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B1 noun 10 Min. Lesezeit

баланс

An even distribution of weight or funds.

At the A1 level, you only need to know 'баланс' in the context of money and your phone. In Russia, everyone has a mobile phone that uses a 'pre-paid' system. This means you must put money on your account before you can call or use the internet. The word for this money is 'баланс'. You will see this word on ATMs, in banking apps, and in text messages from your mobile provider. A very common phrase is 'проверить баланс' (to check the balance). If you are at a store and want to add money to your phone, you might see a sign that says 'пополнение баланса' (refilling the balance). At this stage, treat 'баланс' as a simple noun that means 'money on my digital account'. It is a masculine noun, so it doesn't change much in basic sentences. For example: 'Мой баланс — сто рублей' (My balance is 100 rubles). You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just focus on recognizing it when you see your phone bill or bank statement. It is one of the most practical words for a traveler in Russia because without a 'баланс', your phone won't work!
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At the A2 level, you can start using 'баланс' in slightly more varied sentences. You should know that it is a masculine noun and how it changes in the most common cases. For example, in the genitive case (used after 'нет' or 'пополнение'), it becomes 'баланса'. Example: 'У меня нет баланса' (I have no balance/credit). You also start to see it used for physical things, though 'равновесие' is more common. You might hear it in a gym or a basic health context: 'баланс тела' (body balance). At this level, you should also be able to use it with simple adjectives. For instance, 'положительный баланс' (positive balance) or 'нулевой баланс' (zero balance). You might also encounter it when talking about simple life choices, like 'баланс еды' (food balance), although it's still quite basic. The key for A2 is moving from just 'recognizing' the word on a screen to 'using' it in short sentences to describe your financial or physical state. Remember the stress is on the second syllable: ba-LANS.
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At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'баланс' in more abstract and professional contexts. This is where the concept of 'work-life balance' becomes important. In Russian, this is 'баланс между работой и личной жизнью'. You should be able to discuss your daily routine and mention that you are trying to 'найти баланс' (find balance) or 'соблюдать баланс' (maintain balance). You will also encounter the word in news stories about the economy, specifically 'торговый баланс' (trade balance). At this level, you are expected to handle the grammar perfectly, including using the instrumental case after 'между'. For example: 'Трудно найти баланс между учёбой и работой' (It is hard to find a balance between study and work). You should also understand the difference between 'баланс' and its synonyms like 'равновесие' and 'остаток'. You are starting to see 'баланс' as a conceptual tool to describe harmony in various systems, not just a number on a phone screen. You might also hear it in the context of 'баланс сил' (balance of power) when discussing history or politics.
At the B2 level, you use 'баланс' with nuance and precision. You understand its role in professional accounting ('бухгалтерский баланс') and can discuss complex topics like 'экологический баланс' (ecological balance) or 'энергетический баланс' (energy balance). You can use the word in metaphorical ways, such as describing the 'баланс интересов' (balance of interests) in a negotiation or the 'баланс белого' (white balance) in photography. Your vocabulary should include related words like the verb 'балансировать' (to balance/teeter) and the adjective 'балансовый' (balance-related). You can explain the difference between 'сбалансированный' (balanced, e.g., a diet) and 'уравновешенный' (level-headed, e.g., a person). At B2, you should be able to write an essay or give a presentation where 'баланс' is a key theme, using it to describe the tension between opposing forces in society, nature, or business. You are also aware of idiomatic expressions and can use them correctly in context, such as 'восстановить баланс' (to restore balance).
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At the C1 level, your use of 'баланс' is sophisticated and indistinguishable from a native speaker's in professional settings. You understand the subtle connotations it carries in different registers. You might use it in legal or high-level political discussions to describe the 'баланс сдержек и противовесов' (balance of checks and balances). You are comfortable with technical terms like 'платёжный баланс' (balance of payments) and can analyze financial reports where 'баланс' refers to the entire financial position of a company. You can use the word to discuss philosophy or aesthetics, debating the 'баланс формы и содержания' (balance of form and content). Your grammar is flawless, and you can manipulate the word in complex sentence structures, such as using it in the middle of long, subordinate clauses. You also recognize when 'баланс' is used ironically or in slang, particularly in tech or gaming circles. You understand the historical development of the word in Russian and how it differs from its Slavic counterparts in depth and usage.
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At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'баланс' and its place in the Russian linguistic landscape. You can appreciate and use the word in literary contexts, perhaps in poetry or high-style prose, where it might represent a metaphysical state of the universe. You are aware of the most obscure technical applications of the word in fields like thermodynamics, macroeconomics, or cybernetics. You can lead deep discussions on the 'хрупкий баланс' (fragile balance) of global geopolitics or the 'динамический баланс' (dynamic balance) in complex systems. You understand the etymological roots and how they influence the word's current 'flavor' in Russian compared to other European languages. You can use the word to make subtle points about culture, such as the 'баланс между традицией и модерном' (balance between tradition and modernity) in Russian society. At this level, 'баланс' is not just a word but a precise instrument you use to express complex, multi-layered thoughts with absolute clarity and stylistic appropriateness.
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Beispiele

