Social injustice (Common in discussions of inequality and policy).
• Несправедливость судьбы - Injustice of fate (An idiomatic phrase for unfortunate events beyond control).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'несправедливость' directly corresponds to the English 'injustice' in moral or everyday contexts, while 'неправосудие' is more precise for legal scenarios. Always consider the context: use 'несправедливость' for general discussions and 'неправосудие' in formal or judicial settings. Note that Russian often pairs these words with verbs like 'вызывать' (to cause) or 'бороться с' (to fight against). For English learners, be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as these nouns affect adjectives and verbs.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'несправедливость' with 'несправедливый' (an adjective). Error: Saying "Я чувствую несправедливый" instead of "Я чувствую несправедливость". Correct: Use the noun form for the concept. Explanation: 'Несправедливый' means 'unfair' as an adjective, so pair it correctly, e.g., "несправедливый суд" (unfair trial).
• Overusing 'неправосудие' in non-legal contexts. Error: "Это неправосудие в семье" (This injustice in the family). Correct: "Это несправедливость в семье". Explanation: 'Неправосудие' is specific to justice systems, making it inappropriate for personal matters.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of injustice are deeply tied to historical events like the Soviet era's purges and modern issues such as economic inequality. Words like 'несправедливость' often evoke themes from literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works), where moral injustice is a central motif, reflecting Russia's philosophical emphasis on human suffering and redemption.

Related Concepts:

• Справедливость
• Дискриминация
• Равенство