Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rivalry'

English Word: rivalry

Key Russian Translations:

• Соперничество [sə.pʲɪr.nʲɪˈtɕɪ.stvə] - [Formal, used in general contexts involving competition or rivalry]
• Конкуренция [kɐn.kʊ.rʲɛnˈt͡sɨ.jə] - [Formal, Informal; often implies business or economic rivalry]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions of sports, business, and social dynamics, but not as everyday as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and abstract concepts, varying by translation—e.g., "Соперничество" is B1, while "Конкуренция" might lean toward B2 due to economic contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Соперничество: [sə.pʲɪr.nʲɪˈtɕɪ.stvə]

Конкуренция: [kɐn.kʊ.rʲɛnˈt͡sɨ.jə]

Note on Соперничество: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("tɕɪ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants; pronounce it with a soft 'r' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A state of competition or rivalry between individuals, groups, or entities, often involving a sense of opposition.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Соперничество - Used in formal or neutral contexts, such as sports or personal relationships, to describe ongoing competition without hostility.
• Конкуренция - Applied in business, economics, or market scenarios, emphasizing strategic rivalry.

Usage Examples:

• В спортивном мире здоровое соперничество мотивирует атлетов достигать новых высот.

  In the world of sports, healthy rivalry motivates athletes to reach new heights.

• Между двумя компаниями возникло острое соперничество за лидерство на рынке.

  A fierce rivalry arose between the two companies for market leadership.

• Конкуренция в образовательной сфере стимулирует студентов к лучшим результатам.

  Rivalry in the educational sphere motivates students to achieve better results.

• Семейное соперничество между братьями иногда перерастает в дружеское соревнование.

  Family rivalry between brothers sometimes turns into friendly competition.

• В условиях жесткой конкуренции малый бизнес должен быть инновационным.

  In conditions of intense rivalry, small businesses must be innovative.

Secondary Meaning: A prolonged conflict or antagonism, potentially with emotional undertones.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Соперничество - In emotional or historical contexts, to denote rivalry with personal stakes.

Usage Examples:

• Историческое соперничество между Россией и Великобританией в XIX веке повлияло на мировую политику.

  The historical rivalry between Russia and the United Kingdom in the 19th century influenced global politics.

• Личное соперничество двух художников привело к созданию шедевров.

  The personal rivalry between the two artists led to the creation of masterpieces.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are neuter nouns. "Соперничество" follows standard neuter noun declension patterns, while "Конкуренция" is also neuter but may vary slightly in plural forms. Below is a declension table for "Соперничество" as an example:

For "Конкуренция", it follows similar patterns but is less irregular: Nominative Singular: Конкуренция; Genitive Singular: Конкуренции. These nouns do not change in gender but must agree in case with other words in the sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Состязание (sostyazaniye) - More formal, often used for contests or competitions.
  • Конкуренция (konkurentsiya) - As above, with a business focus; subtle difference in intensity.
• Antonyms:
  • Сотрудничество (sotrudnichestvo) - Collaboration or cooperation, implying teamwork rather than opposition.
  • Дружба (druzhba) - Friendship, contrasting with adversarial rivalry.

Related Phrases:

• Здоровое соперничество - Healthy rivalry; used to describe positive, motivating competition.
• Жесткое соперничество - Fierce rivalry; implies intense or aggressive competition in business or sports.
• Межличностное соперничество - Interpersonal rivalry; refers to personal or social conflicts.

Usage Notes:

"Соперничество" directly corresponds to "rivalry" in English, making it the go-to translation for general use, while "Конкуренция" is better for economic or market contexts. Be mindful of the formal tone in Russian; these words are more common in written or professional speech. Grammatically, always ensure the noun agrees in case with accompanying prepositions or verbs. When choosing between translations, opt for "Соперничество" for emotional or historical rivalry and "Конкуренция" for strategic contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Соперник" (rival) interchangeably with "Соперничество" without adjusting for noun forms. Correct: "Соперник" is a masculine noun meaning "rival person," while "Соперничество" is the abstract state. Example of error: *Я имею соперник* (incorrect); Correct: Я участвую в соперничестве (I am involved in rivalry).

• Error: Forgetting case agreement, e.g., saying *О соревнование* instead of *О соревновании*. Explanation: Russian requires precise declension; always check the context to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, rivalry (e.g., "Соперничество") often appears in literature and history, such as the intense rivalries depicted in works by Tolstoy or in the context of the Cold War between the USSR and the West. It symbolizes national resilience and competitive spirit, but can also carry undertones of historical grudges, emphasizing the importance of context in usage.

Related Concepts:

• Соревнование (competition)
• Вражда (enmity or feud)
• Сотрудничество (cooperation)