Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'greed'

English Word: greed

Key Russian Translations:

• жадность (/ʐɐd.nəsʲtʲ/) - [Formal, Singular]
• алчность (/ɐlʲt͡ɕ.nəsʲtʲ/) - [Formal, Often in literary contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of ethics, psychology, and economics, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate learners may grasp basic usage, but nuances require advanced understanding of abstract nouns)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жадность: /ʐɐd.nəsʲtʲ/ (The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure')

Note on жадность: Be careful with the stress on the first syllable; it's a common point of error for English speakers due to the soft 'н' sound.

Audio: []

алчность: /ɐlʲt͡ɕ.nəsʲtʲ/ (The 'ч' is a voiceless palatal fricative, like 'ch' in 'church')

Note on алчность: This word has a more emphatic, somewhat archaic tone; pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: An intense desire for wealth or possessions, often with negative connotations.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жадность - Used in formal or psychological contexts to describe excessive greed, such as in business or personal relationships.
• алчность - Applied in literary or historical contexts, emphasizing insatiable greed, often with a moral judgment.

Usage Examples:

• Его жадность не знает границ; он всегда хочет больше, чем у других.

  His greed knows no bounds; he always wants more than others.

• В современном мире алчность часто приводит к коррупции и неравенству.

  In the modern world, greed often leads to corruption and inequality.

• Жадность материальна, но она может разрушить даже самые крепкие дружбы.

  Greed is materialistic, but it can destroy even the strongest friendships.

• Алчность правителей в истории часто вызывала восстания среди народа.

  The greed of rulers in history often sparked uprisings among the people.

• Из-за своей жадности он потерял всё, что имел, в погоне за богатством.

  Due to his greed, he lost everything he had in the pursuit of wealth.

Secondary Meaning: Extreme selfishness in non-material contexts, such as attention or power.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жадность - In informal or everyday contexts, to describe emotional greed, like in relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Её жадность к вниманию делает её эгоистичной в компании друзей.

  Her greed for attention makes her selfish in the company of friends.

• Жадность к власти часто приводит политиков к сомнительным решениям.

  Greed for power often leads politicians to questionable decisions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "жадность" and "алчность" are feminine nouns in Russian (3rd declension). They follow standard noun inflection patterns for case, number, and gender. "жадность" is more commonly used and has regular inflections, while "алчность" is similar but less frequent in modern speech.

For "алчность", the inflections are identical: e.g., Nominative Singular: алчность; Genitive Singular: алчности.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • скупость (/skʊ.pəsʲtʲ/) - More about stinginess, with a focus on not sharing.
  • аварice (/ɐ.vɐrʲ.i.t͡sɨ/) - A direct borrowing, used in formal contexts for extreme greed.
• Antonyms:
  • щедрость (/ʂɕɛ.drəsʲtʲ/) - Generosity, the opposite in terms of sharing resources.
  • благотворительность (/blɐ.gə.tɕi.tʲe.lʲ.nəsʲtʲ/) - Altruism or philanthropy.

Related Phrases:

• жадность до денег - Greed for money; often used to describe financial obsession.
• алчность власти - Greed for power; common in political discussions.
• неуемная жадность - Insatiable greed; implies endless desire in everyday contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Жадность" is the most direct translation for "greed" in English and is versatile for both material and emotional contexts, while "алчность" carries a more archaic or literary flavor, making it suitable for formal writing or historical references. English speakers should note that Russian often pairs these words with prepositions like "к" (to) for objects of greed, e.g., "жадность к богатству." Be mindful of context: in casual speech, "жадность" might sound judgmental, so use it cautiously in social settings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "жадность" with "скупость" and using it to mean simple stinginess. Correct: "жадность" implies a desire for more, not just reluctance to spend. Example of error: "Он скупой" (wrongly said as "жадный" for stinginess). Correct usage: "Его жадность заставляет его копить деньги" (His greed makes him hoard money).

• Error: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., using "жадность" in the wrong case. Example of error: "Я боюсь жадность" (incorrect; should be "жадности" in genitive). Correct: "Я боюсь жадности" (I fear greed).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "жадность" are often linked to literary works, such as in Dostoevsky's novels, where greed symbolizes moral decay. Historically, it reflects themes from Soviet-era critiques of capitalism, emphasizing communal values over individual accumulation.

Related Concepts:

• корысть (/kɐ.rɨsʲtʲ/)
• эгоизм (/je.ɡɐ.iz.m/)
• материализм (/mɐ.tʲe.rʲi.ɐ.lʲiz.m/)