Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sentiment'

English Word: sentiment

Key Russian Translations:

• чувство [ˈtɕʊvstvə] - [Common, Informal]
• сентимент [sʲɪnʲtʲɪˈmʲɛnt] - [Formal, Literary]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as frequently as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level, according to CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic emotional contexts. For "чувство", it's B1; for "сентимент", it's B2 due to its more abstract usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

чувство: [ˈtɕʊvstvə]

Note on чувство: The initial "ч" sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to "ch" in "church", but softer. Stress is on the first syllable, and the word may vary slightly in rapid speech.

сентимент: [sʲɪnʲtʲɪˈmʲɛnt]

Note on сентимент: This borrowed word retains a more French-like pronunciation in Russian; the "тʲ" is palatalized, which can be challenging for beginners. Stress is on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A feeling or emotion, often subtle or personal.

Translation(s) & Context:

• чувство - Used in everyday contexts to describe inner emotions, such as love or sadness, in informal or neutral settings.
• сентимент - Applied in more formal or literary contexts, implying a sentimental or nostalgic emotion.

Usage Examples:

• Я испытываю глубокое чувство благодарности за твою помощь. (I feel a deep sense of gratitude for your help.)

  Translation: I am experiencing a deep feeling of gratitude for your help. (This example shows "чувство" in a personal, emotional context.)

• Его сентимент к прошлому не позволяет ему двигаться дальше. (His sentiment towards the past prevents him from moving forward.)

  Translation: His sentiment toward the past keeps him from moving on. (Illustrates "сентимент" in a reflective, formal narrative.)

• Это чувство одиночества часто посещает меня в дождливые дни. (This feeling of loneliness often visits me on rainy days.)

  Translation: This sense of loneliness often comes over me on rainy days. (Demonstrates "чувство" with adjectives for nuance.)

• В её письме сквозит сентимент, который трогает до глубины души. (Her letter is imbued with sentiment that touches the soul deeply.)

  Translation: Her letter is filled with sentiment that deeply touches the soul. (Shows "сентимент" in literary or expressive language.)

• Без этого чувства empathy невозможно построить крепкие отношения. (Without this feeling of empathy, it's impossible to build strong relationships.)

  Translation: Without this sense of empathy, strong relationships can't be built. (Highlights "чувство" in a psychological or relational context.)

Meaning 2: An opinion or attitude, often in a broader social context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• чувство - Used metaphorically for public opinions or sentiments, such as in politics or surveys.
• сентимент - Less common, but used for biased or emotional attitudes in formal discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Общее чувство общества против этой политики растёт. (The general sentiment of society against this policy is growing.)

  Translation: The overall sentiment of society against this policy is increasing. (Example of "чувство" in a social or political context.)

• Его сентимент к традициям делает его консерватором. (His sentiment toward traditions makes him a conservative.)

  Translation: His sentiment toward traditions makes him a conservative. (Shows "сентимент" in ideological discussions.)

• В этой речи политик апеллирует к чувству справедливости. (In this speech, the politician appeals to the sense of justice.)

  Translation: In this speech, the politician appeals to the sentiment of justice. (Illustrates "чувство" with abstract concepts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "чувство" (a neuter noun), it follows standard Russian noun declension patterns. It is irregular in some forms due to its root.

For "сентимент" (also a neuter noun, but less commonly inflected as it's a borrowing), it generally follows the same patterns but is often used in its base form: Nominative singular - сентимент; Genitive singular - сентимента. It does not change in plural forms as frequently.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эмоция (emotsiya) - More intense than "чувство", used for strong emotions.
  • настроение (nastroenie) - Refers to mood, often temporary; differs from "сентимент" by being less deep.
• Antonyms:
  • равнодушие (ravnodushie) - Indifference.
  • апатия (apatiya) - Apathy, implying a lack of emotion.

Related Phrases:

• Глубокое чувство (glubokoe chuvstvo) - Deep feeling; used to describe profound emotions in personal relationships.
• Сентиментальный момент (sentimental'nyi moment) - Sentimental moment; refers to nostalgic or emotional occasions.
• Чувство вины (chuvstvo viny) - Sense of guilt; a common phrase in psychological contexts.

Usage Notes:

When translating "sentiment" to Russian, choose "чувство" for everyday, emotional contexts and "сентимент" for more formal or literary ones. Be mindful of grammatical gender: both are neuter nouns, so they require neuter agreement in adjectives and verbs. In spoken Russian, "чувство" is versatile and can appear in various syntactic structures, such as with verbs like "испытывать" (to experience). Avoid overusing "сентимент" in casual speech, as it may sound overly dramatic or foreign-influenced.

• Context tip: In political discussions, "чувство" aligns closely with English "public sentiment".
• Grammar note: Always decline "чувство" based on case, as shown in the inflections table, to ensure correct sentence structure.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "чувство" with "эмоция" by using them interchangeably, but "эмоция" implies a more intense, short-term reaction. For example:

• Error: Saying "Я имею эмоция" instead of "Я имею чувство" for "I have a sentiment".
• Correct: "Я имею чувство" (though more naturally: "У меня есть чувство"). Explanation: "Эмоция" is feminine and requires different declensions, leading to grammatical errors.
• Another error: Failing to decline "чувство" in sentences, e.g., "Без чувство" instead of "Без чувства". Correct form: "Без чувства" (genitive case). This stems from not recognizing case requirements in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "чувство" often carries a deeper, more introspective connotation, influenced by literary traditions like those of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, where emotions are explored philosophically. "Сентимент" may evoke Western romanticism, highlighting cultural exchanges, but it's less embedded in everyday Russian life.

Related Concepts:

• эмоциональность (emotsional'nost')
• настроение (nastroenie)
• душевное состояние (dushenvoye sostoyaniye)