Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vital'

English Word: vital

Key Russian Translations:

• жизненно важный [ʐɨzˈnʲɛn.nə ˈvaʐ.nɨj] - [Formal; Adjective; Used in contexts emphasizing essential importance]
• важный [ˈvaʐ.nɨj] - [Formal/Informal; Adjective; General importance, less intense than 'жизненно важный']

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday discussions, academic writing, and professional contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like 'хороший').

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced word choice; 'жизненно важный' may be more challenging due to its compound structure, while 'важный' is accessible at A2 for beginners).

Pronunciation (Russian):

жизненно важный: [ʐɨzˈnʲɛn.nə ˈvaʐ.nɨj]

Note on жизненно важный: The stress falls on the second syllable of each component ('nʲɛn' and 'vaʐ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rolled 'r' sound in 'ж' and 'р'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

важный: [ˈvaʐ.nɨj]

Note on важный: The initial 'в' is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative, similar to 'v' in English 'victory'. Stress on the first syllable makes it straightforward, but ensure the soft 'н' is not overemphasized.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Essential or crucial for life, survival, or success (e.g., vital organs, vital information)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жизненно важный - Used in formal or medical contexts to denote something absolutely necessary, such as in health or emergency situations.
• важный - Applied in general contexts where importance is significant but not life-threatening, like in business or education.

Usage Examples:

• Жизненно важный орган, такой как сердце, требует постоянного ухода.

  A vital organ like the heart requires constant care.

• В современном мире интернет стал жизненно важным инструментом для бизнеса.

  In the modern world, the internet has become a vital tool for business.

• Важные решения должны приниматься с учётом всех рисков.

  Important decisions should be made taking all risks into account.

• Для успеха в учёбе важен регулярный подход к занятиям.

  For success in studies, a regular approach to classes is vital.

Meaning 2: Full of life or energy (e.g., vital personality)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жизненно важный - Less common in this sense; typically reserved for literal essentials, but can imply energetic necessity in poetic contexts.
• важный - Not ideal; instead, 'энергичный' or 'жизнерадостный' might be better, but 'важный' can imply a dynamic importance in informal speech.

Usage Examples:

• Её жизненно важный энтузиазм вдохновляет всю команду.

  Her vital enthusiasm inspires the entire team.

• Важный дух молодёжи проявляется в их активных действиях.

  The vital spirit of youth shows in their active actions.

• В этой культуре важные фестивали полны энергии и традиций.

  In this culture, vital festivals are full of energy and traditions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'жизненно важный' and 'важный' are adjectives, which in Russian inflect based on gender, number, and case. 'Жизненно важный' is a compound adjective and follows the inflection patterns of its components, primarily 'важный'.

For 'важный', the inflections are regular and follow standard first-declension adjective patterns. It does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • необходимый (necessary; more neutral and less emphatic)
  • существенный (significant; used for substantial importance)
  • ключевой (key; often in strategic contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • неважный (unimportant; direct opposite)
  • второстепенный (secondary; implies lesser priority)

Related Phrases:

• Жизненно важный фактор - A vital factor (Used in scientific or decision-making contexts to highlight critical elements).
• Важный момент - An important moment (Common in everyday conversations for emphasizing key events).
• Быть жизненно важным - To be vital (In phrases like business strategies or personal development).

Usage Notes:

'Vital' in English often implies something essential for life or function, which aligns closely with 'жизненно важный' in Russian. However, choose 'важный' for less critical importance to avoid overstatement. In formal writing, ensure adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. For example, use 'жизненно важная' with feminine nouns. When multiple translations exist, 'жизненно важный' is preferred in medical or urgent scenarios, while 'важный' suits general discussions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'жизненно важный' interchangeably with 'важный' without considering intensity. For instance, saying 'Это важный орган' for a non-essential body part.

  Correct: Это не жизненно важный орган, а вспомогательный (This is not a vital organ, but a supplementary one). Explanation: Overusing 'жизненно важный' can exaggerate meaning; reserve it for truly critical contexts.

• Error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying 'жизненно важный книга' instead of 'жизненно важная книга'.

  Correct: Жизненно важная книга (A vital book). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender (here, feminine for 'книга').

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'жизненно важный' often appear in contexts related to resilience and survival, influenced by historical events such as wars and economic hardships. This reflects a cultural emphasis on endurance, where 'vital' elements are tied to national or personal fortitude, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works.

Related Concepts:

• необходимость (necessity)
• существенность (significance)
• ключевой аспект (key aspect)