When to use one or the other, and in wich context?
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1Excellent question, definitely +1.– DavidCommented Mar 12, 2015 at 23:22
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2 Answers
Let's broaden your set of dark and depressive feelings.
Грусть ≈ sadness. The shortest and the lightest. May be caused by bad weather or a sad film/song/book.
Мне грустно от этой книги.
Серое осеннее небо навеяло на него грусть.
Тоска ≈ melancholy, depression. May be caused by a separation with someone or something.
Я тоскую по любимой.
Его съедала тоска по родине.
Уныние ≈ despondency, dejection, melancholy. Can be result of грусть,тоска,печаль. Characterized by ultimate lack of motivation. May be caused or result in apathy.
Не впадай в уныние - все еще можно исправить.
Хватит унывать - начни что-нибудь менять!
Печаль ≈ grief, sorrow. Somewhere between грусть,тоска,уныние.
Печально видеть результаты ваших ссор.
Он бы опечален грустной вестью.
Скорбь ≈ sorrow, grief. In most cases is caused by a loss of a close person.
Он был удивительно светлым человеком, я скорблю вместе с вами.
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4I should add that "Уныние" is also a Russian (church) canonical term for a one of seven deadly sins en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acedia– MattCommented Mar 6, 2015 at 9:44
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So, let's say someone loses a leg or contracts cancer or, dare I say it ... comes down with COVID-19? Which is the best word to use in a phrase such as "It's sad." And along this line of thinking, I would assume the word to use for someone with a mild case of COVID-19 would be different than for someone who is just barely hanging in there with an intubator ... right? Likewise, would different words be used for someone who lost a leg versus someone who just merely broke a leg? Commented Sep 18, 2021 at 7:00
Although the dictionaries can write about some minor differencies, all these words are very close synonyms. Consider the following excerpts from Pushkin:
Князь печально отвечает: "Грусть-тоска меня съедает..."
Мне грустно и легко; печаль моя светла; Печаль моя полна тобою
In my opinion грусть is indefinite, печаль - some bad feeling implied by objective circumstances (from печа = care), and тоска - feeling lonely, missing for smth. Although the dictionaries seem to insist on another meanings.
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there is no such word as печа in russian language. Probably, you meant "опекать", "печься" (о ком-то) Commented Mar 18, 2015 at 10:44
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1@Burundanga Almost never used but exists. dal.sci-lib.com/word025750.html– MattCommented Mar 18, 2015 at 10:55