Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'practicality'

English Word: practicality

Key Russian Translations:

• практичность [prɐkˈtʲitɕnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Abstract]

Frequency: Medium (This word is commonly used in discussions about efficiency, decision-making, and everyday problem-solving in Russian media, literature, and professional contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of abstract nouns and basic declensions, suitable for learners with some vocabulary in business or philosophy.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

практичность: [prɐkˈtʲitɕnəsʲtʲ]

Note on практичность: The stress falls on the third syllable ('tʲitɕ'), which is common in Russian abstract nouns. Pay attention to the palatalized 'tʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in pronunciation may occur in regional dialects, but this is the standard Moscow variant.

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Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The quality of being practical or useful in real-life situations.

Translation(s) & Context:

• практичность - Used in formal contexts like business, engineering, or philosophy to discuss the usefulness of ideas or objects. (e.g., In professional settings, emphasizing efficiency.)

Usage Examples:

• В повседневной жизни практичность важнее эстетики.

  In everyday life, practicality is more important than aesthetics.

• При выборе автомобиля, люди часто оценивают его практичность.

  When choosing a car, people often evaluate its practicality.

• Практичность этого плана делает его идеальным для бизнеса.

  The practicality of this plan makes it ideal for business.

• В дизайне интерьера практичность сочетается с красотой.

  In interior design, practicality is combined with beauty.

Meaning 2: Practical aspects or applications of something abstract.

Translation(s) & Context:

• практичность - Applied in educational or theoretical contexts to refer to real-world applications, such as in science or policy-making. (e.g., In academic discussions, contrasting theory with practice.)

Usage Examples:

• Студенты изучают теорию, но практичность знаний проверяется на практике.

  Students study theory, but the practicality of knowledge is tested in practice.

• Практичность идей Эйнштейна революционизировала физику.

  The practicality of Einstein's ideas revolutionized physics.

• В политике практичность часто уступает идеологии.

  In politics, practicality often gives way to ideology.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Практичность" is a feminine noun (3rd declension) derived from the adjective "практичный" (practical). It follows regular patterns for feminine nouns ending in -ость, which are common for abstract concepts in Russian. It is invariable in form for gender but changes by case and number.

Note: This word is regular and does not have irregular inflections, making it straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • полезность (poleznost') - Emphasizes utility over abstract practicality.
  • эффективность (effektivnost') - Focuses on efficiency in achieving results.
• Antonyms:
  • непрактичность (nepraktichnost') - Direct opposite, meaning impracticality.
  • неэффективность (neeffektivnost') - Implies inefficiency or lack of results.

Related Phrases:

• Практичность в действии - Practicality in action (Refers to applying ideas practically in real scenarios.)
• Оценивать практичность - To evaluate practicality (Common in decision-making processes.)
• Практичность решения - Practicality of a solution (Used in problem-solving contexts.)

Usage Notes:

"Практичность" directly corresponds to the English "practicality" as an abstract noun, often used in formal or professional English-Russian translations. It is versatile but typically appears in written contexts like essays or reports rather than casual speech. When choosing between synonyms like "полезность," opt for "практичность" if the focus is on real-world applicability rather than mere usefulness. Grammatically, always ensure it agrees in case with its modifiers, e.g., "высокая практичность" (high practicality). In spoken Russian, it might be softened in informal settings by rephrasing, such as "это практично" instead of directly using the noun.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "практичность" with "практика" (practice). Incorrect: "Я изучаю практичность тенниса." (I study the practicality of tennis.) Correct: "Я изучаю практичность тенниса." Wait, no—actually, the error is using "практика" which means "practice sessions," not the abstract quality. Correct usage: "Практичность тенниса в повседневной жизни." Explanation: "Практика" refers to hands-on activity, while "практичность" is the quality; learners often mix them due to similar roots.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Incorrect: "О практичность" (instead of genitive "О практичности"). Correct: "О практичности." Explanation: Russian requires case agreement; always check the sentence structure for proper inflection to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "практичность" often reflects a pragmatic approach to life, influenced by historical contexts like Soviet-era resourcefulness. For instance, during times of scarcity, Russians valued practical solutions over luxury, which is evident in everyday phrases and proverbs like "Делу время, потехе час" (Time for work, an hour for fun), emphasizing practicality in balancing work and leisure.

Related Concepts:

• эффективность (efficiency)
• полезность (usefulness)
• реализм (realism)