Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hypocrite'

English Word: hypocrite

Key Russian Translations:

• лицемер (/lʲɪˈtsɛmʲɪr/) - [Neutral]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly used in discussions of morality and behavior but not as frequent as basic everyday vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and nuanced social judgments, suitable for upper-intermediate learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лицемер: /lʲɪˈtsɛmʲɪr/

Note on лицемер: The stress falls on the second syllable (/ˈtsɛmʲɪr/), and the 'л' is palatalized, which is a common feature in Russian. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that they do not actually possess.

Translation(s) & Context:

• лицемер - Used in neutral or formal contexts to describe someone insincere in their actions or words, often in moral or ethical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда критикует других за то, что сам делает. (On vsegda kritikuet drugikh za to, chto sam delayet.)

  He always criticizes others for what he himself does. (This example shows the word in a sentence highlighting hypocritical behavior in everyday life.)

• Эта женщина – типичный лицемер, проповедующая честность, но лживая в делах. (Eta zhenshchina – tipichnyy licemer, propoveduyushchaya chestnost', no lzhivaya v delakh.)

  This woman is a typical hypocrite, preaching honesty but being deceitful in her affairs. (Illustrates use in describing character traits, with a focus on contradiction.)

• В политике полно лицемеров, которые говорят одно, а делают другое. (V politike polno licemerov, kotorye govoryat odno, a delayut drugoye.)

  Politics is full of hypocrites who say one thing and do another. (Demonstrates plural form in a broader social context, such as public life.)

• Не будь лицемером; признай свои ошибки. (Ne bud' licemerom; priznay svoi oshibki.)

  Don't be a hypocrite; admit your mistakes. (Shows imperative use in direct advice or confrontation.)

• Его поведение – чистый лицемер: на публике он святой, а наедине – совсем другой. (Yego povedeniye – chistyy licemer: na publike on svyatoj, a naedine – sovershenno drugoj.)

  His behavior is pure hypocrisy: in public, he's a saint, but in private, he's completely different. (Emphasizes the word in a phrase to describe ongoing patterns of insincerity.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Лицемер" is a masculine noun in Russian, and it follows the standard first declension pattern for nouns ending in a consonant. It has regular inflections based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its key forms:

Note: The plural forms are used when referring to multiple hypocrites, and the inflections are regular without irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • фарисей (/fɐˈrʲisʲej/) - Often implies religious hypocrisy, with a biblical connotation.
  • двуликий (/dvʊˈlʲikʲij/) - Literally "two-faced," used for someone deceptive in relationships.
• Antonyms:
  • честный (/ˈt͡ɕestnɨj/) - Meaning honest, directly contrasting with insincerity.
  • искренний (/ɪsˈkrʲennʲij/) - Meaning sincere, emphasizing genuine behavior.

Related Phrases:

• лицемерный человек (/lʲɪˈtsɛmʲɪrnɨj t͡ɕelavʲek/) - Hypocritical person; used to describe someone with inconsistent morals.
• лицемерие в политике (/lʲɪˈtsɛmʲɪrʲije v pəlʲiˈtʲikʲe/) - Hypocrisy in politics; a common phrase in discussions of public figures.
• быть лицемером (/bɨtʲ lʲɪˈtsɛmʲɪrəm/) - To be a hypocrite; often in advice or criticism.

Usage Notes:

"Лицемер" directly corresponds to the English "hypocrite" and is used in similar contexts to denote insincerity, but it carries a slightly more formal or literary tone in Russian. It is neutral in register but can sound accusatory, so use it cautiously in conversations. When choosing between synonyms like "фарисей," opt for it if the hypocrisy has a religious undertone. Grammatically, as a masculine noun, it agrees with adjectives and verbs in gender, number, and case. For example, in plural forms, ensure subject-verb agreement as shown in the inflections table.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "лицемер" with "лжец" (lietz, meaning liar): Learners might overuse "лжец" for any deception, but "лицемер" specifically implies hypocrisy in moral standards. Incorrect: "Он лжец, потому что критикует других." (He is a liar because he criticizes others.) Correct: "Он лицемер, потому что критикует других за то, что сам делает." (He is a hypocrite because he criticizes others for what he himself does.) Explanation: "Лжец" focuses on falsehoods, while "лицемер" emphasizes moral inconsistency.

• Improper inflection: Non-native speakers often forget case endings, e.g., using nominative "лицемер" in genitive contexts. Incorrect: "Без лицемер" (Without hypocrite, which is wrong). Correct: "Без лицемера." Explanation: Always adjust for case to maintain grammatical accuracy in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "лицемер" is often explored in literature, such as in Fyodor Dostoevsky's works, where characters embody deep-seated hypocrisy as a critique of societal morals. This reflects a broader Russian tradition of introspection and criticism of insincerity, influenced by historical events like the Soviet era, where public personas often masked private realities.

Related Concepts:

• обман (/ɐbˈman/) - Deception
• инсинуация (/ɪnsʲɪnʊˈaʦɨjə/) - Insinuation
• двуличность (/dvʊˈlʲit͡ɕnəstʲ/) - Duplicity