Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Complimentary'

English Word: complimentary

Key Russian Translations:

• бесплатный [bʲɪsˈplatnɨj] - [Formal/Informal, Used for free items or services]
• комплиментарный [kəmplʲɪmʲɪnˈtarnɨj] - [Formal, Used for expressing praise or admiration]

Frequency: Medium (both translations are moderately common depending on context)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "бесплатный"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "комплиментарный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

бесплатный: [bʲɪsˈplatnɨj]

Note on бесплатный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ы" sound is a distinct Russian vowel, often challenging for non-native speakers.

комплиментарный: [kəmplʲɪmʲɪnˈtarnɨj]

Note on комплиментарный: Stress on the fourth syllable. The soft "л" sound requires a palatalized pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Meaning: Free of Charge

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесплатный - Used to describe something provided at no cost, such as services or items.

Usage Examples:

• В отеле предлагают бесплатный завтрак.

  The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast.

• Это приложение можно скачать бесплатно.

  This app can be downloaded for free.

• Мы получили бесплатные билеты на концерт.

  We received complimentary tickets to the concert.

2. Meaning: Expressing Praise or Admiration

Translation(s) & Context:

• комплиментарный - Used in formal contexts to describe remarks or behavior that express admiration or flattery.

Usage Examples:

• Его комплиментарный отзыв очень вдохновил меня.

  His complimentary review really inspired me.

• Она всегда говорит комплиментарные вещи о коллегах.

  She always says complimentary things about her colleagues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

бесплатный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case. Below is the declension table for singular forms:

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	бесплатный	бесплатная	бесплатное
Genitive	бесплатного	бесплатной	бесплатного
Dative	бесплатному	бесплатной	бесплатному

комплиментарный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "бесплатный". Used less frequently, so learners should focus on context-specific usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for бесплатный:

• дармовой (colloquial)
• безвозмездный (formal)

Synonyms for комплиментарный:

• хвалебный (praising)
• лестный (flattering)

Antonyms for бесплатный:

• платный (paid)

Antonyms for комплиментарный:

• критический (critical)

Related Phrases:

• бесплатный сыр только в мышеловке - Literal: "Free cheese is only in a mousetrap." (Meaning: There's no such thing as a free lunch; be wary of free offers.)
• комплиментарный подход - A complimentary approach (Meaning: A way of addressing someone with praise or flattery.)

Usage Notes:

• "бесплатный" is far more common in everyday speech and applies to tangible free items or services. It is the default translation for "complimentary" in the sense of "free of charge."
• "комплиментарный" is less frequent and restricted to formal or written contexts when referring to praise or flattery. It should not be used for "free" items.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between the two translations, as they are not interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "комплиментарный" to mean "free." Incorrect: "Это комплиментарный билет." (This is a complimentary ticket.)
  Correction: Use "бесплатный" instead: "Это бесплатный билет."
• Error: Misplacing stress in "бесплатный" (e.g., stressing the first syllable).
  Correction: Stress the second syllable: [bʲɪsˈplatnɨj].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, offering something "бесплатный" (free) can sometimes carry a connotation of lower quality or hidden motives, as reflected in the proverb "бесплатный сыр только в мышеловке" (free cheese is only in a mousetrap). Be aware of this cultural nuance when using or interpreting the term.

Related Concepts:

• дар (gift)
• комплимент (compliment)
• похвала (praise)