Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'offence'

English Word: offence

Key Russian Translations:

• преступление [ˈprʲɪstuplʲɪnʲe] - [Formal, Legal context]
• обида [ɐˈbʲidə] - [Informal, Emotional context, e.g., Used for personal affronts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, news, and everyday discussions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 for 'преступление' (Intermediate, as it involves understanding noun declensions); B2 for 'обида' (Upper-Intermediate, due to nuanced emotional connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

преступление: [ˈprʲɪstuplʲɪnʲe]

Note on преступление: The stress falls on the first syllable; the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a clear separation between syllables.

обида: [ɐˈbʲidə]

Note on обида: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'б' is soft, and the word ends with a neutral vowel sound. Avoid over-emphasizing the final 'a'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A breach of law or illegal act (e.g., crime)

Translation(s) & Context:

• преступление - Used in formal, legal, or official contexts, such as court proceedings or news reports.

Usage Examples:

• Он был осуждён за тяжкое преступление. (He was convicted of a serious offence.)

  He was convicted of a serious offence.

• Преступление произошло в центре города ночью. (The offence took place in the city center at night.)

  The offence took place in the city center at night.

• Чтобы предотвратить преступление, полиция увеличила патрули. (To prevent the offence, the police increased patrols.)

  To prevent the offence, the police increased patrols.

• Это преступление шокировало всю страну. (This offence shocked the entire country.)

  This offence shocked the entire country.

Meaning 2: An act that causes hurt or annoyance (e.g., insult or affront)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обида - Used in informal, everyday conversations, especially in personal or emotional situations, like family disputes.

Usage Examples:

• Его слова стали для меня большой обидой. (His words were a great offence to me.)

  His words were a great offence to me.

• Не стоит принимать это как обиду; он просто пошутил. (Don't take it as an offence; he was just joking.)

  Don't take it as an offence; he was just joking.

• Обида от её отказа долго не проходила. (The offence from her refusal lingered for a long time.)

  The offence from her refusal lingered for a long time.

• Маленькая обида может разрушить дружбу. (A small offence can ruin a friendship.)

  A small offence can ruin a friendship.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'преступление' (neuter noun, 2nd declension):

This noun follows regular neuter declension patterns in Russian. It changes based on case and number. Below is a table of its inflections:

For 'обида' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

This noun also follows regular feminine declension and changes based on case and number. It is invariant in plural forms in some contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • преступный акт (Similar to 'crime', but more specific to actions)
  • злодеяние (Emphasizes moral wrongdoing, often with a dramatic connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • добро (Goodness, opposite in moral sense)
  • законность (Legality, contrasting with illegal acts)

Related Phrases:

• Тяжкое преступление - Serious offence (Used for grave crimes, often in legal contexts)
• Личная обида - Personal offence (Refers to emotional hurt in interpersonal relationships)
• Умышленное преступление - Intentional offence (Implies deliberate action, common in criminal law)

Usage Notes:

'Преступление' directly corresponds to 'offence' in a legal sense and is preferred in formal writing or official documents, while 'обида' aligns more with emotional or social affronts. Be mindful of context: in Russian, 'преступление' requires correct case agreement with verbs and prepositions (e.g., "за преступление" for "for the offence"). For 'обида', it's often used in idiomatic expressions and can vary by regional dialects. When choosing between translations, opt for 'преступление' in objective discussions and 'обида' in subjective, personal scenarios to ensure natural flow.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'преступление' with 'обида', using 'обида' in legal contexts. Incorrect: "Он был арестован за обиду" (He was arrested for an offence – implies emotional hurt). Correct: "Он был арестован за преступление". Explanation: 'Обида' is emotional, not legal; always check the context to select the appropriate word.

• Misdeclining nouns, e.g., using nominative 'преступление' in genitive contexts. Incorrect: "Из-за преступление" (Because of the offence). Correct: "Из-за преступления". Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so learn declension patterns early.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'преступление' often carries historical connotations from events like the Soviet era, where certain offences were politicized. 'Обида' reflects the value placed on personal honor and relationships, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where emotional offences can drive plotlines. Understanding these nuances helps English speakers appreciate the deeper social implications in Russian communication.

Related Concepts:

• нарушение (Violation)
• преступник (Offender)
• закон (Law)