Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'invidious'

English Word: invidious

Key Russian Translations:

• завистливый [zɐˈvʲistlʲɪvɨj] - [Adjective, often used in contexts of envy or resentment, Formal]
• несправедливый [nʲɪsˈpravʲɪdlʲɪvɨj] - [Adjective, applied to situations that are unfair or discriminatory, Informal]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations appear in discussions of social dynamics, literature, or ethics, but not in everyday casual conversation.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it requires understanding nuanced adjectives and context; for "завистливый," it's B2 due to emotional connotations, while "несправедливый" is also B2 for its ethical implications.

Pronunciation (Russian):

завистливый: [zɐˈvʲistlʲɪvɨj]

Note on завистливый: The stress falls on the third syllable ("vist"), and the "в" sound is soft; common mispronunciation by learners involves overemphasizing the first syllable.

несправедливый: [nʲɪsˈpravʲɪdlʲɪvɨj]

Note on несправедливый: Pay attention to the soft "н" and the stress on the second syllable ("prav"); this word has a rolling "р" in some regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Causing envy, resentment, or ill will, often in comparisons or choices

Translation(s) & Context:

• завистливый - Used in contexts where something provokes jealousy, such as in professional or social rivalries; common in formal writing or discussions.
• несправедливый - Applied when a situation is perceived as unfair, like an invidious comparison; often in everyday informal speech about ethics or justice.

Usage Examples:

• Его завистливый взгляд на чужой успех вызвал напряжение в команде.

  His invidious gaze at someone else's success created tension in the team.

• Эта несправедливая политика была завистливой по отношению к меньшинствам.

  This invidious policy was unfair towards minorities.

• Завистливый тон в её речи сделал обсуждение неприятным.

  The invidious tone in her speech made the discussion unpleasant.

• Несправедливый выбор кандидата оказался завистливым для остальных.

  The invidious selection of the candidate was unfair to the others.

• В литературе завистливый персонаж часто приводит к трагедии.

  In literature, an invidious character often leads to tragedy, showcasing envy in narrative structures.

Meaning 2: Unfair or offensive in a way that creates resentment

Translation(s) & Context:

• несправедливый - Specifically for situations involving bias or discrimination, often in legal or social contexts.
• завистливый - Less common here, but used when envy underlies the unfairness, such as in competitive environments.

Usage Examples:

• Несправедливый распределение ресурсов было завистливым актом.

  The invidious distribution of resources was an unfair act.

• Её завистливые комментарии о коллеге прозвучали несправедливо.

  Her invidious comments about her colleague sounded unfairly resentful.

• В обществе несправедливый закон может породить завистливые протесты.

  In society, an invidious law can spark unfair protests driven by resentment.

• Завистливый подход к наградам сделал церемонию напряжённой.

  The invidious approach to awards made the ceremony tense and unfair.

• Несправедливый судья проявил завистливость в решении.

  The invidious judge showed unfair bias in the decision, highlighting systemic issues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "завистливый" and "несправедливый" are Russian adjectives, which follow standard adjectival declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They are not irregular but follow the first declension for hard-stem adjectives.

For "несправедливый," the same table applies, replacing the base form accordingly. These adjectives do not have irregular forms and change predictably based on grammatical agreement.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ревнивый (revnivyy) - Similar to завистливый, but implies more personal jealousy; often used in romantic contexts.
  • злопыхательный (zlopykhatel'nyy) - Conveys malicious resentment, a stronger variant of несправедливый.
• Antonyms:
  • справедливый (spravedlivyy) - Fair and just, directly opposing несправедливый.
  • благожелательный (blagozhelatel'nyy) - Benevolent or well-wishing, contrasting with завистливый.

Related Phrases:

• завистливый взгляд - Envious glance; used to describe a look of resentment in social interactions.
• несправедливый суд - Invidious judgment; refers to an unfair legal or moral decision.
• вызывать зависть - To provoke envy; a common phrase for situations that are invidious in nature.

Usage Notes:

"Завистливый" directly corresponds to the envious aspect of "invidious" and is best used in contexts involving personal emotions, while "несправедливый" aligns with its unfair connotations. Be mindful of the formal register for both; in informal speech, they might be softened with adverbs like "немного" (a bit). When choosing between translations, opt for "завистливый" in emotional scenarios and "несправедливый" in ethical ones. Grammatically, ensure adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case to avoid errors.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "завистливый" interchangeably with "ревнивый" without context, leading to confusion between envy and jealousy. Correct: "Завистливый" focuses on resentment from others' success, e.g., "Его успех завистливый" (wrong, as it should be "Его успех вызвал зависть"). Explanation: English learners often overlook the emotional nuance.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "завистливый женщина" instead of "завистливая женщина." Correct: Always decline based on the noun. Explanation: This is a common grammatical error for non-native speakers due to English's lack of declension.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "завистливый" often tie into themes of "зависть" (envy), which has deep roots in literature (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works) and reflects societal pressures in competitive environments. It's not just a personal emotion but can symbolize broader social inequalities, making "invidious" situations a common motif in Russian media and discussions.

Related Concepts:

• зависть (zavist') - Envy
• ревность (revnost') - Jealousy
• справедливость (spravedlivost') - Justice