Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mania'

English Word: mania

Key Russian Translations:

• мания /ˈmanʲɪjə/ - [Formal, used in psychological or medical contexts]
• одержимость /ɐdʲɪrʐʲɪˈmosʲtʲ/ - [Informal, everyday language for obsession or fixation]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in psychological discussions, literature, and casual conversations about obsessions)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of noun declensions and formal vocabulary; for "одержимость", also B2 due to its emotional nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мания: /ˈmanʲɪjə/

одержимость: /ɐdʲɪrʐʲɪˈmosʲtʲ/

Note on мания: The stress is on the first syllable; pronounce the "я" as a soft "ya" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.

Note on одержимость: The "ж" is a voiced fricative, similar to "zh" in "measure"; be mindful of the stress on the third syllable for natural flow.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. An excessive or unreasonable enthusiasm or obsession (non-medical context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• одержимость - Used in informal settings to describe a strong fixation, such as a hobby turning into an obsession; common in everyday conversations.
• мания - More formal, often implying a pathological level of interest; suitable for discussions about collectors or enthusiasts.

Usage Examples:

• Его одержимость компьютерными играми мешает учёбе.

  His obsession with computer games is interfering with his studies.

• Эта мания путешествовать по миру стала частью её жизни.

  This mania for traveling the world has become a part of her life.

• Моя одержимость спортом помогла мне достичь новых высот.

  My obsession with sports helped me reach new heights.

• В молодости у меня была мания коллекционировать редкие книги.

  In my youth, I had a mania for collecting rare books.

• Её одержимость работой часто приводит к переутомлению.

  Her obsession with work often leads to burnout.

2. In psychology, a mood disorder characterized by elevated mood and energy (medical context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мания - Primarily used in clinical or formal psychological contexts, often in reference to bipolar disorder; avoid in casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Во время мании пациент может испытывать эйфорию и бессонницу.

  During mania, the patient may experience euphoria and insomnia.

• Лечение мании часто включает медикаменты и терапию.

  Treatment for mania often involves medication and therapy.

• Её мания проявилась в чрезмерной активности и неконтролируемых расходах.

  Her mania manifested as excessive activity and uncontrolled spending.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "мания" and "одержимость" are feminine nouns. "Мания" follows the first declension pattern with regular inflections, while "одержимость" is also first declension but may vary slightly in abstract contexts. Below is a table for their key inflections:

Note: These nouns do not change in gender but follow standard feminine patterns; irregularities are minimal.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • увлечение (enthusiasm; less intense than мания)
  • психоз (psychosis; for medical contexts, implying broader mental disturbance)
  • фанатизм (fanaticism; often carries a negative connotation of extremism)
• Antonyms:
  • апатия (apathy; lack of interest or emotion)
  • равнодушие (indifference; complete lack of enthusiasm)

Related Phrases:

• Мания преследования - Paranoia or persecution complex; used in psychological contexts to describe irrational fears.
• Одержимость идеей - Obsession with an idea; common in discussions about inventors or artists.
• Компульсивная мания - Compulsive mania; refers to behaviors in OCD-related scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Мания" directly corresponds to the English "mania" in medical contexts, such as bipolar disorder, and should be used formally to avoid trivializing serious conditions. "Одержимость" is more versatile for everyday obsessions but carries an emotional weight, making it suitable for informal narratives. When choosing between translations, opt for "мания" in professional settings and "одержимость" in personal stories. Be cautious of grammatical agreement: both are feminine nouns, so adjectives and verbs must align accordingly (e.g., "эта мания опасна" - this mania is dangerous). In Russian culture, these words often appear in literature or media to explore human passions, so context is key to avoiding misunderstandings.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "мания" with "магия" (magic): English learners might mishear or misspelling it as "магия", which means witchcraft. Correct usage: Use "мания" for obsessions, not "магия". Example of error: "У него магия компьютерами" (wrong) vs. "У него мания компьютерами" (correct, meaning "He has a mania for computers").
• Overusing in informal contexts: Learners might apply "мания" casually, like "I have a mania for coffee", which sounds overly dramatic. Better: Use "одержимость" for lighter obsessions. Error example: "Моя мания кофе" (overly formal) vs. "Моё увлечение кофе" (more appropriate for minor interests).
• Incorrect declension: Forgetting to change cases, e.g., saying "без мания" instead of "без ма́нии" in genitive. Correct: Always decline based on sentence structure for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "мания" often appears in literary works, such as in Dostoevsky's novels, to depict intense psychological states, reflecting a historical fascination with human extremes. It carries a connotation of romanticized suffering, influenced by 19th-century literature, which can make it seem more dramatic than in English usage. Understanding this helps English speakers appreciate the emotional depth in Russian media and conversations.

Related Concepts:

• психоз
• биполярное расстройство
• фобия