Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nisus'

English Word: nisus

Key Russian Translations:

• усилие [uˈsʲilʲje] - [Formal, Singular]
• стремление [strʲemˈlʲenʲje] - [Informal, Abstract Noun]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary and psychological contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions, with 'усилие' being slightly easier than 'стремление' due to its regular patterns)

Pronunciation (Russian):

усилие: [uˈsʲilʲje]

Note on усилие: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 's' sound, which is common in Russian nouns.

стремление: [strʲemˈlʲenʲje]

Note on стремление: This word has a soft 'l' and stress on the third syllable; it may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A strong inward urge or effort, often psychological or motivational

Translation(s) & Context:

• усилие - Used in formal or academic contexts, such as describing mental exertion or willpower in psychology or philosophy.
• стремление - Applied in informal or everyday contexts, emphasizing aspiration or drive in personal development or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Его внутреннее усилие помогло преодолеть трудности.

  His inner nisus helped him overcome the difficulties.

• Это стремление к совершенству делает его уникальным.

  This nisus toward perfection makes him unique.

• Без усилия невозможно достичь успеха в жизни.

  Without nisus, it's impossible to achieve success in life.

• Ее стремление к знаниям вдохновляет окружающих.

  Her nisus for knowledge inspires those around her.

• Внутреннее усилие иногда сильнее, чем внешние мотивы.

  Inner nisus is sometimes stronger than external motivations.

Meaning 2: A striving or directed effort, as in biological or metaphorical senses

Translation(s) & Context:

• усилие - Common in scientific or metaphorical uses, e.g., in biology to describe instinctive drives.
• стремление - Used in literary contexts for emotional or goal-oriented striving.

Usage Examples:

• Биологическое усилие организмов к выживанию удивительно.

  The biological nisus of organisms toward survival is remarkable.

• Его стремление к свободе стало легендарным.

  His nisus for freedom became legendary.

• Это усилие воли проявляется в критические моменты.

  This nisus of will shows up in critical moments.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'усилие' and 'стремление' are neuter nouns in Russian, which typically follow standard declension patterns. 'Усилие' is a third-declension noun and changes regularly, while 'стремление' is also regular but may have slight variations in plural forms.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • усилие: напор (napor) - More intense, physical effort
  • стремление: влечение (vlechenie) - Emotional pull, often with subtle romantic connotations
• Antonyms:
  • усилие: пассивность (passivnost') - Lack of effort or inertia
  • стремление: апатия (apatiya) - Indifference or lack of drive

Related Phrases:

• Внутреннее усилие - Internal nisus; used to describe self-motivation in personal growth contexts.
• Стремление к успеху - Nisus toward success; a common phrase in motivational speeches.
• Преодолеть усилием - To overcome by nisus; implies using sheer willpower.

Usage Notes:

'Усилие' and 'стремление' both translate to aspects of 'nisus', but 'усилие' is more concrete and formal, often used in scientific or philosophical discussions, while 'стремление' is abstract and suits emotional or narrative contexts. Choose 'усилие' for situations involving physical or mental exertion, and 'стремление' for goal-oriented desires. Be mindful of Russian noun genders and cases; always decline correctly based on sentence structure. In formal writing, pair these with verbs like 'чувствовать' (to feel) for deeper expression.

Common Errors:

• Confusing cases: Learners often use the nominative form in all contexts, e.g., saying "Я вижу усилие" instead of "Я вижу усилие" (correct), but in genitive contexts like "без усилия" (without effort), they might forget to change it. Correct usage: "без усилия" vs. Incorrect: "без усилие".
• Misapplying synonyms: Mixing up 'усилие' with 'стремление' in formal texts, e.g., using 'стремление' in a scientific paper where 'усилие' is more precise. Explanation: 'Стремление' implies direction, so use it for goals, not raw effort.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'усилие' and 'стремление' are deeply tied to the philosophical ideas of Russian literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where inner struggles and moral urges are central. This reflects a cultural emphasis on introspection and resilience, contrasting with more action-oriented Western interpretations of 'nisus'.

Related Concepts:

• воля (volya) - Willpower
• мотивация (motivatsiya) - Motivation
• инстинкт (instinkt) - Instinct