Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'liability'

English Word: liability

Key Russian Translations:

• Ответственность [ɐtvʲɪtˈstvʲɪnəstʲ] - [Formal, Legal context]
• Обязательство [ɐbʲɪzɐˈtɛlstvə] - [Formal, Contractual or financial context]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in legal, business, and everyday discussions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and formal language structures. For 'Ответственность', it may be slightly easier due to regular patterns, while 'Обязательство' can vary by context.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Ответственность: [ɐtvʲɪtˈstvʲɪnəstʲ]

Обязательство: [ɐbʲɪzɐˈtɛlstvə]

Note on Ответственность: The stress falls on the fourth syllable, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the consonant clusters; practice with native audio for accurate flow.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Legal or moral responsibility

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ответственность - Used in formal legal or ethical discussions, such as accountability in contracts or duties.
• Обязательство - Applied in contexts involving binding agreements or promises.

Usage Examples:

• В контракте четко указана ответственность каждой стороны.

  In the contract, the liability of each party is clearly stated.

• Его ответственность за аварию была доказана в суде.

  His liability for the accident was proven in court.

• Эта компания несет ответственность за качество продукции.

  This company bears liability for the quality of the products.

• Ответственность за проект лежит на менеджере.

  The liability for the project lies with the manager.

Meaning 2: Financial obligation or debt

Translation(s) & Context:

• Обязательство - Common in financial or business settings, referring to debts or liabilities on a balance sheet.
• Ответственность - Less common here, but used for broader financial accountability.

Usage Examples:

• Банк требует погашения обязательств по кредиту.

  The bank demands repayment of liabilities on the loan.

• Финансовые обязательства компании выросли за последний год.

  The company's financial liabilities have increased over the past year.

• Ответственность за долги переходит к наследникам.

  Liability for debts passes to the heirs.

• Эти обязательства могут повлиять на баланс предприятия.

  These liabilities could affect the company's balance sheet.

• Компании нужно управлять своими финансовыми обязательствами осторожно.

  The company needs to manage its financial liabilities carefully.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Ответственность' and 'Обязательство' are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard first-declension patterns. They are inflected based on case, number, and gender. 'Ответственность' is generally regular, while 'Обязательство' can have slight variations in plural forms.

Note: These nouns do not change in the plural as irregularly as some others, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Ответственность: Долг (dolg) - More general obligation
  • Обязательство: Залог (zalog) - Specifically for secured debts; differs by implying collateral
• Antonyms:
  • Для Ответственность: Свобода (svoboda) - Freedom from responsibility
  • Для Обязательство: Освобождение (osvobozhdeniye) - Release from obligations

Related Phrases:

• Несение ответственности - Bearing liability; used in legal contexts to denote accepting responsibility.
• Финансовые обязательства - Financial liabilities; common in business discussions for debts and commitments.
• Гражданская ответственность - Civil liability; refers to legal accountability in everyday or public matters.

Usage Notes:

'Ответственность' is the most direct translation for 'liability' in legal or ethical senses, while 'Обязательство' fits better for financial or contractual obligations. English speakers should note that Russian often requires precise case usage—e.g., genitive for possession. In formal writing, prefer 'Ответственность' over 'Обязательство' unless the context is strictly financial. Be cautious with word order in sentences, as Russian emphasizes the verb or subject differently.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'Ответственность' interchangeably with 'Обязательство' without context. For example, learners might say "Мое обязательство за аварию" instead of "Моя ответственность за аварию". Correct: 'Ответственность' is more appropriate for personal accountability. Explanation: This confuses the nuances, leading to imprecise communication; always check the context to choose the right word.

• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., saying "В контракте ответственность" instead of "В контракте ответственность (in correct case)". Correct: "В контракте указана ответственность". Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so improper declension can make sentences grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'ответственность' often carries a strong moral connotation, influenced by historical contexts like Soviet-era collective responsibility. This can imply not just legal liability but also social duties, emphasizing community over individualism, which differs from Western interpretations.

Related Concepts:

• Договор (dogovor) - Contract
• Риск (risk) - Risk
• Гарантия (garantiya) - Guarantee