Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'struggle'

English Word: struggle

Key Russian Translations:

• борьба [bɐrʲˈba] - [Noun, Formal, often used in contexts of conflict or effort]
• бороться [bɐˈrotʲsə] - [Verb, Informal, used for ongoing action or resistance]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, news, and everyday discussions about challenges)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun and verb conjugations; for 'борьба' as a noun: A2; for 'бороться' as a verb: B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

борьба: [bɐrʲˈba]

Note on борьба: The 'р' is a rolled alveolar trill, which can be challenging for non-native speakers; stress falls on the second syllable.

бороться: [bɐˈrotʲsə]

Note on бороться: The 'т' is palatalized before 'ь', making it sound softer; the verb infinitive ends in '-ться' for reflexive forms.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: Effort or conflict to overcome difficulties

Translation(s) & Context:

• борьба - Used in formal contexts like social, political, or personal struggles, e.g., in discussions about human rights or daily challenges.

Usage Examples:

• Его борьба за справедливость длилась годы.

  His struggle for justice lasted for years. (This example shows the noun in a biographical context.)

• В повседневной борьбе с трудностями люди учатся на ошибках.

  In the daily struggle with difficulties, people learn from their mistakes. (Illustrates plural or ongoing usage in everyday life.)

• Историческая борьба за независимость вдохновляет новые поколения.

  The historical struggle for independence inspires new generations. (Demonstrates formal, historical context.)

• Её внутренняя борьба с сомнениями проявилась в решениях.

  Her internal struggle with doubts was evident in her decisions. (Shows emotional or psychological usage.)

As a verb: To engage in effort or fight against something

Translation(s) & Context:

• бороться - Commonly used in informal or motivational contexts, such as personal development or activism, often with prepositions like 'против' (against).

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны бороться против неравенства в обществе.

  We must struggle against inequality in society. (This highlights the verb in a social justice context with a direct object.)

• Она борется с болезнью уже несколько месяцев.

  She is struggling with the illness for several months. (Shows present tense and health-related usage.)

• Дети учатся бороться с страхами через игры.

  Children learn to struggle with fears through play. (Illustrates infinitive form in educational contexts.)

• В трудные времена люди борются за выживание.

  In hard times, people struggle for survival. (Demonstrates past tense in survival scenarios.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'борьба' (feminine noun, first declension):

This noun follows regular feminine declension patterns. It is invariant in the nominative singular but changes in other cases and numbers.

For 'бороться' (infinitive verb, imperfective aspect, reflexive):

This is an imperfective verb that conjugates irregularly in some forms due to its reflexive ending '-ся'. It follows standard first conjugation patterns for most persons.

Note: The perfective counterpart is 'бороть' (not commonly used alone), and it remains invariant in infinitive form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сражение (more intense, military connotation)
  • трудность (focuses on hardship rather than active effort)
• Antonyms:
  • покорность (submissiveness, implying giving up)
  • успех (success, opposite of ongoing struggle)

Related Phrases:

• Классовая борьба - Class struggle; a key concept in Marxist theory, often used in socio-political discussions.
• Бороться за выживание - To struggle for survival; refers to fighting against life-threatening situations.
• Внутренняя борьба - Internal struggle; describes psychological conflicts, common in literature.

Usage Notes:

'Борьба' directly corresponds to the noun form of 'struggle' in English, emphasizing prolonged effort, while 'бороться' aligns with the verb form, indicating active resistance. Use 'борьба' in formal writing or speeches for its neutral tone, but opt for 'бороться' in conversational contexts. Be mindful of aspect: 'бороться' is imperfective, implying ongoing action, so pair it with prepositions like 'против' for opposition. When choosing between translations, select based on context—e.g., social issues for 'борьба' versus personal challenges for 'бороться'.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'борьба' as a verb, e.g., saying "Я борьба" instead of "Я борюсь". Correct: Я борюсь за свои права. (Explanation: 'Борьба' is a noun; always conjugate verbs properly.)
• Mistake: Forgetting reflexive endings, e.g., saying "бороть" instead of "бороться". Correct: Мы боремся вместе. (Explanation: The verb requires '-ся' for reflexive meaning, common in Russian.)
• Mistake: Incorrect declension, e.g., using 'борьба' in genitive as 'борьба' instead of 'борьбы'. Correct: В борьбе за свободу. (Explanation: Proper case agreement is essential for grammatical accuracy.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'борьба' often carries historical weight, linked to events like the Russian Revolution or WWII resistance, symbolizing resilience and collective effort. It reflects the Russian value of 'perseverance' (терпение), where struggles are seen as noble paths to personal or national growth, as depicted in literature by authors like Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• революция
• сопротивление
• прогресс