Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unethical'

English Word: unethical

Key Russian Translations:

• неэтичный [ˌni.ɛˈtʲit͡ɕ.nɨj] - [Formal]
• аморальный [ɐ.mɐˈralʲ.nɨj] - [Formal, often used in philosophical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal discussions, ethics, and professional settings, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract moral concepts and intermediate vocabulary, though "неэтичный" is straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неэтичный: [ˌni.ɛˈtʲit͡ɕ.nɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; the "ч" is a soft palatal fricative, similar to the "ch" in "loch")

аморальный: [ɐ.mɐˈralʲ.nɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; the "р" is a trilled or tapped r, common in Russian)

Note on неэтичный: This word may vary slightly in pronunciation based on regional accents, with the "э" sounding more open in some dialects. Be cautious with the soft consonants for accurate articulation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The primary meaning: Not morally or ethically acceptable, often referring to actions, behaviors, or decisions that violate ethical standards.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неэтичный - Used in formal contexts like business, law, or academia to describe something contrary to ethical norms.
• аморальный - Applied in broader philosophical or moral discussions, emphasizing a lack of moral principles.

Usage Examples:

• Это поведение было неэтичным и повлекло за собой серьёзные последствия. (Eto povedeniye bylo neetichnym i povleklo za soboy seryoznyye poslyedstviya.)

  This behavior was unethical and led to serious consequences.

• В компании ввели строгие правила, чтобы предотвратить неэтичные практики. (V kompanii vveli strogiye pravila, chtoby predotvratit' neetichnyye praktiki.)

  The company introduced strict rules to prevent unethical practices.

• Аморальный подход к бизнесу может разрушить репутацию. (Amoral'nyy podkhod k biznesu mozhet razrushit' reputatsiyu.)

  An amoral approach to business can destroy one's reputation.

• Неэтичные эксперименты в науке осуждаются международным сообществом. (Neetichnyye eksperimenty v nauke osuzhdayutsya mezhdunarodnym soobshchestvom.)

  Unethical experiments in science are condemned by the international community.

• Он отказался от аморального предложения, руководствуясь своими принципами. (On otkazalsya ot amoral'nogo predlozheniya, rukovodyas' svoimi printsipami.)

  He refused the amoral offer, guided by his principles.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неэтичный" and "аморальный" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most forms, though they can be irregular in certain cases.

Note: These adjectives follow the standard first-declension pattern, with no irregularities. They remain unchanged in short form if used predicatively, e.g., "Это неэтично" (This is unethical).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неправомерный (nepravomernyy) - More legalistic, implying unlawfulness.
  • неморальный (nemoral'nyy) - Similar to amoral, but less common.
• Antonyms:
  • этичный (etichnyy)
  • моральный (moral'nyy)

Related Phrases:

• неэтичное поведение - Unethical behavior; used in discussions of professional ethics.
• аморальный акт - An amoral act; refers to actions lacking moral consideration, often in philosophical contexts.
• неэтичные практики в бизнесе - Unethical practices in business; common in corporate ethics training.

Usage Notes:

"Неэтичный" directly corresponds to "unethical" in English, making it the preferred translation for formal or professional contexts, while "аморальный" is better for broader moral or philosophical discussions. Be mindful of the context: in Russian, these words often imply a societal or cultural judgment. For everyday speech, simpler alternatives like "плохой" (bad) might be used, but they lack the ethical nuance. When choosing between translations, opt for "неэтичный" in legal or business scenarios and "аморальный" for abstract ethics. Grammatically, always ensure adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "неэтичный" with "незаконный" (illegal): Learners might overuse "неэтичный" for legal issues. Error: "Это незаконно, но не неэтично." (This is illegal, but not unethical.) Correct: Use "незаконный" for legal violations and reserve "неэтичный" for moral ones to avoid overstating ethical implications.

• Incorrect inflection: Forgetting to change the adjective form, e.g., saying "неэтичный женщина" instead of "неэтичная женщина" (unethical woman). Error: "Неэтичный решение" (incorrect). Correct: "Неэтичное решение" for neuter nouns, as it must agree in gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of ethics are heavily influenced by historical contexts like Soviet-era moral education and Orthodox Christian values. "Неэтичный" might carry connotations of state or collective ethics rather than individual morality, differing from Western individualism. For instance, in business, unethical behavior could reference breaches of social norms as much as personal integrity.

Related Concepts:

• мораль (moral')
• этика (etika)
• принципы (printsipy)