Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sadism'

English Word: sadism

Key Russian Translations:

• садизм [ˈsadʲɪzm] - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (Common in psychological, literary, or academic contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: C1 (Advanced; requires familiarity with psychological terminology and Russian borrowing from Western languages)

Pronunciation (Russian):

садизм: [ˈsadʲɪzm]

Note on садизм: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'д' is palatalized, which is a common feature in Russian loanwords. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The enjoyment that someone gets from being violent, cruel, or causing others to suffer, often in a psychological or sexual context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• садизм - Used in formal, psychological, or medical discussions to describe the behavior or condition directly, such as in clinical psychology or literature.

Usage Examples:

• В его поведении проявляется явный садизм, особенно в отношениях с подчиненными.

  In his behavior, there is clear sadism, especially in his relationships with subordinates.

• Садизм часто изображается в классической литературе как крайняя форма жестокости.

  Sadism is often depicted in classical literature as an extreme form of cruelty.

• Психологи изучают садизм как часть расстройств личности.

  Psychologists study sadism as part of personality disorders.

• Его садизм проявляется в повседневных ситуациях, что вызывает тревогу у окружающих.

  His sadism manifests in everyday situations, which causes concern among those around him.

• В фильме садизм главного героя подчеркивает тему моральной деградации.

  In the film, the sadism of the main character highlights the theme of moral degradation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Садизм" is a masculine noun of the third declension in Russian, borrowed from French/English. It follows standard patterns for foreign words ending in a consonant, with some irregularities due to its loanword status. It does not change in the nominative singular but inflects in other cases.

Note: The plural forms are less common and used when referring to multiple instances or types of sadism in a broader context.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • жестокость (zhestokost') - Cruelty; more general and less specific to psychological pleasure.
  • садистические наклонности (sadisticheskie naklonosti) - Sadistic tendencies; emphasizes behavior without the full term.
• Antonyms:
  • альтруизм (al'truizm) - Altruism; the opposite, involving selflessness and concern for others.
  • сочувствие (sochuvstvie) - Sympathy; a direct contrast to deriving pleasure from suffering.

Related Phrases:

• садистские тенденции - Sadistic tendencies; Used in psychological evaluations to describe emerging behaviors.
• проявление садизма - Manifestation of sadism; Common in literary or analytical contexts to discuss character traits.
• садизм в отношениях - Sadism in relationships; Refers to abusive dynamics, often in therapeutic discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "садизм" directly corresponds to the English "sadism" and is typically used in formal or professional settings, such as psychology, literature, or legal contexts. It retains the same connotations as in English but may carry a more clinical tone. When choosing between translations, stick with "садизм" for precision; avoid casual synonyms like "жестокость" if the psychological aspect is key. Be mindful of grammar: as a masculine noun, it requires appropriate adjective agreements (e.g., "садистский" for adjectives). In spoken Russian, it's often used in educated or urban environments rather than everyday chit-chat.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "садизм" with "мазохизм" (masochism): Learners might mix up these terms due to their similarity in origin. Incorrect: "Он страдает садизмом, когда терпит боль" (He suffers from sadism when enduring pain). Correct: "Он страдает мазохизмом" (He suffers from masochism). Explanation: Sadism involves inflicting pain, while masochism involves receiving it.
• Improper inflection: Forgetting to change cases, e.g., using "садизм" in genitive as "садизм" instead of "садизма". Incorrect: "Изучение садизм" (Study of sadism). Correct: "Изучение садизма". Explanation: Always apply standard noun declensions to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "садизм" is often linked to the works of Marquis de Sade, whose ideas influenced 19th- and 20th-century literature, such as in the writings of Fyodor Dostoevsky or modern films. It carries a historical connotation of moral and psychological exploration in Russian intellectual circles, sometimes symbolizing the darker aspects of human nature in post-Soviet discussions on mental health.

Related Concepts:

• мазохизм
• психопатия
• жестокость