Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'quality'

English Word: quality

Key Russian Translations:

• качество [kɐˈtʃʲestvə] - [Formal, General use]
• свойство [svɐˈjstvə] - [Formal, Specific to characteristics or attributes]
• качество товара [kɐˈtʃʲestvə tɐˈvarə] - [Formal, Contextual for product quality]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday discussions about products, standards, and characteristics, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "good" or "bad").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can understand and use it in context, but mastering its inflections requires familiarity with Russian noun declensions).

Pronunciation (Russian):

качество: [kɐˈtʃʲestvə]

свойство: [svɐˈjstvə]

Note on качество: The stress falls on the second syllable (tʃʲes-), which is a common point of difficulty for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The standard or level of excellence of something (e.g., product quality)

Translation(s) & Context:

• качество - Used in formal contexts like business or manufacturing to describe the inherent excellence of an item.
• свойство - Applied when referring to inherent characteristics, such as in scientific or descriptive contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Это качество продукции всегда на высшем уровне. (This quality of the product is always at the highest level.)

  English: This quality of the product is always at the highest level.

• Мы должны проверить качество материала перед началом строительства. (We must check the quality of the material before starting construction.)

  English: We must check the quality of the material before starting construction.

• Свойство этой ткани делает её идеальной для зимней одежды. (The property of this fabric makes it ideal for winter clothing.)

  English: The property of this fabric makes it ideal for winter clothing.

• Качество услуг в этом отеле превзошло все ожидания. (The quality of services in this hotel exceeded all expectations.)

  English: The quality of services in this hotel exceeded all expectations.

• Из-за плохого качества воды мы не можем её пить. (Due to the poor quality of the water, we cannot drink it.)

  English: Due to the poor quality of the water, we cannot drink it. This example shows the word in a negative context.

Meaning 2: A distinctive attribute or feature of something (e.g., qualities of a person)

Translation(s) & Context:

• качество - Often used metaphorically for personal traits, in educational or psychological contexts.
• качество товара - Less common here, but can extend to abstract qualities.

Usage Examples:

• Одним из главных качеств лидера является честность. (One of the main qualities of a leader is honesty.)

  English: One of the main qualities of a leader is honesty. This demonstrates the word in a personal development context.

• Её творческие качества помогли в разработке нового дизайна. (Her creative qualities helped in developing the new design.)

  English: Her creative qualities helped in developing the new design. Here, it refers to inherent talents.

• Качество терпения очень важно в преподавании. (The quality of patience is very important in teaching.)

  English: The quality of patience is very important in teaching. This shows its use in professional settings.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

качество is a neuter noun in the third declension group. It follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns, which are regular but require attention to cases. Below is a declension table for качество:

свойство is also a neuter noun and follows a similar pattern to качество, with regular inflections as shown in the table above for most cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • свойство (property; often used interchangeably but more focused on inherent attributes)
  • уровень (level; implies a scale of quality)
  • характеристика (characteristic; broader for descriptive features)
• Antonyms:
  • дефект (defect; opposite in the context of flaws)
  • недостаток (shortcoming; highlights weaknesses)

Related Phrases:

• Высокое качество (High quality) - Refers to superior standards in products or services.
• Качество жизни (Quality of life) - Commonly used in discussions about well-being and living conditions.
• Проверять качество (To check quality) - A phrase for quality control processes.
• Потеря качества (Loss of quality) - Indicates deterioration over time.

Usage Notes:

When translating "quality" to Russian, choose based on context: use "качество" for general excellence or standards, and "свойство" for specific attributes. It is typically formal and appears in written or professional speech. Be mindful of gender agreements in sentences, as "качество" is neuter. For example, in adjectival phrases, adjectives must agree in case, number, and gender.

• In business contexts, "качество" is preferred over more casual alternatives.
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; adapt to Russian idiomatic expressions for naturalness.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "качество" with "качество товара" by omitting the noun in contexts where specificity is needed, leading to vague statements. For example:

• Incorrect: "Я люблю качество." (This is awkward and incomplete; it doesn't specify what quality.)
• Correct: "Я ценю высокое качество продукции." (I appreciate the high quality of products.)

Explanation: Always provide context to avoid ambiguity, as Russian requires more explicit noun phrases than English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "качество" often ties to historical emphasis on durability and reliability in manufacturing, stemming from Soviet-era standards. For instance, phrases like "качество жизни" reflect ongoing discussions about social welfare and economic stability, influenced by Russia's complex history of industrialization and modernization.

Related Concepts:

• стандарт (standard)
• уровень (level)
• характеристика (characteristic)
• дефект (defect)