Signification
To be very important in a process.
Contexte culturel
In Russian corporate environments, using 'играть ключевую роль' is a sign of high professional status. It is often used in 'отчёты' (reports) to justify budgets or praise departments. Russian scholars heavily use this phrase in 'диссертации' (theses). It is considered more academic than simply saying 'это важно'. In history books, specific battles or leaders are always described as playing a 'key role' in the victory of the Great Patriotic War, reinforcing a sense of destiny and structural importance. Journalists use this phrase to create a sense of urgency or significance in news headlines, especially regarding sanctions, technology, or celebrities.
Use the Perfective for Results
If you are talking about a specific win or a finished project, use 'сыграл' instead of 'играл'. It sounds much more natural.
The 'Meaning' Trap
Never say 'играть значение'. This is the most famous mistake in Russian. It's either 'играть роль' or 'иметь значение'.
Signification
To be very important in a process.
Use the Perfective for Results
If you are talking about a specific win or a finished project, use 'сыграл' instead of 'играл'. It sounds much more natural.
The 'Meaning' Trap
Never say 'играть значение'. This is the most famous mistake in Russian. It's either 'играть роль' or 'иметь значение'.
Formal but Friendly
While formal, this phrase is very safe. You can use it with your boss, your teacher, or a stranger, and you will always sound polite and educated.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the adjective 'ключевой'.
Образование играет _________ роль в жизни каждого человека.
The noun 'роль' is feminine and is the direct object (Accusative case), so the adjective must be 'ключевую'.
Which verb is correctly used with 'роль' in this context?
Этот проект _________ ключевую роль в развитии нашего города.
In Russian, you 'play' (играть/сыграть) a role. 'Сыграл' is the perfective past tense.
Match the situation to the most appropriate sentence.
Situation: A scientist explaining why a specific gene is important.
This is the standard scientific/formal way to express importance.
Complete the dialogue.
— Как ты думаешь, почему мы выиграли тендер? — Я уверен, что наша презентация _________.
The perfective 'сыграла' is used for a specific past event (the tender win).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Importance Levels
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesОбразование играет _________ роль в жизни каждого человека.
The noun 'роль' is feminine and is the direct object (Accusative case), so the adjective must be 'ключевую'.
Этот проект _________ ключевую роль в развитии нашего города.
In Russian, you 'play' (играть/сыграть) a role. 'Сыграл' is the perfective past tense.
Situation: A scientist explaining why a specific gene is important.
This is the standard scientific/formal way to express importance.
— Как ты думаешь, почему мы выиграли тендер? — Я уверен, что наша презентация _________.
The perfective 'сыграла' is used for a specific past event (the tender win).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes! You can say 'Плохая погода сыграла ключевую роль в нашем проигрыше' (Bad weather played a key role in our loss).
'Главную роль' is more common in actual theater/movies. 'Ключевую роль' is better for abstract things like business or science.
Use 'играть незначительную роль' or 'играть второстепенную роль'.
Because 'роль' is a feminine noun in the Accusative case. Adjectives for feminine Accusative nouns end in -ую.
Yes, if you are discussing something serious, like plans for a trip or a work task. For casual gossip, it might be too formal.
You can say 'Это было решающим' (This was decisive) or 'Это было главным' (This was the main thing).
No, a person *plays* a role. You can say 'Он — ключевая фигура' (He is a key figure) or 'Он играет ключевую роль'.
'Ключевая' is stronger. It implies that this factor is the 'key' that unlocks the whole situation.
Yes: 'Эти факторы играют ключевые роли'. But usually, we use the singular to highlight one main factor.
Very. You will find it in Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and modern Russian novelists when they analyze character motivations.
Expressions liées
иметь значение
similarTo have importance
вносить вклад
builds onTo make a contribution
быть на вторых ролях
contrastTo be in a supporting/minor position
краеугольный камень
synonymCornerstone
