Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'justice'

English Word: justice

Key Russian Translations:

• справедливость /sprɐˈfʲedlʲɪvəsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, Abstract concept]
• правосудие /prəvɐˈsudʲɪje/ - [Formal, Legal context]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions of ethics, law, and society, but not as frequent as everyday words).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of abstract nouns and legal terminology, with some translations varying by context).

Pronunciation (Russian):

справедливость: /sprɐˈfʲedlʲɪvəsʲtʲ/

Note on справедливость: The stress is on the third syllable; be mindful of the palatalized 'd' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

правосудие: /prəvɐˈsudʲɪje/

Note on правосудие: Stress falls on the third syllable; the word combines elements of "law" and "judgment," and the 'y' sound in 'sud' is soft.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Abstract concept of fairness or moral rightness

Translation(s) & Context:

• справедливость - Used in philosophical or everyday discussions about equity and morality, often in formal writing or speeches.

Usage Examples:

• В обществе всегда должна быть справедливость, чтобы люди чувствовали себя защищенными.

  In society, there should always be justice so that people feel protected.

• Справедливость — это основа любого демократического государства.

  Justice is the foundation of any democratic state.

• Без справедливости мир становится хаотичным и несправедливым.

  Without justice, the world becomes chaotic and unfair.

• Родители учат детей ценить справедливость в повседневной жизни.

  Parents teach children to value justice in everyday life.

Meaning 2: Legal system or administration of law

Translation(s) & Context:

• правосудие - Applied in contexts involving courts, trials, and legal enforcement, typically in formal or official settings.

Usage Examples:

• Правосудие в этой стране основано на принципах равенства и законности.

  Justice in this country is based on principles of equality and legality.

• Судебная система обеспечивает правосудие для всех граждан.

  The judicial system ensures justice for all citizens.

• Правосудие иногда бывает медленным, но оно неизбежно.

  Justice can sometimes be slow, but it is inevitable.

• Адвокаты борются за правосудие в сложных делах.

  Lawyers fight for justice in complex cases.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are feminine nouns in Russian, which follow standard declension patterns for third-declension nouns. They are inflected based on case, number, and gender.

Case	справедливость (Singular)	правосудие (Singular)
Nominative	справедливость	правосудие
Genitive	справедливости	правосудия
Dative	справедливости	правосудию
Accusative	справедливость	правосудие
Instrumental	справедливостью	правосудием
Prepositional	справедливости	правосудии

Note: These nouns do not have plural forms in most contexts, as they represent abstract concepts. правосудие is less commonly inflected and may remain unchanged in some fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • справедливость: правота (pravo ta) - Emphasizes correctness in moral decisions.
  • правосудие: суд (sud) - More general term for judgment or trial.
• Antonyms:
  • несправедливость (nespravedlivost') - Injustice, directly opposite to fairness.
  • неправосудие (nepravo sudie) - Injustice in a legal sense, though less common.

Related Phrases:

• По справедливости (Po spravedlivosti) - Fairly or justly; used to express equitable treatment in decisions.
• Обеспечивать правосудие (Obespechivat' pravo sudie) - To ensure justice; common in legal and social contexts.
• Система правосудия (Sistema pravo sudiya) - Justice system; refers to the overall framework of courts and laws.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "справедливость" aligns closely with the abstract English sense of justice as fairness, while "правосудие" corresponds to the legal system. Choose based on context: use "справедливость" for ethical discussions and "правосудие" for judicial matters. Note that Russian often requires the appropriate case for grammatical agreement, which can differ from English word order. These words are typically formal, so avoid them in casual conversations unless emphasizing seriousness.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing "справедливость" with "правосудие" and using them interchangeably. Incorrect: "Правосудие в повседневной жизни" (implies legal justice in everyday contexts). Correct: "Справедливость в повседневной жизни" (better for moral fairness). Explanation: This error stems from overlooking contextual nuances, leading to awkward phrasing.
• Mistake: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., using nominative in all positions. Incorrect: "О справедливость" (wrong case). Correct: "О справедливости" (genitive for "about"). Explanation: Russian grammar requires precise declension, unlike English, which can confuse learners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "справедливость" often carries a deep historical connotation tied to Soviet-era ideals of social equality, influencing literature and philosophy. For instance, in works by authors like Tolstoy, justice is portrayed as a moral imperative, reflecting Russia's emphasis on collective fairness over individual rights.

Related Concepts:

• законность (zakonnost') - Legality
• мораль (moral') - Morality
• равенство (ravenstvo) - Equality