Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'worse'

English Word: worse

Key Russian Translations:

• хуже [xʊˈʒɛ] - [Comparative form; used in everyday language]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in comparative contexts in both spoken and written Russian)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of comparative adjectives in Russian grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

хуже: [xʊˈʒɛ]

Note on хуже: The initial "х" sound is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch". Stress falls on the second syllable, which can be tricky for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Comparative form of 'bad', indicating something of lower quality or state than another

Translation(s) & Context:

• хуже - Used in sentences comparing two entities, often in informal or formal discussions about quality, health, or conditions (e.g., in everyday conversations or written texts).

Usage Examples:

• В этом году погода хуже, чем в прошлом.

  This year the weather is worse than last year.

• Его здоровье стало хуже после операции.

  His health became worse after the surgery.

• Эта версия фильма хуже оригинала.

  This version of the film is worse than the original.

• Цены на продукты стали хуже из-за инфляции.

  Prices for products have become worse due to inflation.

• Ее настроение хуже, когда она устает.

  Her mood is worse when she's tired.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Хуже" is the comparative form of the adjective "плохой" (bad). As an adjective in Russian, it follows standard adjectival inflections based on gender, number, and case. It is invariable in its comparative form but must agree with the noun it modifies.

Note: This table shows inflections for "хуже" when used attributively. It is a regular comparative adjective, so no irregular forms apply.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неудачнее (less successful; used for outcomes or efforts)
  • худа (older, poetic form, less common in modern usage)
• Antonyms:
  • лучше (better; direct opposite in comparative contexts)

Related Phrases:

• Становиться хуже (To become worse) - Refers to a deteriorating situation or condition.
• Хуже не бывает (It doesn't get any worse) - An idiomatic expression for something at its worst.
• Сделать хуже (To make it worse) - Used when an action exacerbates a problem.

Usage Notes:

"Worse" in English directly corresponds to "хуже" as the comparative of "bad" (плохой). It is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For example, choose "хуже" based on the sentence structure; it's not used in superlative forms like "worst" (which is "худший"). When selecting among translations, "хуже" is the most straightforward for everyday comparisons, while synonyms like "неудачнее" might be preferred in professional or specific scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "хуже" without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "Я видел хуже фильм" (incorrect; should be "Я видел худший фильм" for superlative, or correctly inflect for comparative).

  Correct: "Я видел фильм хуже того." (I saw a film worse than that.) - Explanation: Always match the case; here, genitive is needed after "хуже".

• Error: Confusing with English structure, e.g., directly translating "This is worse" as "Это хуже" without context, which might imply comparison.

  Correct: "Это хуже, чем то." (This is worse than that.) - Explanation: Russian often requires an explicit point of comparison for clarity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions involving "хуже" often reflect a pragmatic or pessimistic view of life, as seen in idioms like "Хуже не бывает," which echoes a resigned attitude toward adversity. This can stem from historical contexts like Soviet-era hardships, where comparing situations as "worse" was a common way to cope with challenges.

Related Concepts:

• плохой (bad)
• худший (worst)
• улучшать (to improve)