Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'realistic'

English Word: realistic

Key Russian Translations:

• реалистичный /rʲɪɐˈlʲɪstʲɪnɨj/ - [Formal]
• прагматичный /prɐɡˈmatʲɪnɨj/ - [Informal, when emphasizing practicality]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions about art, literature, and everyday decision-making, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and nuanced vocabulary, though "реалистичный" is straightforward for learners at this level. For "прагматичный", difficulty remains B2 due to similar structures).

Pronunciation (Russian):

реалистичный: /rʲɪɐˈlʲɪstʲɪnɨj/

Note on реалистичный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("lʲɪstʲ"), and the soft sign (ʲ) indicates palatalization, which can be tricky for English speakers. Practice the "rʲ" sound as in "ring" with a slight softening.

прагматичный: /prɐɡˈmatʲɪnɨj/

Note on прагматичный: The initial "pr" is pronounced with a rolled "r", common in Russian. Avoid overemphasizing the "g" sound; it's soft.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Pertaining to realism in art, literature, or philosophy (e.g., depicting life as it is).

Translation(s) & Context:

• реалистичный - Used in formal contexts like art criticism or philosophical discussions to describe something true-to-life.
• прагматичный - Used in informal settings to imply a practical, no-nonsense approach, though less directly tied to artistic realism.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм реалистично изображает повседневную жизнь в деревне.

  This film realistically depicts everyday life in the village.

• Реалистичный подход к проблеме помогает избежать иллюзий.

  A realistic approach to the problem helps avoid illusions.

• В её картинах всегда есть элемент прагматичного реализма.

  Her paintings always include an element of pragmatic realism.

• Реалистичные персонажи делают книгу более увлекательной.

  Realistic characters make the book more engaging.

Meaning 2: Practical or feasible in real-world situations (e.g., realistic expectations).

Translation(s) & Context:

• реалистичный - Common in professional or everyday contexts for setting achievable goals.
• прагматичный - Often used interchangeably but with a connotation of efficiency in business or personal planning.

Usage Examples:

• Его план был реалистичным, но требовал много усилий.

  His plan was realistic but required a lot of effort.

• Прагматичный взгляд на ситуацию помог нам принять правильное решение.

  A pragmatic view of the situation helped us make the right decision.

• Реалистичные ожидания важны для успеха в бизнесе.

  Realistic expectations are important for success in business.

• Она выбрала прагматичный путь, отказавшись от идеалистических идей.

  She chose a pragmatic path, abandoning idealistic ideas.

• Реалистично ли ожидать быстрого результата?

  Is it realistic to expect a quick result?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "реалистичный" and "прагматичный" are adjectives, which in Russian follow standard adjectival declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They are generally regular but can have variations based on the noun's characteristics.

Note: These adjectives do not change for short forms in modern usage, but in some literary contexts, short forms like "реалистичен" may appear.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • реальный (real, more literal; often used for tangible reality)
  • практический (practical; emphasizes applicability over idealism)
• Antonyms:
  • идеалистичный (idealistic; implies an optimistic, non-practical view)
  • фантастический (fantastic; suggests something unreal or imaginative)

Related Phrases:

• Реалистичный взгляд на вещи - A realistic view of things (implies a practical perspective in decision-making).
• Прагматичный подход - A pragmatic approach (used in professional contexts for efficient problem-solving).
• Реалистичные ожидания - Realistic expectations (common in psychology or goal-setting discussions).

Usage Notes:

"Реалистичный" directly corresponds to "realistic" in contexts involving art or factual representation, while "прагматичный" aligns more with practicality in English. Use "реалистичный" in formal writing or discussions about literature, and opt for "прагматичный" in everyday conversations about life choices. Be mindful of gender agreement with nouns, as Russian adjectives must match. For English learners, remember that Russian lacks articles, so focus on case endings for accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "реалистичный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "реалистичный книга" instead of "реалистичная книга" for a feminine noun.

  Correct: "Реалистичная книга" (The realistic book). Explanation: Adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case; here, "книга" is feminine, so the adjective ends in "-ая".

• Error: Confusing "реалистичный" with "реальный", using it to mean "actual" in a literal sense.

  Correct: Use "реальный" for something tangible, like "реальный мир" (the real world), and reserve "реалистичный" for abstract concepts. Explanation: This misuse can lead to misunderstandings in philosophical or artistic discussions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "реалистичный" often ties to the 19th-century Realist movement in literature (e.g., Tolstoy and Dostoevsky), emphasizing social issues and human psychology. This reflects a historical preference for portraying life's hardships, which can add depth to modern usage, making it more than just a neutral adjective.

Related Concepts:

• идеализм (idealism)
• прагматизм (pragmatism)
• реализм в искусстве (realism in art)