Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'intolerant'

English Word: intolerant

Key Russian Translations:

• нетерпимый [nʲɪˈtʲerpʲɪmɨj] - [Formal, used in general contexts]
• интолерантный [ɪntɐlʲɛˈrantnɨj] - [Formal, Modern usage, often in social or political discussions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly appears in discussions about social issues, ethics, or psychology, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 for нетерпимый (Intermediate, as it follows standard adjective patterns); C1 for интолерантный (Advanced, due to its loanword status and specific contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нетерпимый: [nʲɪˈtʲerpʲɪmɨj]

Note on нетерпимый: The stress falls on the third syllable ("pʲɪmɨj"), which can be tricky for learners due to Russian's variable stress patterns.

Audio: []

интолерантный: [ɪntɐlʲɛˈrantnɨj]

Note on интолерантный: This is a borrowed word, so pronunciation closely mirrors English influences; pay attention to the soft "лʲ" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Not tolerant of differences (e.g., in opinions, beliefs, or behaviors)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нетерпимый - Used in formal or academic contexts, such as describing someone who rejects differing views without consideration.
• интолерантный - Applied in modern, international contexts like human rights discussions, emphasizing social intolerance (e.g., racial or religious).

Usage Examples:

• Его нетерпимый подход к другим культурам часто приводит к конфликтам.

  His intolerant approach to other cultures often leads to conflicts.

• Интолерантный человек не способен принять разнообразие мнений в обществе.

  An intolerant person is unable to accept diversity of opinions in society.

• В этой стране нетерпимый климат по отношению к иммигрантам.

  In this country, there is an intolerant climate towards immigrants.

• Интолерантные политики могут усилить социальное разделение.

  Intolerant policies can intensify social division.

• Нетерпимый к критике, он всегда отмахивается от обратной связи.

  Intolerant of criticism, he always dismisses feedback.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "нетерпимый" and "интолерантный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can have irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table outlining the key inflections for each.

For "нетерпимый":

Note: This adjective is regular and follows the first declension pattern. It does not have irregular forms.

For "интолерантный":

Note: Like "нетерпимый," this is a regular adjective with no significant irregularities, making it straightforward for learners once basic patterns are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • упрямый (upryamyy) - Stubborn, with a connotation of rigidity in personal behavior.
  • непримиримый (neprimirimyy) - Uncompromising, often used in conflicts or ideological debates.
• Antonyms:
  • терпимый (terpimyy) - Tolerant, directly opposite in meaning.
  • внимательный (vnimatel'nyy) - Attentive, implying openness in social interactions.

Related Phrases:

• нетерпимость к... (neterpimost' k...) - Intolerance towards...; e.g., used to express prejudice in social contexts.
• интолерантное отношение (intolerantnoe otnoshenie) - Intolerant attitude; a phrase for describing biased behaviors in modern discussions.
• борьба с нетерпимостью (bor'ba s neterpimost'yu) - Fight against intolerance; common in human rights campaigns.

Usage Notes:

"Нетерпимый" is a more traditional Russian word, closely aligning with the English "intolerant" in everyday and formal settings, but it's less common in international contexts. "Интолерантный" is a direct borrowing from English and is preferred in discussions about diversity, equality, or global issues. Choose based on context: use "нетерпимый" for general intolerance and "интолерантный" for specific social injustices. Grammatically, both function as adjectives and must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. Be cautious with formal vs. informal registers; these words are typically formal and may sound out of place in casual speech.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "нетерпимый" interchangeably with "упрямый" without considering nuances. Incorrect: Он упрямый к новым идеям (implies stubbornness more than intolerance). Correct: Он нетерпимый к новым идеям (properly conveys rejection of differences). Explanation: "Упрямый" focuses on personal obstinacy, while "нетерпимый" emphasizes unwillingness to accept others.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "нетерпимый женщина" instead of "нетерпимая женщина." Incorrect: нетерпимый женщина. Correct: нетерпимая женщина. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this is a common oversight for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "нетерпимый" and "интолерантный" often relate to historical contexts such as the Soviet era's emphasis on ideological conformity, where intolerance towards dissent was prevalent. Today, they are frequently used in discussions about ethnic relations in multi-cultural Russia, reflecting ongoing debates on nationalism and diversity.

Related Concepts:

• терпимость (terpimost')
• дискриминация (diskriminatsiya)
• предубеждение (predubezhdenie)