баланс in 30 Sekunden

  • Means 'balance' or 'equilibrium'.
  • Essential for checking phone credit or bank accounts.
  • Used for 'work-life balance' and 'balance of power'.
  • A masculine noun (баланс) with stress on the second syllable.

The Russian word баланс is a versatile noun that primarily refers to a state of equilibrium or the equality between two opposing forces, amounts, or elements. While it shares a direct cognate with the English word 'balance', its usage in Russian spans several specific domains including finance, physics, psychology, and daily life. In its most literal sense, it describes the physical stability of an object, though Russians often prefer the word равновесие for physical standing. However, in the context of accounting and finance, баланс is the standard term used to describe the relationship between income and expenses or the current state of a bank account or SIM card. For instance, checking your phone credit is always described as checking your 'баланс'.

Financial Context
In Russian business and personal finance, this word is ubiquitous. It refers to the 'balance sheet' (бухгалтерский баланс) or the remaining funds on a digital account. If your phone stops working, a Russian might say your balance is at zero.

Мне нужно проверить свой баланс на банковской карте перед покупкой.

Beyond money, the word is increasingly popular in discussions about lifestyle and mental health, specifically the concept of 'work-life balance' (баланс между работой и личной жизнью). This usage has grown significantly in urban Russian culture over the last decade, reflecting global trends toward mindfulness and productivity. It implies a harmonious proportion where no single aspect of life overwhelms the others. In technical fields like ecology or chemistry, it refers to the stability of a system, such as the 'oxygen balance' or 'ecological balance'.

Abstract Harmony
It is used to describe the distribution of power in politics (баланс сил) or the aesthetic harmony in art and design. When elements are perfectly poised, they are 'in balance'.

В этой картине соблюдён идеальный баланс цветов.

Furthermore, the word appears in gaming and software development to describe 'game balance'—the fairness and tuning of mechanics. If a character is too strong, players will complain about a lack of balance. This demonstrates how the word has adapted to modern digital contexts, becoming a core part of the Russian tech lexicon. Whether you are talking about the state of the global economy, your yoga practice, or your mobile phone bill, баланс is the essential term for describing that delicate point of equality.

Ecological Usage
Environmentalists often speak of the 'природный баланс' (natural balance), warning that human intervention can easily disrupt the fragile equilibrium of ecosystems.

Нарушение экологического баланса ведёт к катастрофе.

Using баланс correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a masculine noun and its typical collocations. In Russian, nouns change their endings based on their role in the sentence (cases). For example, if you are 'maintaining' balance, you use the accusative case (which for inanimate masculine nouns looks like the nominative: сохранять баланс). If you are talking 'about' balance, you use the prepositional case (о балансе). Understanding these shifts is crucial for sounding natural.

