Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'envious'

English Word: envious

Key Russian Translations:

• завистливый [zɐ'vʲistlʲɪvɨj] - [Informal; commonly used in everyday contexts to express jealousy or envy towards others' possessions or achievements]
• ревнивый [rʲɪv'nʲɪvɨj] - [Informal; more specific to relational jealousy, but can overlap with envious in certain contexts, e.g., [Used in personal relationships]]

Frequency: Medium - 'завистливый' is encountered in literature, conversations, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like 'хороший' (good).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Involves understanding emotional nuances and adjective inflections; 'завистливый' is straightforward for learners at this level, while 'ревнивый' may require context to distinguish from pure envy.

Pronunciation (Russian):

завистливый: [zɐ'vʲistlʲɪvɨj]

ревнивый: [rʲɪv'nʲɪvɨj]

Note on завистливый: The stress falls on the third syllable ('vʲist'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants; pronounce it with a clear 'vʲ' sound as in 'view'. Variations in informal speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Feeling or showing envy, typically towards someone else's advantages, possessions, or successes.

Translation(s) & Context:

• завистливый - Used in general contexts to describe a person who feels envy, often with a negative connotation in everyday Russian speech (e.g., in social or professional settings).
• ревнивый - Applied when envy stems from personal relationships, such as romantic jealousy, but can extend to envious feelings in broader contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда завистливый к чужому успеху, но старается это скрывать.

  He is always envious of others' success but tries to hide it.

• Её завистливый взгляд на новую машину соседа был заметен всем.

  Her envious glance at the neighbor's new car was noticeable to everyone.

• Ревнивый коллега не мог смириться с твоим продвижением по службе.

  The envious colleague couldn't come to terms with your career advancement.

• В детстве я был завистливый к игрушкам друзей, но теперь научился ценить своё.

  As a child, I was envious of my friends' toys, but now I've learned to appreciate my own.

• Она стала ревнивой из-за его популярности в компании.

  She became envious because of his popularity in the group.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'завистливый' and 'ревнивый' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, with some irregularities in spelling due to palatalization. Below is a table for 'завистливый' as an example; 'ревнивый' follows similar rules.

For 'ревнивый', the inflections are identical in pattern. These adjectives do not have irregular forms but require attention to soft endings (e.g., 'ый' changes to 'ого' in genitive). If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not inflect as heavily.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • завистный - Similar to завистливый but slightly more literary; used in formal writing.
  • ревнивый - Overlaps in relational contexts, but can imply a stronger emotional intensity.
• Antonyms:
  • довольный - Conveys contentment or satisfaction, the opposite of envious feelings.
  • бескорыстный - Means selfless or altruistic, highlighting a lack of envy.

Related Phrases:

• завистливый взгляд - A jealous or envious look; used to describe facial expressions in social interactions.
• ревнивый характер - An envious nature; refers to personality traits in psychological contexts.
• зависть к успеху - Envy of success; a common phrase in motivational or self-help discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Завистливый' directly corresponds to 'envious' in English, emphasizing a general sense of jealousy without implying possession, whereas 'ревнивый' is better for contexts involving personal relationships. In Russian, these words often carry a negative connotation, so use them cautiously in polite conversation. For example, in formal writing, opt for 'завистливый' over 'ревнивый' if the envy is not romantic. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, as Russian requires this for fluency.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'завистливый' with 'ревнивый': English learners often use 'ревнивый' interchangeably with 'envious' in non-romantic contexts, leading to errors like saying "Он ревнивый к деньгам друга" (incorrect for pure envy). Correct: "Он завистливый к деньгам друга." Explanation: 'Ревнивый' implies a possessive jealousy, so reserve it for relational scenarios.

• Incorrect inflection: Forgetting to change the adjective form, e.g., saying "Она завистливый" instead of "Она завистливая." Correct: Always match gender and case, as in "Она завистливая женщина." Explanation: This is a common beginner mistake due to English's lack of inflection.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, envy (зависть) is often portrayed in literature and folklore as a destructive force, as seen in works like those of Chekhov, where characters' envious behaviors lead to conflict. This reflects a broader Slavic cultural emphasis on communal harmony, where overt envy can be seen as socially disruptive, encouraging humility and contentment over competition.

Related Concepts:

• зависть (envy as a noun)
• ревность (jealousy in relationships)
• соперничество (rivalry)