Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'retributive'

English Word: retributive

Key Russian Translations:

• Возмездный [vɐzˈmʲezdnɨj] - [Formal, used in legal or philosophical contexts]
• Карательный [kərəˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal, often in punitive or justice-related scenarios]

Frequency: Low (This term is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation but appears in legal, philosophical, or academic texts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate to Advanced; requires understanding of abstract concepts and legal terminology. For 'Возмездный', it may lean towards B2 due to its specificity, while 'Карательный' could be slightly easier at B1 in punitive contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Возмездный: [vɐzˈmʲezdnɨj]

Note on Возмездный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('mez'), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Карательный: [kərəˈtʲelʲnɨj]

Note on Карательный: The 'тʲ' sound is palatalized, similar to the 't' in 'tune' in English, and the stress is on the third syllable ('tel'). Be mindful of the soft sign (ь) affecting pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Pertaining to retribution, punishment, or the idea of just deserts in response to wrongdoing.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Возмездный - Typically used in formal contexts like philosophy or law, e.g., discussing retributive justice as a moral principle.
• Карательный - Applied in contexts involving enforcement or penalties, such as in criminal justice systems, emphasizing punitive measures.

Usage Examples:

• Возмездное правосудие подразумевает, что преступник должен понести равное наказание за свои действия.

  Retributive justice implies that the criminal should receive punishment equal to their actions.

• В системе карательного права акцент делается на воздаянии, а не на реабилитации.

  In a retributive legal system, the focus is on retribution rather than rehabilitation.

• Возмездный подход к воспитанию детей часто критикуется за чрезмерную строгость.

  A retributive approach to child-rearing is often criticized for its excessive strictness.

• Карательные меры в обществе должны быть пропорциональны совершенному преступлению.

  Retributive measures in society should be proportional to the crime committed.

• Философы обсуждают, является ли возмездный принцип справедливым в современных демократиях.

  Philosophers debate whether the retributive principle is fair in modern democracies.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Возмездный' and 'Карательный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern of agreement with the nouns they modify. They do not have irregular forms but must agree in gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular, plural), and case (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, prepositional).

For example, for 'Возмездный':

For 'Карательный', the inflections follow the same pattern:

These adjectives do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward once the basic patterns are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Наказательный (nakazatel'nyy) - Similar to 'retributive' but emphasizes disciplinary action; often used interchangeably in legal contexts.
  • Воздающий (vozdayushchiy) - Focuses more on the act of giving back or repaying, with a slight nuance of reciprocity.
• Antonyms:
  • Милосердный (miloserndnyy) - Meaning merciful or compassionate, contrasting with the punitive nature.
  • Реабилитирующий (reabilitiruyushchiy) - Refers to rehabilitative, focusing on correction rather than punishment.

Related Phrases:

• Возмездное правосудие - A common phrase meaning 'retributive justice', used in discussions of legal philosophy.
• Карательные санкции - Refers to 'retributive sanctions', often in international law or diplomacy contexts.
• Принцип возмездия - Means 'principle of retribution', highlighting the core idea in ethical debates.

Usage Notes:

'Возмездный' is the most direct translation for 'retributive' in contexts like justice or morality, while 'Карательный' is better for punitive applications. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree with the noun they modify, so always adjust for gender, number, and case. In formal writing, 'Возмездный' is preferred for philosophical discussions, whereas 'Карательный' suits legal or governmental scenarios. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; instead, consider the context to choose the appropriate term.

• Use 'Возмездный' when emphasizing moral balance, e.g., in ethics.
• Be cautious with 'Карательный' in sensitive topics, as it can imply harshness.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistakenly use 'Возмездный' interchangeably with 'Наказательный' without considering nuances, leading to imprecise meaning. For example:

• Error: Saying "Возмездный ребенок" (implying a retributive child, which is incorrect).
• Correct: "Возмездный подход" (a retributive approach). Explanation: Adjectives must fit the context; here, it's about methods, not people.
• Another error: Forgetting case agreement, e.g., using nominative in a genitive phrase. Error example: "Карательный закона" (wrong). Correct: "Карательного закона" (genitive form). This happens because English lacks cases, so learners must practice Russian sentence structures.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal tradition, concepts like 'возмездное правосудие' draw from historical influences, such as Soviet-era justice systems, which emphasized collective retribution. This reflects a broader cultural value on communal accountability, differing from Western individual-focused retributive justice, and can carry connotations of state authority in modern contexts.

Related Concepts:

• Правосудие (justice)
• Наказание (punishment)
• Мораль (morality)