Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'truism'

English Word: truism

Key Russian Translations:

• банальность /bə.nəl.nostʲ/ - [Formal, used in intellectual or written contexts]
• тривиализм /trɪ.vɪ.ə.lɪ.zm/ - [Less common, Formal, often in philosophical discussions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature and formal speech, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections; for 'банальность', B2; for 'тривиализм', C1 due to its specialized usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

банальность: /bə.nəl.nostʲ/

Note on банальность: The stress falls on the third syllable ('nostʲ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's vowel reduction in unstressed positions.

тривиализм: /trɪ.vɪ.ə.lɪ.zm/

Note on тривиализм: Pronounced with a soft 'л' sound, similar to 'l' in 'million', and stress on the second syllable; avoid over-emphasizing the foreign loanword elements.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A statement that is obviously true but offers no new insight.

Translation(s) & Context:

• банальность - Used in formal writing or discussions to criticize overly simplistic ideas, e.g., in essays or debates.
• тривиализм - Applied in more academic settings, such as philosophy, to denote a clichéd truth without depth.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: "Эта фраза — всего лишь банальность, не добавляющая ничего нового к дискуссии."

  English: "This phrase is just a truism, adding nothing new to the discussion."

• Русский пример: "В его речи было полно тривиализмов, которые не впечатлили аудиторию."

  English: "His speech was full of truisms that didn't impress the audience."

• Русский пример: "Банальность вроде 'время — деньги' часто используется в мотивационных текстах."

  English: "A truism like 'time is money' is often used in motivational texts."

• Русский пример: "Избегайте тривиализмов в научных работах, чтобы звучать оригинально."

  English: "Avoid truisms in academic papers to sound original."

• Русский пример: "Такая банальность может показаться банальной, но она всё ещё актуальна в повседневной жизни."

  English: "Such a truism might seem banal, but it's still relevant in everyday life."

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Банальность' is a feminine noun (from the first declension). It follows standard Russian noun inflections for gender, number, and case. Below is a table of its key forms:

'Тривиализм' is also a masculine noun (indeclinable in some contexts due to its loanword nature, but typically follows the second declension). It has regular inflections:

Note: These words do not change for verb forms as they are nouns, but ensure agreement with adjectives and verbs in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: тривиальность (similar to банальность but more neutral), клише (emphasizes overused phrases)
• Antonyms: оригинальность (highlights novelty and creativity, often used in contrast to repetitive ideas)

Related Phrases:

• Обычная банальность - A common truism; Meaning: Refers to everyday obvious statements that lack depth.
• Тривиализм мышления - Truism of thinking; Meaning: Describes simplistic or clichéd thought patterns in intellectual contexts.
• Банальность судьбы - Banality of fate; Meaning: A phrase used in literature to discuss predictable life events.

Usage Notes:

Both 'банальность' and 'тривиализм' closely correspond to 'truism' in English, but 'банальность' is more versatile for general use, while 'тривиализм' is reserved for formal or academic settings. Be mindful of the formal register; avoid in casual conversations. Grammatically, ensure proper noun agreement with adjectives (e.g., 'эта банальность' for feminine singular). When choosing between translations, opt for 'банальность' if the context is everyday critique, and 'тривиализм' for philosophical discussions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Misusing 'банальность' as 'банан' (banana) due to similar spelling. Incorrect Russian: "Это банан в речи." Correct Russian: "Это банальность в речи." Explanation: Always check context; 'банальность' relates to ideas, not fruit.

• Error: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Incorrect Russian: "О банальность" (should be genitive). Correct Russian: "О банальности". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, unlike English, so practice declensions.

• Error: Overusing in informal speech. Incorrect usage: Saying 'банальность' in a casual chat. Explanation: Stick to formal contexts to avoid sounding pretentious; use simpler synonyms like 'клише' if needed.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, truisms like 'банальность' are often critiqued in literature and philosophy, as seen in works by authors such as Tolstoy or Chekhov, who used them to highlight the banality of everyday life. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on depth and originality in intellectual discourse, contrasting with Western self-help genres where truisms are more positively received.

Related Concepts:

• истина
• клише
• оригинальность