Direct Object Usage
When 'баланс' is the thing being acted upon, verbs like 'поддерживать' (to support/maintain), 'проверять' (to check), or 'пополнять' (to top up/refill) are commonly used.

Я часто пополняю баланс телефона через мобильное приложение.

In more complex sentences, 'баланс' often requires the genitive case for the things being balanced. For example, 'the balance of power' is баланс сил, and 'the balance of interests' is баланс интересов. Note how 'сил' (powers) and 'интересов' (interests) are in the genitive plural. This structure mimics the English 'balance of [something]'. If you want to describe a state of being in balance, you might use the prepositional phrase в балансе, though в равновесии is more common for physical states.

Subject of the Sentence
When the balance itself is doing something—like 'shifting' or 'tipping'—you use verbs like 'смещаться' (to shift) or 'нарушаться' (to be disturbed).

В последнее время баланс сил в регионе значительно изменился.

When discussing personal well-being, the phrase найти баланс (to find balance) is extremely common. It is often followed by the preposition между (between), which requires the instrumental case. For example: 'найти баланс между семьёй и карьерой' (to find a balance between family and career). Here, 'семьёй' and 'карьерой' are in the instrumental case. This is a high-level construction that will make your Russian sound very sophisticated and modern.

Negative Contexts
To say balance is lost, use the verb 'терять' (to lose). For example, 'терять баланс' can mean losing one's cool or losing financial stability.

Он потерял баланс и чуть не упал в воду.

You will encounter the word баланс in a wide variety of real-world settings in Russia. The most frequent place is likely your smartphone screen. Every Russian mobile operator (MTS, Megafon, Beeline, Tele2) uses the word 'баланс' to show how much money is left on your account. When you dial a USSD code like *100#, the message that pops up invariably starts with 'Ваш баланс...'. Consequently, in any Russian store or bank, when you need to add money to your phone or transit card (like the Troika card in Moscow), you will hear people talking about 'пополнение баланса'.

Business and News
On news channels like RBK or in business newspapers like Kommersant, 'баланс' is used to discuss trade balances (торговый баланс) between countries or the financial health of major corporations.

Торговый баланс страны остаётся положительным, несмотря на санкции.

In the workplace, especially in corporate office environments in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, you will hear the word used in discussions about project management and resource allocation. Managers often speak about the 'баланс ресурсов' (balance of resources) or the need to 'соблюдать баланс' (maintain balance) between quality and speed. This is part of the modern 'Russlish' business vocabulary where international concepts are expressed using cognates. If you work in a Russian-speaking office, mastering this word is essential for participating in strategic meetings.

Health and Wellness
In yoga studios or fitness centers, instructors will talk about 'внутренний баланс' (inner balance) or 'баланс тела' (body balance). This reflects the holistic approach to health common in modern Russian cities.

Йога помогает мне восстановить душевный баланс после тяжёлого дня.

Lastly, in academic and scientific circles, the word is used to describe theoretical models. Whether it is a 'баланс энергии' (energy balance) in a physics textbook or 'баланс интересов' (balance of interests) in a law lecture, the word serves as a fundamental concept for describing systems where multiple factors must be weighed against each other. It is a 'high-register' word that signals a certain level of education and precision in speech. From the street to the university, 'баланс' is a word that bridges the gap between everyday needs and complex intellectual thought.

Daily Conversations
Friends might use it when splitting a bill or discussing their busy schedules, saying things like 'мне нужно поймать баланс' (I need to catch a balance/rhythm).

Проверь баланс, может, деньги уже пришли?

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using the Russian word баланс is overusing it in physical contexts where равновесие is more appropriate. While 'balance' in English covers both a bank account and a tightrope walker, Russian tends to split these concepts. If you say 'я потерял баланс' when you trip over a rug, a Russian will understand you, but it might sound slightly 'translated' or overly formal. Using равновесие in that specific instance would sound much more native.

