Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'negative'

English Word: negative

Key Russian Translations:

• отрицательный [ɐ.trʲɪˈʦatʲ.ɪlʲ.nɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• негативный [nʲɪˈɡatʲ.ɪv.nɨj] - [Informal, Modern usage, especially in opinions or media]
• отрицание [ɐ.trʲɪˈʦanʲ.ɪjɛ] - [Noun form, Formal, Grammatical context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, academic, and professional contexts, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and basic grammar, but accessible to learners beyond beginner level. For "негативный", it may be A2 due to its loanword nature; for "отрицание", B1 due to nominal forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

отрицательный: [ɐ.trʲɪˈʦatʲ.ɪlʲ.nɨj]

Note on отрицательный: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("-tel-"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants and vowel reductions in Russian. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

негативный: [nʲɪˈɡatʲ.ɪv.nɨj]

Note on негативный: This is a borrowed word from English/French, so it retains a more straightforward pronunciation, but the initial "н" is palatalized.

отрицание: [ɐ.trʲɪˈʦanʲ.ɪjɛ]

Note on отрицание: As a noun, it ends in a soft sign, affecting the preceding vowel's sound; common in formal or philosophical discussions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Adjective meaning: Expressing denial, opposition, or a pessimistic quality

Translation(s) & Context:

• отрицательный - Used in formal contexts like mathematics (e.g., negative numbers) or opinions (e.g., negative feedback), often in written or professional language.
• негативный - Informal or modern usage, especially in media, psychology, or casual conversations, implying something harmful or unfavorable.

Usage Examples:

• В математике отрицательный знак указывает на уменьшение.

  In mathematics, the negative sign indicates a decrease.

• Её отзыв был отрицательным, так что мы внесли изменения.

  Her feedback was negative, so we made changes.

• Этот фильм имеет негативный эффект на зрителей.

  This film has a negative effect on viewers.

• В грамматике отрицание часто выражается с помощью "не".

  In grammar, negation is often expressed using "не".

• Негативные эмоции могут повлиять на здоровье.

  Negative emotions can affect health.

Noun meaning: The state of being negative or a denial

Translation(s) & Context:

• отрицание - Used in philosophical, logical, or grammatical contexts to denote negation or denial.

Usage Examples:

• Отрицание фактов приводит к конфликтам.

  Denial of facts leads to conflicts.

• В психологии отрицание — это механизм защиты.

  In psychology, denial is a defense mechanism.

• Его ответ было чистым отрицанием.

  His response was pure denial.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For adjectives like "отрицательный" and "негативный", Russian adjectives inflect based on gender, number, and case. They follow the standard first-declension pattern for hard-stem adjectives.

Note: "Отрицание" as a noun is neuter and follows the standard neuter noun declension, which is mostly regular. Adjectives like these do not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • негативный (similar to "negative" in informal contexts, but with a modern connotation)
  • плохой (basic synonym for "bad" or "negative" in everyday speech, with less formal tone)
• Antonyms:
  • положительный (positive, direct opposite in mathematical or opinion contexts)
  • хороший (good, everyday antonym for negative qualities)

Related Phrases:

• отрицательный баланс - A negative balance (refers to financial deficits).
• негативный опыт - A negative experience (common in personal development or psychology).
• отрицание реальности - Denial of reality (used in philosophical or therapeutic contexts).

Usage Notes:

"Negative" in English often corresponds to "отрицательный" in formal Russian contexts, such as science or grammar, while "негативный" is preferred for emotional or modern usages. Be cautious with context: "отрицание" is a noun and shouldn't be used interchangeably with adjectives. In spoken Russian, synonyms like "плохой" might be more natural in casual conversations. Grammar-wise, always inflect adjectives to match the noun's gender, number, and case to avoid errors.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "отрицательный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "отрицательный число" instead of "отрицательное число" for neuter nouns.

  Correct: "отрицательное число" – Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender; "число" is neuter, so the adjective ends in "-ое".

• Error: Confusing "негативный" with "отрицательный" in formal writing, e.g., using "негативный" in a mathematical context.

  Correct: Use "отрицательный" for math; "негативный" for opinions – Explanation: "Негативный" sounds informal and may not fit academic tones.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "негативный" often carry a strong emotional weight, influenced by historical events such as the Soviet era's emphasis on optimism in propaganda. Thus, expressing "negative" sentiments can sometimes be downplayed in social interactions to maintain harmony, reflecting collectivist values.

Related Concepts:

• положительный
• нейтральный
• конфликт