Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'preoccupation'

English Word: preoccupation

Key Russian Translations:

• Занятость [zəˈnʲatəsʲtʲ] - [Formal; used for mental or physical busyness]
• Предубеждение [prʲɪˈdubʲɪʐdʲɪnʲɪjə] - [Formal; used specifically for bias or prejudice]
• Увлечение [uˈvlʲeʧʲenʲɪje] - [Informal; used for absorption or obsession with something]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday and professional contexts, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual nuances; for 'Занятость', it's B1; for 'Предубеждение', it might be B2 due to abstract concepts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Занятость: [zəˈnʲatəsʲtʲ]

Note on Занятость: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'т' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Предубеждение: [prʲɪˈdubʲɪʐdʲɪnʲɪjə]

Note on Предубеждение: The 'ж' is pronounced as a soft 'zh' sound; variations in stress can occur in fast speech.

Увлечение: [uˈvlʲeʧʲenʲɪje]

Note on Увлечение: The 'ч' is a voiceless palatal fricative; practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

First Meaning: State of being preoccupied (absorbed in thought or mental busyness)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Занятость - Used in formal or professional contexts to describe being mentally or physically occupied, e.g., in work or daily life.
• Увлечение - Informal context, often for personal hobbies or obsessions that dominate one's attention.

Usage Examples:

• Его занятость мыслями о проекте помешала ему сосредоточиться на беседе.

  His preoccupation with thoughts about the project prevented him from focusing on the conversation.

• Из-за своей увлеченности книгами она часто забывала о времени.

  Due to her preoccupation with books, she often lost track of time.

• Эта занятость рутинными делами утомляет его каждый день.

  This preoccupation with routine tasks exhausts him every day.

• Увлечение спортом стало её главной занятостью в свободное время.

  Her preoccupation with sports became her main activity in her free time.

• Занятость заботами о семье не позволяет ему отдыхать по вечерам.

  His preoccupation with family concerns doesn't allow him to relax in the evenings.

Second Meaning: A subject that occupies one's attention (e.g., a worry or interest)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Предубеждение - In contexts involving bias or preconceived notions, often in discussions or arguments.
• Занятость - For general interests or worries that take up mental space.

Usage Examples:

• Его предубеждение против новых идей тормозит прогресс команды.

  His preoccupation with prejudice against new ideas is hindering the team's progress.

• Занятость политическими новостями доминирует в его повседневных разговорах.

  His preoccupation with political news dominates his everyday conversations.

• Предубеждение на основе стереотипов часто приводит к недоразумениям.

  Preoccupation with stereotypes often leads to misunderstandings.

• Её занятость здоровьем семьи стала постоянной темой обсуждений.

  Her preoccupation with her family's health has become a constant topic of discussion.

• Увлечение историей помогло ему глубже понять культурные предубеждения.

  His preoccupation with history helped him better understand cultural prejudices.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily nouns, which in Russian undergo declension based on case, number, and gender. 'Занятость' is a feminine noun, while 'Предубеждение' and 'Увлечение' are neuter nouns.

Note: These follow standard Russian noun declension patterns, with no irregularities for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Занятость: Обязанность (Obligation) - Similar but more about duties.
  • Предубеждение: Стереотип (Stereotype) - Often interchangeable in biased contexts.
  • Увлечение: Поглощенность (Absorption) - Emphasizes deeper immersion.
• Antonyms:
  • Занятость: Свободное время (Free time)
  • Предубеждение: Объективность (Objectivity)
  • Увлечение: Отсутствие интереса (Lack of interest)

Related Phrases:

• Занятость делами - Busy with affairs; used to describe someone overwhelmed with tasks.
• Предубеждение против кого-то - Prejudice against someone; common in social discussions.
• Глубокое увлечение - Deep preoccupation; implies intense focus on a hobby.
• Преодоление предубеждений - Overcoming prejudices; often in personal development contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Занятость' directly corresponds to the neutral sense of 'preoccupation' as busyness, making it ideal for everyday English-to-Russian translation. However, 'Предубеждение' is more specific to negative biases, so choose it only when the context involves prejudice. In formal writing, always consider the noun's gender and case for grammatical accuracy. For 'Увлечение', it's best in informal or emotional contexts to convey passion. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; instead, match the nuance to ensure natural Russian expression.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'Занятость' interchangeably with 'Предубеждение' without context. Correct: Занятость мыслями (Preoccupation with thoughts) vs. Incorrect: Предубеждение мыслями (which implies biased thoughts). Explanation: This confuses mental absorption with bias, leading to miscommunication.
• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., saying "Я имею предубеждение" instead of "Я имею предубеждение" in correct case. Correct: Use genitive in phrases like "страх предубеждения". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'Предубеждение' often ties to historical contexts like Soviet-era stereotypes or modern social issues, reflecting a society that values critical thinking to overcome biases. 'Увлечение' might relate to the Russian passion for literature or arts, as seen in classics like Tolstoy, where characters' preoccupations drive the narrative.

Related Concepts:

• Обсессия
• Стереотип
• Забота
• Поглощенность