Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'eager'

English Word: eager

Key Russian Translations:

• Ревностный [rʲɪvˈnostnɨj] - [Formal, used in enthusiastic or dedicated contexts]
• Жаждущий [ʐɐʐˈduʂʲɪj] - [Literary, Informal, often implies intense desire]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly used in everyday and literary Russian, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like "хороший".)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of adjective declensions and nuanced contexts. For 'Ревностный', it's B2; for 'Жаждущий', it might lean towards B1 due to its more straightforward form.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Ревностный: [rʲɪvˈnostnɨj]

Жаждущий: [ʐɐʐˈduʂʲɪj]

Note on Жаждущий: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like the 's' in 'measure'. Stress falls on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Enthusiastic or keen to do something (often implying impatience or strong desire).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ревностный - Used in formal or professional contexts, such as describing someone's dedication to a task.
• Жаждущий - Applied in more emotional or literary settings, emphasizing intense eagerness.

Usage Examples:

• Он ревностно взялся за новый проект, несмотря на усталость.

  He eagerly took on the new project, despite being tired.

• Дети жаждущие знаний всегда задают множество вопросов.

  Children eager for knowledge always ask a lot of questions.

• Она ревностно готовилась к экзамену, изучая материалы до поздней ночи.

  She eagerly prepared for the exam, studying materials late into the night.

• Жаждущий приключений турист отправился в неизведанные места.

  The adventure-eager tourist set off to unexplored places.

• Ревностный сотрудник всегда предлагает инновационные идеи на встречах.

  The eager employee always suggests innovative ideas at meetings.

Meaning 2: Impatiently waiting or anticipating something.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Жаждущий - Common in contexts involving anticipation, like waiting for an event.
• Ревностный - Less common here, but can be used in formal descriptions of anticipation.

Usage Examples:

• Жаждущий победы спортсмен тренируется ежедневно.

  The victory-eager athlete trains every day.

• Ревностный ученик ждал результатов теста с нетерпением.

  The eager student waited for the test results impatiently.

• Она жаждущая перемен решила сменить работу.

  She, eager for change, decided to switch jobs.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Ревностный' and 'Жаждущий' are adjectives in Russian, which means they follow standard adjective declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They are not irregular but follow the first declension for most forms.

Note: These adjectives do not change in invariable ways; they fully decline based on the noun's characteristics.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Энтузиастичный (enthusiastic; more neutral and modern)
  • Азартный (excited; implies thrill-seeking)
  • Стремительный (impetuous; focuses on speed)
• Antonyms:
  • Апатишный (apathetic)
  • Ленивый (lazy)
  • Безразличный (indifferent)

Related Phrases:

• Жаждущий знаний - Eager for knowledge; a common phrase in educational contexts.
• Ревностный исполнитель - Eager executor; used in professional settings to describe dedicated workers.
• Быть жаждущим успеха - To be eager for success; an idiomatic expression emphasizing ambition.

Usage Notes:

'Eager' in English often corresponds to 'Ревностный' in more formal Russian contexts, such as business or academia, while 'Жаждущий' is better for emotional or literary expressions. Be mindful of the adjective's agreement with nouns—always match gender, number, and case. For example, use 'Ревностная' with feminine nouns. When choosing between translations, opt for 'Ревностный' in professional scenarios and 'Жаждущий' for personal desires to ensure natural flow.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'Ревностный' in informal contexts where 'Жаждущий' is more appropriate. For instance, an English learner might say "Я ревностный пойти на концерт" instead of "Я жаждущий пойти на концерт" (I am eager to go to the concert).

  Correct: Я жаждущий пойти на концерт. Explanation: 'Жаждущий' conveys personal excitement better in casual speech, while 'Ревностный' sounds overly formal.

• Error: Forgetting adjective declension, e.g., saying "Жаждущий человек" in genitive case as "Жаждущий человека" instead of "Жаждущего человека".

  Correct: Жаждущего человека. Explanation: Adjectives must decline to agree with the noun's case, which is a common oversight for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like 'Жаждущий знаний' reflect a strong emphasis on intellectual pursuit and lifelong learning, influenced by historical figures like Pushkin or Soviet-era education reforms. It often carries a positive connotation of passion, contrasting with Western individualism, and is frequently used in motivational speeches or literature to inspire dedication.

Related Concepts:

• Энтузиазм (enthusiasm)
• Мотивация (motivation)
• Амбиция (ambition)