Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'oneness'

English Word: oneness

Key Russian Translations:

• единство [jɪˈdʲinstvə] - [Formal, often used in philosophical or abstract contexts]
• однородность [ɐdnɐˈrodnəstʲ] - [Formal, implying uniformity or homogeneity, less common for pure 'oneness']

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, philosophy, and discussions on unity, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract nouns and basic inflection, but 'единство' is straightforward for learners with intermediate vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

единство: [jɪˈdʲinstvə]

однородность: [ɐdnɐˈrodnəstʲ]

Note on единство: The stress falls on the second syllable ('dʲinstvə'). Be mindful of the soft 'dʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.

Note on однородность: Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, with the 'ɐ' sound softening; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The state of being one; unity or wholeness, often in abstract or philosophical contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• единство - Used in formal discussions, such as philosophy, politics, or religion, to denote a sense of unity or integration.
• однородность - Applied in contexts emphasizing uniformity, like in scientific or social descriptions, but less directly for 'oneness'.

Usage Examples:

• В философии понятие единства играет ключевую роль в понимании мира.

  In philosophy, the concept of oneness plays a key role in understanding the world.

• Единство народа является основой сильного государства.

  The oneness of the people is the foundation of a strong state.

• Достижение однородности в обществе требует усилий от всех сторон.

  Achieving oneness in society requires efforts from all sides.

• В духовных практиках единство с природой приводит к внутреннему миру.

  In spiritual practices, oneness with nature leads to inner peace.

• Однородность материалов обеспечивает прочность конструкции.

  The oneness of materials ensures the strength of the structure.

Meaning 2: A sense of singularity or indivisibility, as in religious or metaphysical contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• единство - Preferred in religious or metaphysical discussions to convey a holistic, indivisible state.

Usage Examples:

• Единство души и тела – это основа здорового образа жизни.

  The oneness of body and soul is the basis of a healthy lifestyle.

• В медитации мы стремимся к единству с вселенной.

  In meditation, we strive for oneness with the universe.

• Единство противоположностей часто обсуждается в восточной философии.

  The oneness of opposites is often discussed in Eastern philosophy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Единство' is a neuter noun in the third declension, which means it follows standard neuter noun patterns in Russian. It is inflected based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

'Однородность' is also a neuter noun with similar inflection patterns:

Both words are regular in their inflections, making them relatively easy to learn compared to irregular nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • согласие (soglasie) - Implies harmony or agreement, often in social contexts.
  • целостность (tselostnost') - Emphasizes wholeness or integrity.
• Antonyms:
  • раздробленность (razdroblennost') - Suggests fragmentation or division.
  • разобщенность (razobschchennost') - Indicates separation or disconnection.

Related Phrases:

• Единство и борьба противоположностей - Refers to the unity and struggle of opposites, a concept from dialectics.
• Духовное единство - Spiritual oneness, often used in religious discussions.
• Национальное единство - National oneness, implying unity among a nation's people.

Usage Notes:

'Единство' directly corresponds to 'oneness' in abstract English usage, especially in philosophy or unity-themed contexts, but it carries a more formal tone in Russian. Avoid using it in casual conversations; opt for simpler words like 'согласие' for everyday harmony. When choosing between 'единство' and 'однородность', select 'единство' for emotional or conceptual unity, and 'однородность' for physical or structural uniformity. Grammatically, always ensure proper case agreement with accompanying verbs or prepositions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'единство' in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я думаю о единство" instead of "Я думаю об единстве" (correct: with prepositional case).
  Explanation: Russian requires nouns to change based on case; the incorrect form sounds unnatural and confuses native speakers.
• Mistake: Confusing 'единство' with 'единственный' (meaning 'only' or 'unique'), e.g., translating 'oneness' as 'единственный' in a unity context.
  Explanation: 'Единственный' is an adjective for singularity, not a noun for unity; use 'единство' for the abstract concept to avoid semantic errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'единство' often evokes themes from Soviet-era ideology, such as national unity or collective harmony, as seen in historical slogans like those from the USSR. In modern contexts, it appears in discussions of Russian identity or Orthodox Christianity, where oneness with God or community is emphasized, reflecting a deep cultural value on interconnectedness over individualism.

Related Concepts:

• гармония (garmoniya)
• интеграция (integratsiya)
• солидарность (solidarnost')