Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hypocritical'

English Word: hypocritical

Key Russian Translations:

• лицемерный /lʲɪtsɨˈmʲɛrnɨj/ - [Adjective, General use, often in formal or informal discussions of morality]
• лицемерский /lʲɪtsɨˈmʲɛrskʲɪj/ - [Adjective, Slightly more emphatic, used in contexts involving deceitful behavior]

Frequency: Medium - This word is commonly encountered in literature, media, and everyday conversations about ethics, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of abstract concepts and adjective inflections; for 'лицемерный', it's B2, while 'лицемерский' may edge towards B2+ due to nuanced usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

лицемерный: /lʲɪtsɨˈmʲɛrnɨj/

лицемерский: /lʲɪtsɨˈmʲɛrskʲɪj/

Note on лицемерный: The initial 'л' is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers; practice the soft 'l' sound as in 'luxury'. Variations in stress may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Pretending to have virtues or beliefs that one does not actually possess

Translation(s) & Context:

• лицемерный - Used in general contexts to describe hypocritical behavior, such as in social criticism or personal judgments.
• лицемерский - Applied in more intense scenarios, like political or interpersonal deceit, to emphasize insincerity.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда такой лицемерный, когда говорит о честности. (On vsegda takoj licemernyj, kogda govorit o chestnosti.)

  He is always so hypocritical when he talks about honesty.

• Её лицемерная улыбка не обманула никого. (Eё licemer­naya ulibka ne obmanula nikogo.)

  Her hypocritical smile didn't fool anyone.

• В политике часто встречаются лицемерские обещания. (V politike chasto vstrechayutsya licemerskie obeshchaniya.)

  In politics, hypocritical promises are often encountered.

• Не будьте лицемерским и признайте свои ошибки. (Ne bud'te licemerskim i priznajte svoi oshibki.)

  Don't be hypocritical and admit your mistakes.

• Его лицемерский тон раздражал всех вокруг. (Ego licemerskij ton razdrazhal vseh vokrug.)

  His hypocritical tone irritated everyone around.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'лицемерный' and 'лицемерский' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow the standard pattern. They do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • фальшивый (/ˈfalʲʂɨvɨj/) - More general, implying falseness, often used interchangeably but with less moral connotation.
  • двуличный (/dvʊˈlʲit͡ɕnɨj/) - Emphasizes two-faced behavior, suitable for contexts of betrayal.
• Antonyms:
  • искренний (/ɪsˈkrʲenʲnɨj/) - Meaning sincere or genuine.
  • честный (/ˈt͡ɕes tnɨj/) - Meaning honest or straightforward.

Related Phrases:

• лицемерная улыбка - A hypocritical smile; used to describe insincere expressions in social interactions.
• лицемерные обещания - Hypocritical promises; common in discussions of politics or unfulfilled commitments.
• быть лицемерным - To be hypocritical; a phrase for self-reflection or criticism in ethical debates.

Usage Notes:

'Лицемерный' directly corresponds to 'hypocritical' in English, capturing the essence of feigned morality, but it's often used in more formal or literary contexts. Choose 'лицемерский' for a stronger, more accusatory tone. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in Russian sentences. For example, in informal speech, it's common in Russia to pair it with verbs like 'быть' (to be) for emphasis. If multiple translations apply, select based on context: use 'лицемерный' for general hypocrisy and 'лицемерский' for deliberate deception.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'лицемерный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "лицемерный женщина" instead of "лицемерная женщина".
  Correct: Ensure gender agreement; explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case.
• Mistake: Confusing it with 'фальшивый', leading to overuse in non-moral contexts, e.g., "фальшивый человек" when 'лицемерный' is meant.
  Correct: Use 'лицемерный' for moral hypocrisy; explanation: 'Фальшивый' implies forgery or inauthenticity, not necessarily deceit.
• Mistake: Overlooking stress in pronunciation, e.g., stressing the wrong syllable in speech.
  Correct: Practice /lʲɪtsɨˈmʲɛrnɨj/; explanation: Incorrect stress can make the word sound unnatural or misunderstood in conversation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'лицемерный' often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) to critique societal hypocrisy, reflecting historical themes of moral duality in Russian society. It carries a strong connotation of insincerity in interpersonal relationships, which is frequently discussed in modern media as a critique of political figures.

Related Concepts:

• обман (deception)
• двуличие (two-facedness)
• искренность (sincerity)