Random

[olydiagron.livejournal.com]

Hi! How would you say "random" in Russian? I sometimes use случайный, but it doesn't always work, I think.

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Comments

[blaandinka.livejournal.com]

в каком предложении? обычно, random -случайный

[olydiagron.livejournal.com]

For example: "If you randomly pick a hundred people on the street..."

[blaandinka.livejournal.com]

Если вы выберете на улице произвольно, наугад, сто человек. randomly-произвольно, наугад

[olydiagron.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[miram.livejournal.com]

Если случайным образом выбрать сто человек...

[avla.livejournal.com]

произвольный

[olydiagron.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There is a negative nuance to the word произвольно, while random is more neutral, right?

[olydiagron.livejournal.com]

Compare:
We randomly choose the participants.
Мы произвольно выбирали участников.

[olydiagron.livejournal.com]

Is there a difference?

[dair-spb.livejournal.com]

"Произвольно" is a kind of mathematical term so both sentences sound ok to me.

[olydiagron.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I just think of произвол, but произволно doesnt have that nuance?

[blaandinka.livejournal.com]

нет, разный смысл

[dair-spb.livejournal.com]

You think correctly though it's difference like between "наверно" (probably, possibly) and "наверняка" (definitely, surely) which have same root but almost opposite meanings.

"Произвол" in its "bad" meaning is somewhat latter comparing to the original meaning "by free will".

[olydiagron.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[zwilling.livejournal.com]

"Произвольный" may have a shade of meaning associated with free will ("воля" stands for "will" here). And "произвол" is, literally, any action driven by somebody's will, but not rules, laws, etc. Thus comes its negative meaning. And "произвольно выбранный" is more likely "selected by any way", be it random or not. So if you wanna say about truly random choice (like in science), it is better to use the word "случайный".

[r-w.livejournal.com]

I agree. Besides, "произвольный выбор" is a stylistic mistake, since any choice is always a realization of one's will. That's why выбор CAN NOT be "произвольный / непроизвольный".

[r-w.livejournal.com]

You are perfectly right, IT DOES have that nuance.
The word 'произвольный' does keep its semantic relation to 'воля (произволение)', but not to 'произвол' which refers to some lawlessness.

[blaandinka.livejournal.com]

Мы наугад выбирали участников

[4px.livejournal.com]

it will be better "мы выбрали (набрали) случайных участников".

[olydiagron.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[kys.livejournal.com]

Would it be? It sounds a little strange to me, as if there already was a group of random participants and 'we''ve taken trouble to choose them =) Набрали участников случайным образом, or набрали участников произвольно, or even выбрали для участия случайных прохожих is imho a much better choice.

[r-w.livejournal.com]

'произвольно' does NOT mean 'randomly' !!!
'Произвольно' (with its root 'воля' will) = 'according to our own will/wish' which DOES NOT mean 'случайно, randomly'.

[zhiharka.livejournal.com]

Sometimes strange word 'рандомный' is used.
Of course, not in literary language.

[miram.livejournal.com]

How is it stressed, btw?

[spiritrc.livejournal.com]

рандОмный.

But is a professional slang of (probably) sociologists and (for sure) programmers.

[miram.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[russtam.livejournal.com]

случайным образом

example:
Абсолютно случайным образом ударяя по клавишам печатной машинки, гипотетическая обезьяна рано или поздно напечатает одну из пьес Шекспира.

[cluster-d.livejournal.com]

Usually I say "рандомный" :)

[darth-biomech.livejournal.com]

I say "ранд0мный" too) I think, that word used by nearly everyone who has computer.

[ut-dolor.livejournal.com]

We can say "рандОмный" but as you guess it's not russian word. It's english word in russian sounding. "Рандом" will be a noun and "рандомный" will be an adjective. Nevertheless in my opinion it's better to say "случайный" or "произвольный".

[annanlj.livejournal.com]

Recently I went to a board games store. An assistant there was describing one of the games to me and said: "Таймер рандОмный, сделан в виде бомбочки, так что участники игры не знают, когда рванет и это придает игре динамичность".