Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sustenance'

English Word: sustenance

Key Russian Translations:

• питание [pʲɪˈtanʲɪje] - [Formal; used in contexts related to nutrition or daily food intake]
• средства существования [ˈsʲrʲedstvə sʊʂːesstvəˈvanʲɪjə] - [Formal; often in economic or survival contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language, especially in health, economics, and survival discussions)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and formal vocabulary, with 'питание' being easier and 'средства существования' slightly more advanced due to its compound nature)

Pronunciation (Russian):

питание: [pʲɪˈtanʲɪje]

Note on питание: The stress falls on the second syllable ("tan"), which is common in Russian neuter nouns. Be careful with the palatalized 't' sound.

Audio: []

средства существования: [ˈsʲrʲedstvə sʊʂːesstvəˈvanʲɪjə]

Note on средства существования: This phrase has multiple syllables with stress on the first syllable of each word; the 'щ' sound in 'сʊʂː' is a soft, hissing fricative, which can be challenging for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Food or nourishment that sustains life

Translation(s) & Context:

• питание - Used in everyday contexts like health and diet, often in formal or medical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Его основное питание состоит из свежих овощей и фруктов, чтобы поддерживать здоровье.

  His main sustenance consists of fresh vegetables and fruits to maintain health.

• В экстремальных условиях выживания правильное питание может спасти жизнь.

  In extreme survival conditions, proper sustenance can save a life.

• Дети нуждаются в сбалансированном питании для роста и развития.

  Children need balanced sustenance for growth and development.

• Во время похода мы взяли с собой консервы как основное питание.

  During the hike, we took canned goods as our primary sustenance.

Meaning 2: Means of livelihood or economic support

Translation(s) & Context:

• средства существования - Applied in formal contexts like economics, job discussions, or social welfare, emphasizing financial stability.

Usage Examples:

• Для многих людей в сельской местности средства существования зависят от сельского хозяйства.

  For many people in rural areas, sustenance depends on agriculture.

• Потеря работы может угрожать средствам существования семьи.

  Losing a job can threaten a family's means of sustenance.

• Государственные пособия служат средствами существования для безработных.

  Government benefits serve as means of sustenance for the unemployed.

• В кризисные времена люди ищут новые средства существования, чтобы выжить.

  In times of crisis, people seek new means of sustenance to survive.

• Образование часто становится ключевым средством существования в современном мире.

  Education often becomes a key means of sustenance in the modern world.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'питание' (a neuter noun):

It follows standard Russian neuter noun patterns with regular declensions. Below is a table of its forms:

For 'средства существования' (a noun phrase, with 'средства' as a plural neuter noun):

'Средства' is plural and declines regularly, while 'существования' is a genitive form and less variable in this context. It remains mostly unchanged in phrases but follows standard genitive rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: еда (eda) - More casual term for food; пропитание (propitanie) - Emphasizes basic nourishment.
• Antonyms: голод (golod) - Direct opposite, meaning hunger; нищета (nishcheta) - In the economic sense, meaning poverty.

Related Phrases:

• Здоровое питание - Healthy sustenance; refers to nutritious eating habits for well-being.
• Средства к существованию - Means of livelihood; a formal phrase for economic survival tools.
• Ежедневное питание - Daily sustenance; used for routine meals in a practical context.

Usage Notes:

'Питание' directly corresponds to the nutritional aspect of 'sustenance' and is preferred in formal or health-related English contexts, while 'средства существования' aligns with the economic or survival meaning. Use 'питание' in everyday conversations about diet, but opt for 'средства существования' in professional or legal discussions to avoid sounding overly casual. Grammatically, both are nouns, so pay attention to case agreements in sentences (e.g., always decline based on context). When choosing between translations, consider the audience: 'питание' is more accessible for beginners, while 'средства существования' suits intermediate learners due to its complexity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'питание' interchangeably with 'еда' (food), leading to incorrect formality. For example, learners might say "Мое питание - хлеб" (My sustenance is bread) in a casual chat, but this sounds overly formal; correct usage: "Моя еда - хлеб" for casual contexts.

  Correct: В его рационе преобладает здоровое питание (In his diet, healthy sustenance prevails).

• Error: Forgetting to decline 'питание' in sentences, e.g., saying "Я ем питание" instead of "Я ем правильное питание" in accusative contexts.

  Correct: Он нуждается в питании (He needs sustenance), where it's properly inflected.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'питание' often carries connotations of communal and traditional meals, such as those during family gatherings or holidays like Maslenitsa, where sustenance is tied to seasonal foods like blini. This reflects a broader emphasis on holistic well-being, contrasting with Western individualism in diet discussions.

Related Concepts:

• Пропитание
• Здоровье
• Выживание