Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'expiate'

English Word: expiate

Key Russian Translations:

• искупить [ɪsˈkupʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Literary]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in religious, literary, or philosophical contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced vocabulary, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

искупить: [ɪsˈkupʲɪtʲ]

Note on искупить: The stress is on the second syllable. Be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making the 't' palatalized. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To atone for or make amends for a wrong, sin, or guilt through actions or sacrifices.

Translation(s) & Context:

• искупить - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe redemption through effort, often with a moral or religious connotation (e.g., in literature, theology, or personal reflection).

Usage Examples:

• Он искупил свои грехи, жертвуя время на помощь нуждающимся.

  He expiated his sins by dedicating time to helping those in need.

• Чтобы искупить вину, она вернула украденные деньги и извинилась публично.

  To expiate her guilt, she returned the stolen money and apologized publicly.

• В романе герой пытается искупить прошлое, совершая героические поступки.

  In the novel, the hero tries to expiate his past by performing heroic acts.

• Искупить ошибки молодости — это вечная тема русской литературы.

  Expiating the mistakes of youth is an eternal theme in Russian literature.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

искупить is a verb in Russian, belonging to the first conjugation group. It follows regular patterns but has irregularities in certain forms due to its root. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: As a perfective verb, искупить implies completion of the action. It does not have imperfective forms, which is a common feature in Russian verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • возместить (vozmesit') - To compensate, often in a more material sense.
  • загладить (zagladit') - To smooth over or make up for, with a focus on repairing relationships.
  • Note: загладить is more common in everyday contexts, while искупить carries a deeper moral weight.
• Antonyms:
  • накопить (nakopit') - To accumulate (e.g., sins or guilt).
  • усугубить (usugubit') - To aggravate or worsen.

Related Phrases:

• искупить вину - To expiate guilt; often used in legal or moral discussions.
• искупление грехов - Expiation of sins; a phrase common in religious contexts, referring to atonement in Christianity.
• через искупление обрести мир - Through expiation, to find peace; implies a path to redemption in personal narratives.

Usage Notes:

искупить directly corresponds to "expiate" in English, emphasizing moral or spiritual redemption rather than simple compensation. It is typically used in formal, literary, or religious settings; avoid it in casual conversation where simpler verbs like загладить might suffice. Grammatically, as a perfective verb, it denotes a completed action, so pair it with contexts implying resolution. When choosing between translations, use искупить for profound, ethical scenarios, and возместить for financial or tangible amends.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing искупить with возместить and using it in non-moral contexts, e.g., "Я искупил долг" (I expiated the debt) instead of "Я возместил долг" (I repaid the debt).

  Correct: Возместить is more appropriate for financial obligations. Explanation: искупить implies a deeper, often emotional or spiritual atonement, which doesn't fit monetary scenarios.

• Error: Incorrect verb conjugation, such as saying "я искупить" instead of "я искуплю" in the future tense.

  Correct: Use "я искуплю" for future actions. Explanation: Russian verbs require proper aspect and tense agreement; perfective verbs like искупить use specific forms to indicate completion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and literature, the concept of искупление (expiation) is deeply tied to themes of guilt, redemption, and moral responsibility, as seen in works by Dostoevsky (e.g., in "Crime and Punishment," where the protagonist seeks to expiate his crime through suffering). This reflects Orthodox Christian influences, where atonement often involves personal sacrifice or penance, highlighting the cultural emphasis on introspection and spiritual growth.

Related Concepts:

• грех (greh) - Sin
• искупление (iskup lenie) - Atonement
• раскаяние (raskayanie) - Repentance