Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'malicious'

English Word: malicious

Key Russian Translations:

• злонамеренный [zlənɐˈmʲerʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, used in legal or serious contexts]
• злобный [ˈzɫobnɨj] - [Informal, often in everyday speech for spiteful behavior]
• вредоносный [vrʲɪdɐˈnosnɨj] - [Formal, particularly in technical or cyber contexts like malware]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in literature, news, and digital contexts but are not as common as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective nuances and context, as per CEFR standards. For 'злонамеренный' and 'вредоносный', it may be B2; for 'злобный', it could be A2-B1 due to simpler usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

злонамеренный: [zlənɐˈmʲerʲɪnɨj]

Note on злонамеренный: Stress falls on the fourth syllable; the 'мʲ' indicates a palatalized 'm', which can be tricky for English speakers—practice as "zluh-nuh-MYEr-in-yij".

злобный: [ˈzɫobnɨj]

Note on злобный: The initial 'з' is voiced and soft; common in rapid speech, where it might sound like "zlob-nyy".

вредоносный: [vrʲɪdɐˈnosnɨj]

Note on вредоносный: The 'рʲ' is a palatalized 'r', which English speakers often pronounce as a simple 'r'; in tech contexts, it's frequently used without variation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Intended to cause harm or evil, often deliberately.

Translation(s) & Context:

• злонамеренный - Used in formal settings, such as legal documents or descriptions of intentional wrongdoing.
• вредоносный - Applied in contexts involving technology, like computer viruses, to denote something harmful by design.

Usage Examples:

• Его действия были злонамеренными, и они привели к серьёзным последствиям.

  His actions were malicious, and they led to serious consequences.

• Вредоносный код в программе может уничтожить важные файлы.

  Malicious code in the program can destroy important files.

• Злонамеренный план был раскрыт полицией до его реализации.

  The malicious plan was uncovered by the police before it was carried out.

• Этот вредоносный вирус распространяется через электронную почту.

  This malicious virus spreads through email.

Meaning 2: Spiteful or vindictive in nature, often with personal animosity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• злобный - Common in informal or emotional contexts, describing personal attacks or petty behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Её злобные комментарии ранили его чувства.

  Her malicious comments hurt his feelings.

• Злобный сосед всегда ищет повод для ссоры.

  The malicious neighbor is always looking for a reason to argue.

• В детстве он часто сталкивался с злобными шутками одноклассников.

  In childhood, he often faced malicious jokes from classmates.

• Её злобный взгляд заставил всех замолчать.

  Her malicious glare made everyone go silent.

• Злобный тон в его голосе указывал на скрытую обиду.

  The malicious tone in his voice indicated hidden resentment.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard adjective declension patterns, with some irregularities in spelling due to softening consonants.

Note: These adjectives are invariable in comparative forms but can be intensified with adverbs like 'очень' (very). For feminine and neuter forms, endings change accordingly (e.g., злая for feminine of злобный).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • враждебный (vrazhdebnyy) - More neutral, often used for hostility in conflicts.
  • коварный (kovarnyy) - Implies deceit, subtle differences from злобный.
• Antonyms:
  • добрый (dobryy) - Kind or benevolent.
  • мирный (mirnyy) - Peaceful, especially in relational contexts.

Related Phrases:

• злобная шутка - A malicious joke; often used to describe hurtful humor in social settings.
• вредоносное ПО - Malicious software; a common phrase in cybersecurity discussions.
• злонамеренное намерение - Malicious intent; refers to deliberate harmful plans in legal contexts.

Usage Notes:

• 'Злонамеренный' is the closest direct equivalent to 'malicious' in formal English contexts, while 'злобный' suits informal, emotional scenarios. Choose based on tone—avoid 'вредоносный' for non-tech uses to prevent confusion.
• In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English.
• Usage is context-dependent: 'злобный' might imply personal spite, whereas 'злонамеренный' suggests calculated harm.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'злобный' with 'злой' (angry), leading to misuse in sentences. Incorrect: Он злобный на меня. (This implies spite, but learners might say it for temporary anger.) Correct: Он злой на меня. (He is angry at me.) Explanation: 'Злобный' denotes enduring malice, not fleeting emotion.
• Error: Overusing 'вредоносный' in non-technical contexts. Incorrect: Его вредоносное поведение (for everyday spite). Correct: Его злобное поведение. Explanation: Reserve 'вредоносный' for literal harm, like in IT, to match English 'malicious' accurately.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'злобный' often appear in literature (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works) to depict deep-seated resentment, reflecting historical themes of interpersonal conflict and social critique. This can help English speakers understand the emotional weight behind such terms in Russian media.

Related Concepts:

• враждебность (hostility)
• коварство (deceitfulness)
• злость (anger)