Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'torment'

English Word: torment

Key Russian Translations:

• мука /ˈmukə/ - [Noun, Formal, Singular]
• мучить /ˈmutʲitʲ/ - [Verb, Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, psychological discussions, and everyday conversations about suffering, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "pain").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for мука; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for мучить (due to verb conjugations and nuanced contexts; learners at this level can grasp basic forms but may struggle with inflections).

Pronunciation (Russian):

мука: /ˈmukə/

Note on мука: The stress is on the first syllable; the "у" is pronounced like "oo" in "book." Be mindful of the soft "к" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

Audio: []

мучить: /ˈmutʲitʲ/

Note on мучить: The verb has a palatalized "тʲ" sound, similar to "ty" in "city," and the stress is on the first syllable. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun meaning severe physical or mental pain/suffering.

Translation(s) & Context:

• мука - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe deep emotional or physical torment, often in philosophical or psychological discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Его мука была невыносимой после потери близкого человека.

  His torment was unbearable after losing a loved one. (This example shows мука in a personal, emotional context.)

• Мука войны оставила неизгладимый след в его душе.

  The torment of war left an indelible mark on his soul. (Here, мука is used in a historical or traumatic setting.)

• Физическая мука от болезни мешала ему сосредоточиться.

  The physical torment from the illness prevented him from concentrating. (This illustrates мука in a health-related context.)

• В повседневной жизни мы часто игнорируем внутреннюю муку других.

  In everyday life, we often ignore the inner torment of others. (Demonstrates мука in social or introspective usage.)

As a verb meaning to cause severe pain or distress.

Translation(s) & Context:

• мучить - Commonly used in informal or narrative contexts to describe ongoing torment, such as in stories or emotional appeals.

Usage Examples:

• Её воспоминания мучают её каждую ночь.

  Her memories torment her every night. (This example highlights мучить in a psychological, repetitive context.)

• Боль мучает пациента, и ему нужна срочная помощь.

  The pain torments the patient, and he needs urgent help. (Shows мучить in a medical or immediate suffering scenario.)

• Совесть мучает его за совершённый проступок.

  His conscience torments him for the wrongdoing. (Illustrates мучить in a moral or ethical context.)

• Жара мучает жителей города летом.

  The heat torments the city's residents in the summer. (Demonstrates мучить in an environmental or everyday context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For мука (feminine noun, first declension):

This noun follows standard Russian declension patterns for feminine nouns ending in -a. It is invariable in plural forms for abstract concepts but can change in cases.

For мучить (verb, imperfective aspect):

This is a first-conjugation verb with irregularities in some forms. It conjugates based on person, number, and tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: страдание (stradanie) - more general pain; боль (bol') - physical pain; истязание (istiazanie) - extreme torture, often with a connotation of cruelty.
• Antonyms: радость (radost') - joy; облегчение (oblegchenie) - relief, especially useful in contexts where torment ends.

Related Phrases:

• Мучительная боль - A painful torment (refers to intense, ongoing suffering, often physical).
• Душевная мука - Soul torment (used for emotional or spiritual distress, common in literature).
• Мучить совесть - To torment one's conscience (a fixed phrase for moral dilemmas).

Usage Notes:

"Torment" as мука is a direct noun equivalent but carries a more profound, often existential connotation in Russian, especially in literary works like those of Dostoevsky. Use мучить for active verb forms, which aligns with "to torment," and be cautious of aspect: it's imperfective, implying ongoing action. In formal contexts, prefer мука over colloquial alternatives. When choosing between translations, select мука for static suffering and мучить for dynamic processes. Grammatically, ensure agreement with gender and case in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using мука in plural without context (e.g., "муки" incorrectly for a single event). Correct: мука for singular abstract suffering. Explanation: Russian nouns like this require proper case agreement; beginners often overlook plural forms.
• Error: Conjugating мучить as *му chit* instead of му́чит. Correct: му́чит for third person. Explanation: The stress and palatalization are key; mispronunciation can lead to confusion with similar verbs.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like мука often evoke themes from literature and history, such as the suffering in Tolstoy's or Dostoevsky's works, where torment represents the human condition. This reflects a cultural emphasis on introspection and endurance, differing from English's more straightforward expressions of pain.

Related Concepts:

• страх (strakh) - fear
• горе (gore) - grief
• страдание (stradanie) - suffering