Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gem'

English Word: gem

Key Russian Translations:

• драгоценный камень [draˈgoʦənʲɨj kɐˈmʲenʲ] - [Formal, used in contexts like jewelry or valuables]
• жемчужина [ʐʲɪmˈʧʊrʲɪnə] - [Informal or figurative, often metaphorical for something precious]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, everyday conversation about valuables, but not as high-frequency as basic nouns)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of noun-adjective agreements, but accessible with basic Russian grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

драгоценный камень: [draˈgoʦənʲɨj kɐˈmʲenʲ]

жемчужина: [ʐʲɪmˈʧʊrʲɪnə]

Note on драгоценный камень: The stress falls on the third syllable of "драгоценный" (dra-GO-tsen-nyj), and it may vary slightly in fast speech; be aware of the soft sign (ʲ) affecting pronunciation.

Note on жемчужина: This word has a soft 'zh' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in "measure."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Literal Meaning: A precious stone or jewel

Translation(s) & Context:

• драгоценный камень - Used in formal contexts like describing jewelry, geology, or collections; implies high value and rarity.
• жемчужина - Applied in metaphorical or poetic contexts, such as referring to a gem-like quality in people or objects.

Usage Examples:

• Этот драгоценный камень был найден в древних руинах.

  This gem was found in ancient ruins.

• Она носит ожерелье с большим драгоценным камнем.

  She wears a necklace with a large gem.

• Жемчужина этой коллекции — редкий алмаз.

  The gem of this collection is a rare diamond.

• В музее выставлены жемчужины мировой ювелирной истории.

  The museum displays gems of world jewelry history.

• Этот художник — настоящая жемчужина современного искусства.

  This artist is a true gem of contemporary art.

Figurative Meaning: Something highly valued or excellent

Translation(s) & Context:

• жемчужина - Common in informal or literary contexts to describe talents, ideas, or objects as exceptional.
• драгоценный камень - Less common figuratively, but used in formal writing for emphasis on rarity.

Usage Examples:

• Её улыбка — жемчужина в серые дни.

  Her smile is a gem on gray days.

• Эта книга — драгоценный камень в моей библиотеке.

  This book is a gem in my library.

• В команде он является жемчужиной, благодаря своему таланту.

  In the team, he is the gem due to his talent.

• Жемчужины мудрости часто скрыты в простых историях.

  Gems of wisdom are often hidden in simple stories.

• Драгоценный камень знаний — это опыт, накопленный годами.

  The gem of knowledge is experience accumulated over years.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Драгоценный камень" is a noun phrase where "драгоценный" is an adjective and "камень" is a masculine noun. Adjectives in Russian agree with nouns in gender, number, and case. "Камень" follows the standard masculine noun declension pattern.

For "жемчужина", a feminine noun, it follows a standard first-declension pattern and is mostly regular:

• Nominative singular: жемчужина
• Genitive singular: жемчужины
• Plural: жемчужины (with case variations, e.g., Genitive plural: жемчужин)

Both words are inflected regularly, but pay attention to adjective agreement in phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ювелирный камень (more specific to jewelry)
  • сокровище (emphasizes treasure-like quality)
  • редкость (implies rarity, often used interchangeably in figurative contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • обычный камень (common stone, lacking value)
  • мусор (trash, for figurative antonym emphasizing worthlessness)

Related Phrases:

• драгоценные камни коллекции - Gems of the collection (refers to highlight items in a set)
• жемчужина короны - Jewel of the crown (idiomatic for something most valuable, like in royal contexts)
• сокрытая жемчужина - Hidden gem (used for undiscovered talents or places)

Usage Notes:

"Драгоценный камень" directly corresponds to the literal English meaning of "gem" as a precious stone and is preferred in formal or technical discussions. In contrast, "жемчужина" is better for figurative uses, similar to English idioms like "a gem of a person." Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences; for example, use the appropriate form based on the sentence structure. When choosing between translations, opt for "драгоценный камень" in material contexts and "жемчужина" for metaphorical ones to ensure natural flow in Russian conversation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "гем" as a direct borrowing, which is not standard Russian and may confuse native speakers. Correct: Stick to "драгоценный камень." Example of error: "Я нашел гем в реке." Correct: "Я нашел драгоценный камень в реке." Explanation: Russian prefers native compounds over direct English loans for clarity.

• Error: Failing to decline the noun properly, e.g., saying "драгоценный камни" in plural nominative. Correct: "драгоценные камни." Explanation: Adjectives must agree with nouns in number and case to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, gems like those in Fabergé eggs symbolize luxury and historical opulence, often linked to the Romanov era. "Жемчужина" can evoke literary references in works by Pushkin or Tolstoy, where it represents hidden beauty or moral excellence, reflecting Russia's appreciation for depth and rarity in art and life.

Related Concepts:

• ювелир (jeweler)
• алмаз (diamond)
• сокровище (treasure)