Confusing with 'Remainder'
In some contexts, like the 'balance' of a meal or the 'balance' of a day, English uses the word to mean 'the rest'. In Russian, you should use 'остаток' or 'остальное'.

Не говори 'баланс дня', говори 'остаток дня'. баланс — это про равенство, а не про время.

Another error involves case endings. Because 'баланс' is a masculine noun ending in a consonant, learners often forget to change the ending in the genitive case (нет баланса) or the dative case (к балансу). Particularly, the phrase 'пополнение баланса' (topping up the balance) requires the genitive case. Many beginners mistakenly say 'пополнение баланс', which is grammatically incorrect. Always remember that when one noun follows another to show 'of', the second noun usually goes into the genitive case.

Pluralization Pitfalls
Learners sometimes try to pluralize 'баланс' to 'балансы' when talking about multiple bank accounts. While technically possible, Russians usually say 'баланс на счетах' (the balance on the accounts).

У меня нулевой баланс на всех картах.

Lastly, be careful with the verb 'сбалансировать' (to balance). Learners often use the simple 'балансировать' when they mean 'to make balanced'. 'Балансировать' usually means the act of trying to stay upright (like on a wire), whereas 'сбалансировать' means to bring something into a state of equilibrium (like a budget or a diet). This distinction between the imperfective and perfective aspects is a common hurdle for English speakers who are used to the single English verb 'to balance'.

Spelling and Stress
The stress is always on the second syllable: ба-ЛА́НС. Don't stress the first syllable like in some other European languages.

Ошибка: 'бАланс'. Правильно: балАнс.

While баланс is a powerful and common word, Russian offers several alternatives that can make your speech more precise depending on the context. Understanding the nuances between these synonyms will help you move from an intermediate to an advanced level of fluency. The most significant alternative is равновесие, which is the native Slavic term for balance.

Равновесие vs. Баланс
Use 'равновесие' for physical stability (standing on one leg) and emotional calm. Use 'баланс' for financial accounts, systems, and modern concepts like work-life balance.

Он с трудом удерживал равновесие на льду.

Another important word is остаток (remainder). In financial contexts, 'баланс' refers to the total current state, while 'остаток' refers specifically to what is left over after a transaction. If you want to ask 'What is the remaining amount on my account?', you can use either, but 'остаток на счёте' sounds slightly more formal and technical. In non-financial contexts, like food or time, only 'остаток' is correct. For example, 'the rest of the cake' is 'остаток торта', never 'баланс торта'.

Соотношение (Ratio/Proportion)
When talking about the balance between two specific numbers or ingredients, 'соотношение' is often better. For example, 'соотношение цены и качества' (price-to-quality ratio).

В этом рецепте важно правильное соотношение муки и воды.

In a technical or scientific sense, you might encounter компенсация (compensation) or пропорция (proportion). 'Компенсация' is used when one force counteracts another to create a balance. 'Пропорция' is used when discussing the mathematical relationship between parts of a whole. While 'баланс' is the 'state' of being equal, these words describe the 'mechanism' or 'ratio' that creates that state. Choosing the right one shows you understand the underlying logic of the Russian language.

Уравновешенность (Balanced character)
If you want to describe a person as 'balanced' or 'level-headed', use the noun 'уравновешенность' or the adjective 'уравновешенный'.

Он очень уравновешенный человек и никогда не кричит.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /bɐˈɫans/
US /bəˈlɑːns/
Second syllable (ба-ЛА́НС)
Reimt sich auf
аванс (advance) нюанс (nuance) сеанс (session) романс (romance) резонанс (resonance) шанс (chance) фаянс (faience) альянс (alliance)
Häufige Fehler
  • Stressing the first syllable (БA-ланс).
  • Pronouncing the 'л' as a soft 'l' (ба-лянс).
  • Using the English 'a' sound in the first syllable instead of 'ah'.
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Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Где можно проверить баланс?

Where can I check the balance?

Direct object of 'проверить'.

2

Мой баланс почти на нуле.

