Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'malignant'

English Word: malignant

Key Russian Translations:

• злокачественный [zləkəˈtʃɪstvənnɨj] - [Formal, Medical Context]
• злобный [zloʊbnɨj] - [Informal, General Usage]

Frequency: Medium (Common in medical and professional contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and specialized vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

злокачественный: [zləkəˈtʃɪstvənnɨj]

злобный: [zloʊbnɨj]

Note on злокачественный: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("tʃɪstvənnɨj"), which can be tricky for learners due to the consonant cluster; pronounce it smoothly without pausing.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: In medical contexts, referring to cancerous or harmful growths

Translation(s) & Context:

• злокачественный - Used in formal medical reports or discussions about tumors and diseases.

Usage Examples:

• Врачи диагностировали злокачественную опухоль у пациента.

  Doctors diagnosed a malignant tumor in the patient.

• Злокачественные клетки могут быстро распространяться по организму.

  Malignant cells can spread quickly throughout the body.

• Лечение злокачественных новообразований требует оперативного вмешательства.

  Treatment of malignant growths requires immediate surgical intervention.

Meaning 2: Generally, meaning harmful, malicious, or evil in intent

Translation(s) & Context:

• злобный - Used in informal or literary contexts to describe someone's harmful nature or behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Его злобные намерения были очевидны для всех вокруг.

  His malignant intentions were obvious to everyone around.

• Злобный персонаж в фильме символизировал зло в мире.

  The malignant character in the film symbolized evil in the world.

• Не поддавайтесь злобным импульсам; подумайте о последствиях.

  Don't give in to malignant impulses; think about the consequences.

• Злобные сплетни могут разрушить дружбу.

  Malignant gossip can destroy friendships.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives in Russian, which typically follow standard adjective declension patterns. "Злокачественный" and "злобный" are regular adjectives and decline based on gender, number, and case. They do not have irregular forms.

Note: These forms change accordingly for feminine and neuter genders (e.g., злокачественная for feminine singular).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вредоносный (harmful, with a focus on causing damage)
  • злой (evil, more emotional and less formal)
• Antonyms:
  • доброкачественный (benign, especially in medical contexts)
  • добрый (kind, good-natured)

Related Phrases:

• Злокачественная опухоль - A malignant tumor; used in medical diagnoses to indicate cancer.
• Злобные намерения - Malignant intentions; refers to harmful plans in everyday or literary contexts.
• Злокачественный рост - Malignant growth; a phrase for describing the spread of diseases or negative influences.

Usage Notes:

"Malignant" translates most accurately to "злокачественный" in medical contexts, where it aligns with English usage for cancerous conditions. In general English, it might correspond to "злобный" for describing malicious behavior, but be cautious with tone— "злобный" is more informal and emotional. Always consider the context: use formal adjectives in professional settings. For learners, note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "злокачественный" in non-medical contexts, such as for everyday malice, which can sound overly dramatic or incorrect.

  Correct: злобный (for general use). Example of error: *Он злокачественный человек* (incorrectly implying a medical condition). Correct: Он злобный человек.

• Error: Forgetting to decline the adjective properly, e.g., using the nominative form in all cases.

  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "в злокачественной опухоли" (in a malignant tumor) for genitive case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "злокачественный" are heavily associated with medical and scientific discourse, reflecting Russia's strong tradition in healthcare and oncology research. Historically, due to events like the Chernobyl disaster, discussions around malignant diseases carry a deeper societal weight, often evoking themes of resilience and public health awareness in literature and media.

Related Concepts:

• доброкачественный
• онкология
• зло