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добрый Primary Russian translation

Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'kind'

English Word: kind

Key Russian Translations:

  • добрый [ˈdobrɨj] - [Informal, used in everyday conversation]
  • вид [vʲit] - [Neutral, often used in formal or technical contexts]
  • сорт [sort] - [Formal, typically in contexts related to classification or quality]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in daily speech and writing, but not as ubiquitous as basic words like "hello")

Difficulty: A2 for 'добрый' (Beginner, as it follows regular adjective patterns); B1 for 'вид' and 'сорт' (Intermediate, due to noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

добрый: [ˈdobrɨj]

Note on добрый: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'ы' sound is a unique Russian vowel, similar to a softened 'i'. Be cautious with the soft sign 'ь' which affects pronunciation.

вид: [vʲit]

Note on вид: The 'и' is pronounced as a short 'i', and the initial 'в' has a slight palatalization.

сорт: [sort]

Note on сорт: Pronunciation is straightforward, but in fast speech, it may blend with surrounding words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As an adjective, meaning benevolent, friendly, or compassionate
Translation(s) & Context:
  • добрый - Used in informal settings to describe a person's character or actions, e.g., in family or social interactions.
  • милый - Sometimes interchangeable in casual contexts, but more affectionate; used when emphasizing warmth.
Usage Examples:
  • Он всегда добрый к своим друзьям. (He is always kind to his friends.)

    Translation: He is always kind to his friends. (This example shows 'добрый' in a simple predicate structure.)

  • Её добрый жест помог многим людям. (Her kind gesture helped many people.)

    Translation: Her kind gesture helped many people. (Illustrates 'добрый' modifying a noun in a narrative context.)

  • Будь добрым, и мир ответит тем же. (Be kind, and the world will respond in kind.)

    Translation: Be kind, and the world will respond in kind. (Demonstrates imperative use in motivational speech.)

  • В этом городе живут очень добрые люди. (In this city, very kind people live.)

    Translation: In this city, very kind people live. (Shows plural agreement and descriptive usage.)

Meaning 2: As a noun, meaning type, sort, or variety
Translation(s) & Context:
  • вид - Used in scientific, biological, or general classification contexts, e.g., animal species or categories.
  • сорт - Applied in contexts involving quality or grades, like product varieties or rankings.
Usage Examples:
  • Этот вид животных обитает в лесах. (This kind of animal lives in forests.)

    Translation: This kind of animal lives in forests. (Example of 'вид' in a nominative case for classification.)

  • Какой сорт кофе вы предпочитаете? (What kind of coffee do you prefer?)

    Translation: What kind of coffee do you prefer? (Shows 'сорт' in a question about preferences.)

  • Существует несколько видов искусства. (There are several kinds of art.)

    Translation: There are several kinds of art. (Illustrates plural form and genitive usage.)

  • Этот сорт фруктов очень редкий. (This kind of fruit is very rare.)

    Translation: This kind of fruit is very rare. (Demonstrates 'сорт' with adjectives for emphasis.)

  • В музее представлены разные виды экспонатов. (The museum displays various kinds of exhibits.)

    Translation: The museum displays various kinds of exhibits. (Shows 'вид' in a prepositional phrase.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'добрый' (adjective): It follows the standard first-declension adjective pattern in Russian, changing based on gender, number, and case. It is irregular in some forms due to softening.

Case Masculine Singular Feminine Singular Neuter Singular Plural
Nominative добрый добрая доброе добрые
Genitive доброго доброй доброго добрых
Dative доброму доброй доброму добрым
Accusative доброго (animate) добрую доброе добрых (animate)

For 'вид' (noun, masculine, third declension): It has standard masculine noun inflections and is regular.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative вид виды
Genitive вида видов

For 'сорт' (noun, masculine): Similar to 'вид', it is regular and does not have significant irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

  • Synonyms:
    • добрый: милый (milyi) - More affectionate, often used for endearment.
    • вид: тип (tip) - Neutral, used in everyday categorization.
    • сорт: разновидность (raznovidnost') - Emphasizes variety in formal contexts.
  • Antonyms:
    • добрый: злой (zloi) - Directly opposite, meaning cruel or evil.
    • вид: (No direct antonym, as it's a neutral category term)
    • сорт: некачественный (nekachestvennyi) - Implies lower quality in classification.

Related Phrases:

  • Добрый день (Good day) - A common greeting, especially in formal or professional settings.
  • Быть добрым человеком (To be a kind person) - Used to describe moral character in personal development contexts.
  • Разный вид животных (Different kinds of animals) - Common in educational or scientific discussions.
  • Высокий сорт чая (High-quality kind of tea) - Refers to premium varieties in commerce.

Usage Notes:

'Добрый' directly corresponds to the English 'kind' as an adjective but is more commonly used in informal Russian speech. Avoid using it in highly formal contexts where 'вежливый' (polite) might be preferred. For the noun form, 'вид' is ideal for abstract or scientific 'kinds', while 'сорт' suits tangible, quality-based classifications. Choose based on context to ensure natural flow; for example, use 'добрый' with people but 'вид' for categories.

  • Grammar note: Adjectives like 'добрый' must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.
  • Regional variation: In some dialects, 'добрый' can carry a slightly rustic connotation.

Common Errors:

  • Error: Using 'добрый' without proper agreement, e.g., saying "добрый женщина" instead of "добрая женщина". Correct: Ensure gender agreement; explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender.
  • Error: Confusing 'вид' and 'сорт' in contexts, e.g., saying 'сорт животного' for animal species. Correct: Use 'вид' for species; 'сорт' for varieties like fruit types; explanation: This mix-up can lead to imprecise meaning in technical discussions.
  • Error: Overusing 'добрый' in formal writing. Correct: Opt for 'благожелательный' in professional texts; explanation: 'Добрый' sounds too casual and may undermine formality.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'добрый' often embodies the ideal of Russian hospitality and warmth, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works. It reflects a deep-seated value of kindness in interpersonal relationships, influenced by historical communal living traditions.

Related Concepts:

  • милосердие (mercy)
  • типичный (typical)
  • категория (category)