Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'neutrality'

English Word: neutrality

Key Russian Translations:

• нейтралитет (/nʲɪtrɐlʲɪˈtʲet/) - [Formal, Used in political, diplomatic, or legal contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal discussions, international relations, and academic texts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and formal vocabulary, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of Russian grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нейтралитет: /nʲɪtrɐlʲɪˈtʲet/

Note on нейтралитет: The stress falls on the third syllable ("li"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants (/nʲ/ and /lʲ/). Pronounce it with a soft, rolling 'r' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state of being neutral, especially in conflicts or disputes

Translation(s) & Context:

• нейтралитет - Used in formal contexts like international law or diplomacy, emphasizing impartiality in wars or negotiations.

Usage Examples:

• В период холодной войны многие страны придерживались политики нейтралитета.

  During the Cold War, many countries adhered to a policy of neutrality.

• Нейтралитет Швейцарии помог ей избежать участия в мировых войнах.

  Switzerland's neutrality helped it avoid involvement in world wars.

• В международном праве нейтралитет означает отказ от поддержки любой из сторон конфликта.

  In international law, neutrality means refusing to support either side in a conflict.

• Политика нейтралитета позволяет стране сосредоточиться на внутренних делах.

  A policy of neutrality allows a country to focus on its internal affairs.

• Нейтралитет в споре между двумя друзьями может быть трудным, но необходимым.

  Neutrality in a dispute between two friends can be difficult but necessary.

The quality of being unbiased or impartial in judgment

Translation(s) & Context:

• нейтралитет - Applied in ethical, journalistic, or personal contexts to denote fairness without favoritism.

Usage Examples:

• Журналист должен сохранять нейтралитет, чтобы предоставлять объективную информацию.

  A journalist must maintain neutrality to provide objective information.

• Нейтралитет в научных исследованиях гарантирует достоверность результатов.

  Neutrality in scientific research ensures the reliability of results.

• Её нейтралитет в семейных спорах помог разрешить конфликт.

  Her neutrality in family disputes helped resolve the conflict.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Нейтралитет" is a masculine noun of the second declension in Russian. It follows regular patterns for most forms but has no plural in common usage as it often refers to an abstract concept. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The plural forms are uncommon and typically only used in specific contexts like discussing multiple instances of neutrality policies.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• безучастность (implies complete indifference, often with a negative connotation)
• импарциальность (more formal, emphasizing fairness in judgment)

Antonyms:

• пристрастие (bias or favoritism)
• вовлеченность (involvement or engagement)

Related Phrases:

• политика нейтралитета - A policy of neutrality (commonly used in diplomatic contexts to describe a nation's stance in conflicts).
• сохранять нейтралитет - To maintain neutrality (used when advising impartiality in personal or professional situations).
• международный нейтралитет - International neutrality (refers to global agreements or treaties on non-alignment).

Usage Notes:

"Нейтралитет" directly corresponds to the English "neutrality" in formal contexts but is less flexible in everyday speech. It is primarily used in written or official language, such as legal documents or news articles. When choosing between translations, opt for "нейтралитет" for political or ethical impartiality, but be aware of its formal tone—informal situations might use simpler phrases like "не вмешиваться" (not to interfere). Grammatically, it requires appropriate case endings based on sentence structure, which can be tricky for beginners.

• In diplomatic contexts, it's often paired with verbs like "соблюдать" (to observe) or "поддерживать" (to maintain).
• Avoid overusing it in casual conversation, as it may sound overly academic.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "нейтралитет" with "нейтральный" (neutral as an adjective). For example:

• Error: Using "нейтральный" when a noun is needed, e.g., "Я хочу нейтральный" instead of "Я хочу нейтралитета" (I want neutrality).
• Correct: "Я поддерживаю нейтралитет" (I support neutrality). Explanation: "Нейтральный" is an adjective (e.g., "нейтральный подход" - neutral approach), while "нейтралитет" is the noun form.
• Another Error: Incorrect case usage, e.g., saying "о нейтралитет" instead of "о нейтралитете" in prepositional case. Explanation: Always adjust for the required case to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, "нейтралитет" is often associated with countries like Switzerland or Sweden, which maintained neutrality during major wars. However, Russia's own foreign policy has historically involved alliances rather than strict neutrality, making this term a point of discussion in debates about global politics and national identity.

Related Concepts:

• мир (peace)
• дипломатия (diplomacy)
• импарциальность (impartiality)