Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'malcontent'

English Word: malcontent

Key Russian Translations:

• недовольный [nʲɪdɐˈvolʲnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal; used to describe a person or situation involving dissatisfaction or discontent]
• бунтарь [bʊnˈtarʲ] - [Noun, Informal; used for a rebellious or discontented individual, often in contexts of protest or opposition]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in everyday discussions, literature, and media, but not as commonly as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjectives and nouns with emotional nuances, per CEFR standards. For 'недовольный', it's B1; for 'бунтарь', it's also B1 due to contextual usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

недовольный: [nʲɪdɐˈvolʲnɨj]

Note on недовольный: The stress is on the third syllable ('vol'), and the 'й' sound at the end can be subtle in casual speech. Pay attention to the palatalized 'н' [nʲ].

бунтарь: [bʊnˈtarʲ]

Note on бунтарь: The 'рʲ' ending is palatalized, which is common in Russian nouns; it might sound softer than in English equivalents. Avoid overemphasizing the 'b' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A person who is dissatisfied or rebellious, often discontent with authority or circumstances.

Translation(s) & Context:

• недовольный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as in literature or discussions about social issues, to express general dissatisfaction.
• бунтарь - Applied in informal or historical contexts, like protests or personal narratives, to denote an active rebel.

Usage Examples:

• Он был недовольным политикой правительства. (He was malcontent with the government's policy.)

  English: He was dissatisfied and critical of the government's policy, highlighting a formal use in political discourse.

• В романе главный герой предстаёт как типичный бунтарь, борющийся против системы. (In the novel, the main character appears as a typical malcontent, fighting against the system.)

  English: In the novel, the main character is portrayed as a classic rebel, illustrating informal usage in storytelling or cultural critique.

• Недовольные работники устроили забастовку. (The malcontent workers organized a strike.)

  English: The dissatisfied workers held a strike, showing the word in a plural, group context related to labor disputes.

• Она всегда была бунтарём в семье, выражая недовольство традициями. (She was always the malcontent in the family, expressing discontent with traditions.)

  English: She was perpetually the rebel in the family, voicing dissatisfaction with customs, demonstrating personal and emotional usage.

• Молодёжь часто становится недовольной из-за экономических проблем. (Youth often become malcontent due to economic issues.)

  English: Young people frequently turn discontented because of economic problems, exemplifying the adjective in broader societal contexts.

Secondary Meaning: General dissatisfaction or unrest (as a state rather than a person).

Translation(s) & Context:

• недовольство [nʲɪdɐˈvolʲstvə] - Used as a noun in formal settings to describe a state of discontent, e.g., in psychology or social analysis.

Usage Examples:

• Его недовольство работой привело к увольнению. (His malcontent with the job led to resignation.)

  English: His dissatisfaction with the job resulted in him quitting, showing noun usage in professional scenarios.

• Общее недовольство населения вылилось в протесты. (The general malcontent of the population erupted into protests.)

  English: The widespread dissatisfaction among the people turned into demonstrations, illustrating collective contexts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'недовольный' (adjective), it follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular but depend on gender, number, and case. It is an adjective of the first declension group.

For 'бунтарь' (noun, masculine), it is a second-declension noun with regular inflections:

• Nominative: бунтарь
• Genitive: бунтаря
• Dative: бунтарю
• Etc. (It does not have irregular forms.)

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • недовольный - Similar to 'раздражённый' (razdrazhënnyy; more intense, implying irritation)
  • бунтарь - Similar to 'мятежник' (myatezhnik; used in revolutionary contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • довольный (dovol'nyy; satisfied)
  • послушный (poslushnyy; obedient)

Related Phrases:

• Выразить недовольство (vyrazit' nedovol'stvo) - To express discontent; used in formal complaints or feedback.
• Бунтарский дух (buntarskiy dukh) - Rebel spirit; refers to a mindset of defiance in cultural or historical contexts.
• Недовольные массы (nedovol'nye massy) - Discontented masses; common in discussions of social unrest.

Usage Notes:

'Malcontent' directly corresponds to 'недовольный' in most cases, but choose 'бунтарь' for more active rebellion. In Russian, these words are often used in formal writing or speech; avoid 'бунтарь' in polite conversations as it can sound confrontational. Grammatically, adjectives like 'недовольный' must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key difference from English. When selecting between translations, consider the context: use 'недовольный' for passive dissatisfaction and 'бунтарь' for active resistance.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'недовольный' without proper agreement, e.g., saying "недовольный женщина" instead of "недовольная женщина". Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's gender (feminine here). Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike English, so learners often forget this.

• Error: Confusing 'бунтарь' with 'недовольный' in formal contexts, e.g., using 'бунтарь' in a professional email. Correct: Use 'недовольный' for milder discontent. Explanation: 'Бунтарь' implies extremism, which might escalate the tone unintentionally.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'бунтарь' evoke historical figures from revolutions, such as those in the 1917 Russian Revolution, symbolizing resistance against oppression. 'Недовольный' is more everyday, reflecting the common Russian experience of expressing frustration with bureaucracy or social issues, often seen in literature by authors like Chekhov.

Related Concepts:

• революционер (revolyutsioner)
• протест (protest)
• диссидент (dissident)