Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'life'

English Word: life

Key Russian Translations:

• жизнь /ʒɨzʲnʲ/ - [Formal, Singular]

Frequency: High (This word is commonly used in everyday Russian conversation, literature, and media.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it is a fundamental vocabulary item in Russian, suitable for early learners according to CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жизнь: /ʒɨzʲnʲ/

Note on жизнь: The pronunciation features a soft 'н' sound (/nʲ/), which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization. Stress falls on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

General Meaning: The state of being alive, existence, or everyday living.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жизнь - Used in formal and informal contexts to refer to biological life, personal experiences, or abstract concepts like the meaning of life. Common in philosophical discussions or daily conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Моя жизнь полна приключений. (Moya zhizn' polna priklyucheniy.)

  My life is full of adventures. (This example shows the word in a personal, narrative context, highlighting its use with adjectives.)

• В науке изучают происхождение жизни. (V nauke izuchayut proiskhozhdeniye zhizni.)

  In science, they study the origin of life. (Demonstrates usage in an academic or scientific setting, paired with abstract concepts.)

• Он посвятил всю свою жизнь искусству. (On posvyatil vsyu svoyu zhizn' iskusstvu.)

  He dedicated his entire life to art. (Illustrates the word in a biographical or motivational context, with possessive structures.)

• Жизнь в городе отличается от жизни в деревне. (Zhizn' v gorode otlichayetsya ot zhizni v derevne.)

  Life in the city differs from life in the village. (Shows comparison and plural/singular variations in everyday contrasts.)

• Без воды нет жизни. (Bez vody net zhizni.)

  Without water, there is no life. (Emphasizes the word in a proverbial or essential context, often used in environmental discussions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

жизнь is a feminine noun (3rd declension in Russian), which undergoes regular case and number changes. It is not irregular but follows standard patterns for feminine nouns ending in -ь.

Note: This noun does not change in the plural for some cases but follows predictable rules. If used in compounds or with adjectives, further modifications may apply.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • существование (sushchestvovaniye) - More formal, emphasizing existence over daily life.
  • бытие (bytie) - Philosophical context, often used in literature for a deeper sense of being.
• Antonyms:
  • смерть (smert') - Directly opposite, meaning death.
  • небытие (nebytie) - Abstract antonym, implying non-existence.

Related Phrases:

• жизнь и смерть (zhizn' i smert') - Life and death; a common phrase in philosophical or dramatic contexts.
• качество жизни (kachestvo zhizni) - Quality of life; used in discussions about health, economics, or social issues.
• повседневная жизнь (povsednevная zhizn') - Everyday life; refers to routine activities, often in sociological contexts.

Usage Notes:

жизнь directly corresponds to the English "life" in most contexts but is more flexible in Russian grammar, often requiring case changes based on sentence structure. For English speakers, note that Russian uses it in formal writing and casual speech alike, but be cautious with prepositions—e.g., "in life" might translate to "в жизни" (v zhizni) for personal experiences. When choosing between synonyms like "существование," opt for жизнь in everyday scenarios and the former for abstract philosophy. Always consider the gender (feminine) when forming agreements with adjectives or verbs.

• In plural forms, it can denote multiple lives or aspects of life, which is less common in English.
• Usage is unrestricted by dialect but may vary slightly in regional Russian variants.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse case endings, such as saying "в жизнь" instead of the correct "в жизни" for "in life." Incorrect: "Я думаю о в жизнь" (wrong case). Correct: "Я думаю о жизни" (using genitive for "about life"). This error stems from not adapting to Russian's declension system, leading to grammatical awkwardness. Another mistake is confusing it with synonyms—e.g., using "бытие" interchangeably, which can sound overly formal or philosophical in casual contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "жизнь" carries deep philosophical connotations, influenced by literary figures like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, who often explored life's meaning in works such as "War and Peace." It symbolizes resilience in the face of historical hardships, like those during the Soviet era, and is a central theme in Russian folklore and proverbs, such as "Жизнь прожить — не поле перейти" (To live life is not to cross a field), emphasizing that life is full of challenges.

Related Concepts:

• смерть (smert')
• рождение (rozhdeniye)
• счастье (schast'ye)