Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sane'

English Word: sane

Key Russian Translations:

• разумный /rɐˈzumnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• здравый /ˈzdrɐvɨj/ - [Formal, often used in philosophical or medical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions of mental health, decision-making, or psychology, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and context-specific usage, as per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

разумный: /rɐˈzumnɨj/

здравый: /ˈzdrɐvɨj/

Note on разумный: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Mentally sound or rational (referring to a person's state of mind)

Translation(s) & Context:

• разумный - Used in formal contexts to describe someone who is logical and mentally stable, e.g., in psychological or legal discussions.
• здравый - Applied in contexts involving sound judgment, often in intellectual or health-related scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда остается разумным в стрессовых ситуациях.

  He always remains sane in stressful situations.

• Её здравый ум помог избежать опасности.

  Her sane mind helped avoid danger.

• Разумный человек не принимает поспешных решений.

  A sane person doesn't make hasty decisions.

• В этом обществе ценится здравый подход к проблемам.

  In this society, a sane approach to problems is valued.

• Его разумный анализ ситуации спас компанию от кризиса.

  His sane analysis of the situation saved the company from crisis.

Meaning 2: Rational or sensible in behavior (not necessarily mental health-focused)

Translation(s) & Context:

• разумный - In everyday contexts for decisions or choices that are logical and balanced.

Usage Examples:

• Это разумный выбор для долгосрочных инвестиций.

  This is a sane choice for long-term investments.

• Разумный подход к диете включает баланс питания.

  A sane approach to diet includes nutritional balance.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "разумный" and "здравый" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives, with some irregularities. Below is a table for "разумный" as an example:

For "здравый", the inflections are similar: e.g., Nominative: здравый (m), здравая (f), здравое (n), здоровые (pl). These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • здравый (similar to 'sane' but with a connotation of soundness in judgment)
  • вменяемый (more legalistic, implying legal sanity)
  • нормальный (informal, equivalent in casual contexts but less precise)
• Antonyms:
  • безумный (mad or insane)
  • иррациональный (irrational)

Related Phrases:

• Разумный выбор - A sane choice; used for making logical decisions.
• Здравый смысл - Common sense; implies practical sanity in everyday life.
• Оставаться в здравом уме - To remain sane; often in contexts of mental endurance.

Usage Notes:

"Разумный" is the most direct translation for "sane" in formal contexts, closely aligning with mental rationality, while "здравый" emphasizes soundness of mind or judgment. English users should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which has no direct equivalent in English. For informal settings, "нормальный" might be used, but it can imply 'normal' rather than strictly 'sane'. Choose based on context: use "разумный" for psychological discussions and "здравый" for philosophical ones.

• Always consider the sentence structure; Russian often requires the adjective to precede the noun.
• In spoken Russian, these words are common in professional or educational contexts.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse "разумный" by treating it as invariable, leading to agreement errors. For example:

• Error: "Я видел разумный человек" (incorrect; the adjective doesn't agree).
• Correct: "Я видел разумного человека" (proper genitive case).
• Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike English adjectives. Another common mistake is confusing it with "нормальный", which might not convey the same level of rationality.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "здравый смысл" (common sense) are highly valued in literature and philosophy, as seen in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky. "Sane" translations often tie into broader themes of mental resilience in Russian history, such as during times of social upheaval, where maintaining a "разумный" mindset is portrayed as a virtue.

Related Concepts:

• психическое здоровье (mental health)
• логический (logical)
• эмоциональный баланс (emotional balance)