Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'intrepid'

English Word: intrepid

Key Russian Translations:

• бесстрашный /bʲɪsˈstraʂnɨj/ - [Formal, used in literary or heroic contexts]
• смелый /ˈsmʲelɨj/ - [Informal, everyday conversations]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, news, and discussions about bravery, but not in casual daily speech)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (Requires understanding of adjective declensions; "бесстрашный" may be slightly more challenging due to its length and less common usage, while "смелый" is more straightforward)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бесстрашный: /bʲɪsˈstraʂnɨj/

Note on бесстрашный: The 'ш' sound (/ʂ/) can be tricky for English speakers, similar to the 'sh' in "shoe" but with a more retroflex quality; stress is on the second syllable.

смелый: /ˈsmʲelɨj/

Note on смелый: The 'м' is palatalized (/mʲ/), which softens it; stress is on the first syllable, making it easier for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Brave, fearless, or showing courage in the face of danger (Primary meaning of 'intrepid')

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесстрашный: Often used in formal or narrative contexts, such as describing historical figures or in literature, to emphasize unwavering courage.
• смелый: More versatile in informal settings, like everyday stories or conversations, to describe someone taking risks.

Usage Examples:

• Он бесстрашный исследователь, который преодолел многие опасности в джунглях.

  He is an intrepid explorer who overcame many dangers in the jungles.

• Её смелый поступок спас жизнь нескольким людям во время пожара.

  Her intrepid action saved the lives of several people during the fire.

• Бесстрашный солдат не отступил перед врагом, несмотря на все трудности.

  The intrepid soldier did not retreat from the enemy despite all the hardships.

• Смелый пилот выполнил сложный манёвр, чтобы избежать катастрофы.

  The intrepid pilot performed a difficult maneuver to avoid a disaster.

• В её глазах виден бесстрашный дух, который вдохновляет всю команду.

  In her eyes, you can see the intrepid spirit that inspires the whole team.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "бесстрашный" and "смелый" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect for gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives. There are no irregularities here, but they change based on context.

Note: These forms remain consistent across cases, but always check the noun's gender and case for agreement. If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not inflect as much.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • храбрый (khrabryy) - Similar to "смелый" but often implies moral bravery; used in both formal and informal contexts.
  • мужественный (muzhestvennyy) - Emphasizes strength and endurance, more common in heroic narratives.
• Antonyms:
  • трусливый (truslivyy) - Directly opposite, meaning cowardly.
  • робкий (robkiy) - Means timid or shy, often in everyday situations.

Related Phrases:

• бесстрашный герой - Intrepid hero (Used in stories or historical contexts to describe legendary figures.)
• смелый шаг - Intrepid step (Refers to a bold decision or action in personal or professional life.)
• бесстрашная душа - Intrepid soul (An idiomatic expression for someone with unyielding courage.)

Usage Notes:

"Бесстрашный" is a more formal equivalent of "intrepid" and is often reserved for contexts involving extreme bravery, such as in literature or military descriptions, while "смелый" is more general and can translate to "brave" in everyday English. Choose "бесстрашный" for emphasis on fearlessness without hesitation, but use "смелый" in casual speech to avoid sounding overly dramatic. Grammatically, both must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key difference from English adjectives. In formal writing, "бесстрашный" might pair well with abstract nouns like "дух" (spirit), whereas "смелый" works with concrete ones like "человек" (person).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "бесстрашный" in informal contexts where "смелый" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Он бесстрашный парень" instead of "Он смелый парень" for "He is an intrepid guy" in casual talk. Correct: Stick to "смелый" for everyday use to match the informal register. Explanation: "Бесстрашный" can sound exaggerated or outdated in modern speech.

• Error: Failing to decline the adjective correctly, e.g., saying "бесстрашный женщина" (incorrect) instead of "бесстрашная женщина" for "intrepid woman". Correct: "Бесстрашная женщина". Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun's gender; ignoring this leads to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "бесстрашный" often evoke images from literature and history, such as the fearless heroes in works by Tolstoy or in folklore about Cossacks and explorers. This reflects a cultural emphasis on resilience and bravery in the face of adversity, stemming from Russia's historical challenges like wars and explorations.

Related Concepts:

• мужество
• храбрость
• героизм