Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'medicine'

English Word: medicine

Key Russian Translations:

• лекарство [lʲɪˈkarstvə] - [Informal, Common in everyday contexts]
• медицина [mʲɪˈdʲitsɨnə] - [Formal, Used in professional or academic settings]

Frequency: High - 'лекарство' and 'медицина' are frequently used in daily conversations, media, and literature in Russian-speaking countries.

Difficulty: B1 for 'лекарство' (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun declensions); B2 for 'медицина' (Upper-Intermediate, due to its abstract usage and potential compound forms).

Pronunciation (Russian):

лекарство: [lʲɪˈkarstvə]

Note on лекарство: The soft 'л' sound (palatalized) can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 'l' in 'million'. Stress falls on the second syllable.

медицина: [mʲɪˈdʲitsɨnə]

Note on медицина: Pronounce the 'ы' as a high central vowel, distinct from 'i'; stress is on the third syllable. This word often has a more emphatic tone in formal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A substance or drug used for treating illness (e.g., pharmaceutical medicine)

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'лекарство' - Used in informal, everyday contexts for over-the-counter drugs or remedies.
• 'медицина' - Less common for this meaning; typically refers to the field, but can imply medical treatments in broader contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я взял лекарство от головной боли. (Ya vzal lekarstvo ot golovnoy boli.)

  I took medicine for the headache. (This example shows 'лекарство' in a simple, direct context for personal health.)

• Это лекарство помогает от аллергии. (Eto lekarstvo pomogayet ot allergii.)

  This medicine helps with allergies. (Illustrates 'лекарство' in a declarative sentence, emphasizing its remedial function.)

• Врачи прописывают новое лекарство пациентам. (Vrachi propisyvayut novoye lekarstvo patsientam.)

  Doctors prescribe new medicine to patients. (Demonstrates 'лекарство' in a medical professional context, with verb conjugation.)

• Медицина в этой стране развивается быстро. (Meditsina v etoy strane razvivaetsya bystro.) - Note: For this meaning, 'медицина' is more appropriate if shifting to the field, but can extend to treatments.

  Medicine in this country is developing quickly. (Shows potential overlap, but primarily for the field; adapt for drug-specific use.)

Meaning 2: The science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease (e.g., the field of medicine)

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'медицина' - Preferred in formal, educational, or professional contexts for the broader field.
• 'лекарство' - Rarely used for this meaning; more specific to substances.

Usage Examples:

• Медицина включает в себя множество специальностей. (Meditsina vklyuchayet v sebya mnogo spetsialnostey.)

  Medicine includes many specialties. (This highlights 'медицина' in an abstract, definitional context.)

• Изучение медицины требует многолетней подготовки. (Izuchenie meditsiny trebuyet mnogoletney podgotovki.)

  Studying medicine requires years of preparation. (Shows 'медицина' with gerunds and in educational contexts.)

• Современная медицина спасла миллионы жизней. (Sovremennaya meditsina spasla milliony zhizney.)

  Modern medicine has saved millions of lives. (Illustrates 'медицина' in historical or impactful statements.)

• В медицине важны этические нормы. (V meditsine vazhny eticheskie normy.)

  Ethics are important in medicine. (Demonstrates 'медицина' in discussions of principles and norms.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'лекарство' and 'медицина' are neuter nouns in Russian, which follow standard declension patterns. 'Лекарство' is a third-declension noun with irregularities, while 'медицина' is more regular.

Note: 'Медицина' has fewer irregularities and is invariant in some contexts, making it easier for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • препарат (preparat) - Similar to 'лекарство' but more formal for pharmaceuticals; often used in medical contexts.
  • лечебное средство (lechebnoye sredstvo) - A more descriptive synonym for 'лекарство', emphasizing treatment.
  • медицинская наука (meditsinskaya nauka) - For 'медицина', highlighting the scientific aspect.
• Antonyms:
  • яды (yady) - Poisons, contrasting with 'лекарство' as harmful substances.
  • болезнь (bolezn') - Illness, opposing the field of 'медицина' which aims to combat disease.

Related Phrases:

• Принимать лекарство (Prinimat' lekarstvo) - To take medicine; used for daily health routines.
• Современная медицина (Sovremennaya meditsina) - Modern medicine; refers to advanced practices in the field.
• Лекарство от простуды (Lekarstvo ot prostudy) - Medicine for a cold; a common phrase for over-the-counter remedies.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'лекарство' for everyday references to drugs or remedies, as it directly corresponds to the English 'medicine' in a practical sense. 'Медицина' is better for abstract or professional contexts, aligning with 'medicine' as a discipline. Be mindful of gender agreements in sentences; both are neuter nouns. In informal speech, 'лекарство' might be shortened or colloquialized, while 'медицина' maintains formality. When selecting between translations, consider the context: medical vs. pharmaceutical.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'медицина' when referring to a specific drug, e.g., saying "Я взял медицина" instead of "Я взял лекарство".
  Correct: "Я взял лекарство" (I took medicine). Explanation: 'Медицина' refers to the field, not the object, leading to confusion in object-specific contexts.
• Mistake: Forgetting declensions, e.g., using nominative 'лекарство' in genitive contexts like "Купить лекарство" (correct) vs. incorrectly saying "Купить от лекарство".
  Correct: "Купить лекарство от боли" (Buy medicine for pain). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'медицина' often evokes the legacy of Soviet healthcare, emphasizing free public services and scientific advancements. 'Лекарство' might reference traditional remedies or homeopathy, reflecting a blend of modern and folk medicine practices in Russia, where natural herbs are commonly used alongside pharmaceuticals.

Related Concepts:

• хирургия (hirurgiya) - Surgery
• терапия (terapiya) - Therapy
• фармакология (farmakologiya) - Pharmacology