My balance is almost at zero.

Subject of the sentence.

3

Пополни мой баланс, пожалуйста.

Top up my balance, please.

Imperative verb + accusative case.

4

У меня на счету хороший баланс.

I have a good balance on my account.

Adjective 'хороший' modifies 'баланс'.

5

Какой сейчас баланс?

What is the balance now?

Simple interrogative sentence.

6

Этот баланс только для звонков.

This balance is only for calls.

Usage of 'только для' + genitive.

7

Я вижу свой баланс в приложении.

I see my balance in the app.

Prepositional case 'в приложении'.

8

Баланс карты — пятьсот рублей.

The card balance is five hundred rubles.

Genitive 'карты' showing possession.

1

Нам нужно сохранить баланс сил.

We need to maintain the balance of power.

Infinitive 'сохранить' + accusative.

2

Без баланса телефон не работает.

Without a balance, the phone doesn't work.

Preposition 'без' requires genitive 'баланса'.

3

Он учится держать баланс на велосипеде.

He is learning to keep his balance on a bike.

Verbal phrase 'держать баланс'.

4

В этой еде есть баланс витаминов.

There is a balance of vitamins in this food.

Genitive plural 'витаминов'.

5

Я хочу проверить баланс своей карты.

I want to check the balance of my card.

Possessive 'своей' in genitive.

6

Баланс на телефоне закончился очень быстро.

The phone balance ran out very quickly.

Past tense verb 'закончился'.

7

Мы обсуждаем баланс в нашей команде.

We are discussing the balance in our team.

Prepositional case 'в команде'.

8

Положи деньги на баланс.

Put money on the balance.

Accusative after 'на' indicating direction.

1

Важно найти баланс между работой и отдыхом.

It's important to find a balance between work and rest.

Instrumental case after 'между'.

2

Диета должна иметь правильный баланс жиров и белков.

The diet should have the right balance of fats and proteins.

Genitive plural 'жиров' and 'белков'.

3

Экономический баланс страны очень хрупок.

The country's economic balance is very fragile.

Adjective 'хрупок' is short-form.

4

Он потерял баланс и упал в бассейн.

He lost his balance and fell into the pool.

Perfective verb 'потерял'.

5

Как восстановить баланс после стресса?

How to restore balance after stress?

Infinitive 'восстановить' used in a question.

6

В дизайне важен баланс тёмных и светлых тонов.

In design, the balance of dark and light tones is important.

Adjective 'важен' is short-form masculine.

7

Баланс сил в Европе изменился после войны.

The balance of power in Europe changed after the war.

Genitive plural 'сил'.

8

Она всегда сохраняет внутренний баланс.

She always maintains internal balance.

Adjective 'внутренний' modifies 'баланс'.

1

Бухгалтер подготовил годовой баланс компании.

The accountant prepared the company's annual balance sheet.

Specific term 'годовой баланс'.

2

Соблюдение баланса интересов — залог успеха переговоров.

Maintaining a balance of interests is the key to successful negotiations.

Verbal noun 'соблюдение' + genitive.

3

Нужно сбалансировать бюджет на следующий квартал.

We need to balance the budget for the next quarter.

Perfective verb 'сбалансировать'.

4

Нарушение экологического баланса привело к вымиранию видов.

The disruption of the ecological balance led to species extinction.

Genitive 'баланса' after 'нарушение'.

5

В этой игре плохой баланс персонажей.

This game has poor character balance.

Genitive plural 'персонажей'.

6

Мы ищем баланс между ценой и качеством.

We are looking for a balance between price and quality.

Instrumental case 'ценой' and 'качеством'.

7

Платёжный баланс страны ушёл в дефицит.

The country's balance of payments went into deficit.

Economic term 'платёжный баланс'.

8

Йога развивает чувство баланса.

Yoga develops a sense of balance.

Genitive 'баланса' after 'чувство'.

1

Необходимо поддерживать баланс сдержек и противовесов.

