Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Courteous'

English Word: courteous

Key Russian Translations:

• вежливый [ˈvʲeʐlʲɪvɨj] - [Formal, Informal]
• учтивый [ʊˈtɕtʲɪvɨj] - [Formal, Literary]
• любезный [lʲʊˈbʲeznɨj] - [Formal, Often used in service contexts]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "вежливый"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "учтивый" and "любезный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

вежливый: [ˈvʲeʐlʲɪvɨj]

Note on вежливый: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'.

учтивый: [ʊˈtɕtʲɪvɨj]

Note on учтивый: Stress on the second syllable. The "ч" sound is like 'ch' in 'church'.

любезный: [lʲʊˈbʲeznɨj]

Note on любезный: Stress on the second syllable. The "ю" is a soft 'u' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Polite and Respectful Behavior

Translation(s) & Context:

• вежливый - General term for polite or courteous behavior in most contexts.
• учтивый - More formal or old-fashioned, often used in written or literary contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда был вежливым с учителями.

  He was always courteous with teachers.

• Его учтивый тон произвёл хорошее впечатление.

  His courteous tone made a good impression.

• Будьте вежливы, даже если вы не согласны.

  Be courteous, even if you disagree.

2. Kind and Helpful, Often in Service Contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• любезный - Often used when addressing someone politely or in customer service scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Любезный продавец помог мне выбрать подарок.

  The courteous salesperson helped me choose a gift.

• Не могли бы вы, любезный, подсказать дорогу?

  Could you, kind sir, tell me the way?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

вежливый (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case.

Note: Similar declension patterns apply to "учтивый" and "любезный".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• приветливый (friendly, welcoming)
• обходительный (considerate, tactful)

Note: "приветливый" often implies warmth, while "обходительный" suggests tact and diplomacy.

Antonyms:

• грубый (rude)
• невежливый (impolite)

Related Phrases:

• вежливый отказ - A polite refusal (used when declining something tactfully).
• любезно согласиться - To kindly agree (used to express willingness in a polite way).
• учтиво поклониться - To bow courteously (often in formal or historical contexts).

Usage Notes:

• "вежливый" is the most neutral and widely used term for "courteous" in Russian, suitable for most everyday situations.
• "учтивый" may sound outdated or overly formal in casual speech; it is better suited for written language or historical contexts.
• "любезный" often appears in service interactions or when addressing someone directly with kindness, but overuse can sound insincere.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "любезный" in a casual or overly familiar context, e.g., "Ты такой любезный!" (sounds unnatural or sarcastic).
• Correct Usage: Reserve "любезный" for formal or service-oriented contexts, e.g., "Любезный, подскажите, пожалуйста..." (Kind sir, could you tell me...).
• Error: Misplacing stress in "вежливый" as [vʲeʐˈlʲɪvɨj].
• Correct Usage: Stress is on the first syllable: [ˈvʲeʐlʲɪvɨj].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, politeness is highly valued, especially in formal or public settings. Using terms like "вежливый" or "любезный" appropriately can reflect respect and social awareness. Over-politeness, however, might be perceived as insincere or mocking in close relationships.

Related Concepts:

• уважение (respect)
• этикет (etiquette)
• тактичность (tactfulness)