Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inquest'

English Word: inquest

Key Russian Translations:

• расследование [rəslʲɪˈdovanʲɪje] - [Formal, Legal; Used in official or investigative contexts]
• следствие [slʲɪdˈstvʲɪje] - [Formal, Legal; Often implies criminal or judicial proceedings]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, news, and formal contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of Russian legal terminology; For 'расследование', it's B2; For 'следствие', it may be B2-C1 due to more specific connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

расследование: [rəslʲɪˈdovanʲɪje]

Note on расследование: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ('va-'), which can be tricky for learners; pronounce the 'р' as a rolled 'r'. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

следствие: [slʲɪdˈstvʲɪje]

Note on следствие: The 'щ' is a soft, hissing sound; ensure it's not confused with 'ш'. Common in fast speech, it may blend with surrounding sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: An official investigation, often into the cause of death or an incident.

Translation(s) & Context:

• расследование - Used in formal contexts like coroner's inquiries or police investigations; appropriate for administrative or legal settings.
• следствие - Applied in criminal or judicial contexts, such as court-led probes; implies a more structured process.

Usage Examples:

• Ведётся расследование обстоятельств смерти в больнице.

  An inquest is being conducted into the circumstances of the death in the hospital.

• Следствие по делу о коррупции продолжается уже несколько месяцев.

  The inquest into the corruption case has been ongoing for several months.

• Результаты расследования будут представлены на суде.

  The results of the inquest will be presented in court.

• Во время следствия были выявлены новые улики.

  New evidence was uncovered during the inquest.

• Расследование аварии на заводе завершено, виновные привлечены к ответственности.

  The inquest into the factory accident is complete, and those responsible have been held accountable.

Meaning 2: A formal inquiry or examination, not necessarily related to death.

Translation(s) & Context:

• расследование - In broader contexts like workplace or governmental inquiries; less formal than 'следствие'.

Usage Examples:

• Парламентское расследование финансовых нарушений началось на прошлой неделе.

  The parliamentary inquest into financial irregularities began last week.

• Расследование деятельности компании выявило серьёзные проблемы.

  The inquest into the company's operations revealed serious issues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Расследование' is a neuter noun of the second declension, which follows regular patterns. It changes based on case and number. 'Следствие' is also neuter but can be more irregular in certain contexts.

For 'расследование':

For 'следствие': It is generally invariable in plural forms and follows similar patterns but is less commonly pluralized. Example: Nominative singular - следствие; Genitive singular - следствия.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дознание (doznanie) - More informal inquiry, often preliminary.
  • проверка (proverka) - General check or verification, with less legal weight.
• Antonyms:
  • закрытие дела (zakrytie dela) - Closing of a case, implying the opposite of investigation.

Related Phrases:

• уголовное расследование - Criminal inquest; Used in law enforcement contexts to denote investigations into crimes.
• проведение следствия - Conducting an inquest; Refers to the process of carrying out an official inquiry.
• независимое расследование - Independent inquest; Implies an unbiased or external investigation, common in journalistic or ethical scenarios.

Usage Notes:

'Inquest' typically corresponds to 'расследование' in neutral or administrative contexts, while 'следствие' is preferred for criminal matters. Always consider the formality: 'расследование' is versatile but avoid it in highly legal settings where 'следствие' might be more precise. In Russian, these words often require the genitive case for objects, e.g., 'расследование дела' (inquest into the case). Learners should note that Russian investigations may involve more bureaucratic processes than in English-speaking systems.

• Choose 'расследование' for everyday official inquiries.
• Use 'следствие' when emphasizing judicial authority.
• Grammar tip: These nouns are often used with verbs like 'вести' (to conduct) or 'провести' (to carry out).

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing 'расследование' with 'расследовать', which is the verb form (to investigate). For example, learners might say 'Я расследование' instead of 'Я провожу расследование' (I am conducting an inquest). Correct usage: Incorrect - 'Дела расследование' (wrong structure); Correct - 'Проводится расследование дела' (An inquest into the case is being conducted). Another error is using 'следствие' interchangeably with 'расследование' in non-legal contexts, which can sound overly dramatic; explain the context to avoid misuse.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, investigations like 'расследование' or 'следствие' are heavily influenced by the country's legal history, stemming from Soviet-era practices. They often involve state institutions, reflecting a cultural emphasis on official oversight. For instance, high-profile inquests in media (e.g., those covered in Russian news) can carry political connotations, unlike the more neutral British origins of the English 'inquest'.

Related Concepts:

• суд (sud) - Court
• полиция (politsiya) - Police
• доказательства (dokazatelstva) - Evidence