It is necessary to maintain a balance of checks and balances.

Political idiom 'сдержек и противовесов'.

2

Автор мастерски выдерживает баланс между трагедией и комедией.

The author masterfully maintains a balance between tragedy and comedy.

Adverb 'мастерски' modifies the verb.

3

Динамический баланс системы обеспечивается обратной связью.

The dynamic balance of the system is ensured by feedback.

Passive construction 'обеспечивается'.

4

В его аргументации отсутствует баланс логики и эмоций.

His argumentation lacks a balance of logic and emotions.

Verb 'отсутствует' + nominative subject.

5

Эта политика направлена на восстановление энергетического баланса.

This policy is aimed at restoring the energy balance.

Participle 'направлена' + preposition 'на'.

6

Смещение баланса сил привело к геополитической нестабильности.

The shift in the balance of power led to geopolitical instability.

Verbal noun 'смещение' + genitive.

7

В архитектуре здания соблюдён идеальный баланс пропорций.

The building's architecture maintains a perfect balance of proportions.

Participle 'соблюдён' + nominative.

8

Критический баланс между спросом и предложением был нарушен.

The critical balance between demand and supply was disrupted.

Adjective 'критический' adds emphasis.

1

Философ размышлял о балансе бытия и небытия.

The philosopher pondered the balance of being and non-being.

Prepositional case 'о балансе'.

2

Тончайший баланс микрофлоры кишечника влияет на весь организм.

The delicate balance of gut microflora affects the whole organism.

Superlative adjective 'тончайший'.

3

В его поэзии мы видим баланс между архаикой и новаторством.

In his poetry, we see a balance between archaism and innovation.

Abstract nouns in instrumental case.

4

Макроэкономический баланс требует филигранной настройки инструментов.

Macroeconomic balance requires filigree tuning of instruments.

Adjective 'макроэкономический'.

5

Справедливость — это всегда поиск баланса между правом и моралью.

Justice is always a search for balance between law and morality.

Definition-style sentence with a dash.

6

Нарушение осмотического баланса ведёт к гибели клетки.

Disruption of the osmotic balance leads to cell death.

Scientific term 'осмотический баланс'.

7

В симфонии достигнут безупречный баланс оркестровки.

An impeccable balance of orchestration has been achieved in the symphony.

Passive participle 'достигнут'.

8

Политик виртуозно манипулировал балансом общественных ожиданий.

The politician masterfully manipulated the balance of public expectations.

Instrumental case 'балансом' after 'манипулировал'.

Häufige Kollokationen

проверить баланс
пополнить баланс
нулевой баланс
баланс сил
найти баланс
соблюдать баланс
торговый баланс
баланс белого
водный баланс
бухгалтерский баланс

Häufige Phrasen

всё в балансе

нарушить баланс

восстановить баланс

баланс на нуле

держать баланс

баланс интересов

положительный баланс

потерять баланс

баланс между...

сводить баланс

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"балансировать на грани"

To be in a very risky situation.

Он балансирует на грани увольнения.

Neutral

"сводить балансы"

To settle scores or finalize things (metaphorical).

Пришло время сводить балансы.

Neutral

"баланс сил"

The distribution of power.

Баланс сил в семье изменился.

Neutral

"потерять баланс"

To lose one's emotional cool (rare but used).

Он совсем потерял баланс от новостей.

Informal

"выйти из баланса"

To become unstable.

Система вышла из баланса.

Technical

"играть на балансе"

To manipulate the differences between things.

Он играет на балансе интересов.

Formal

"балансировать бюджет"

To manage money strictly.

Нам нужно балансировать бюджет семьи.

Neutral

"поймать баланс"

To find the right rhythm or state.

Я наконец поймал баланс в работе.

Informal

"баланс на грани фола"

To be very close to breaking the rules.

Их игра — это баланс на грани фола.

Sport/Informal

"балансовая стоимость"

The official value of something on paper.

Балансовая стоимость активов упала.

Business
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