Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'generous'

English Word: generous

Key Russian Translations:

• щедрый [ʂɕɪdʲrɨj] - [Formal, Informal]
• благородный [bləgɐˈrodnɨj] - [Formal, often implying noble generosity]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and gender agreement, which can be challenging for learners at A1-A2 levels).

Pronunciation (Russian):

щедрый: [ʂɕɪdʲrɨj]

благородный: [bləgɐˈrodnɨj]

Note on щедрый: The initial "щ" sound is a soft, palatalized "sh" (like in "sheep" but more fricative), which can be tricky for English speakers. It doesn't change in most positions.

Note on благородный: Stress on the third syllable; the "о" in the second syllable is reduced to a schwa sound in casual speech.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Willing to give more than is expected, especially in terms of money, time, or resources.

Translation(s) & Context:

• щедрый - Used in both formal and informal contexts to describe a person or action that is generous, e.g., in charitable acts or daily kindness.
• благородный - Applied in more elevated contexts, such as moral or ethical generosity, often in literature or formal discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда щедрый с друзьями, часто делится едой и деньгами.

  He is always generous with his friends, often sharing food and money.

• Её щедрый подарок на Новый год удивил всех гостей.

  Her generous gift on New Year's surprised all the guests.

• Благородный жест этого миллионера помог многим семьям в кризис.

  The noble gesture of this millionaire helped many families in crisis.

• Щедрый хозяин пригласил всех на ужин без всякого повода.

  The generous host invited everyone to dinner without any special occasion.

• В этой стране люди часто бывают благородными в своих пожертвованиях.

  In this country, people are often noble in their donations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "щедрый" and "благородный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns, though they can be irregular in some forms.

For "щедрый" (declension table):

For "благородный" (follows a similar pattern but with slight variations in some forms):

These adjectives do not change in comparative forms without additional words, e.g., "более щедрый" for "more generous".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • великодушный (velikodushnyy) - Emphasizes magnanimity and moral generosity.
  • щедрый - Direct synonym, but more common in everyday use.
• Antonyms:
  • скупой (skupoy) - Means stingy or miserly.
  • эгоистичный (egoisticheskiy) - Implies selfishness, contrasting with noble generosity.

Related Phrases:

• Щедрый дар (A generous gift) - Refers to a valuable or heartfelt present in social or cultural contexts.
• Благородный поступок (A noble act) - Describes an action driven by generosity and ethics, often in stories or real-life heroism.
• Быть щедрым на похвалы (To be generous with praise) - Means to give compliments freely, highlighting emotional generosity.

Usage Notes:

"Щедрый" is the most direct translation for "generous" in contexts involving material giving, while "благородный" suits situations with a moral or ethical undertone. Always ensure adjective agreement with the noun in gender, number, and case. For example, use "щедрая" for feminine nouns. In informal speech, "щедрый" is preferred, but in formal writing, opt for "благородный" to convey sophistication. Be cautious with regional variations; in some dialects, synonyms like "щедрый" might carry subtle connotations of excess.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "щедрый" interchangeably with "богатый" (rich), assuming they mean the same thing.

  Correct: "Богатый" refers to wealth, not generosity. Example of error: "Он богатый человек" instead of "Он щедрый человек" for "He is a generous person". Explanation: Generosity involves giving, not just having resources.

• Error: Forgetting to decline the adjective, e.g., saying "щедрый женщина" instead of "щедрая женщина".

  Correct: Always match gender; use "щедрая" for feminine nouns. Explanation: Russian requires strict agreement, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, generosity like "щедрый" is highly valued, especially during holidays such as New Year's or Maslenitsa, where sharing food and gifts symbolizes community and warmth. However, "благородный" can evoke historical connotations from Russian literature, like in Tolstoy's works, where it represents aristocratic virtue amid social inequalities.

Related Concepts:

• богатый (rich)
• добрый (kind)
• милосердный (merciful)