Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'merciful'

English Word: merciful

Key Russian Translations:

• милосердный [mʲɪlɐˈsʲɛrndnɨj] - [Formal, often used in literary or religious contexts]
• сострадательный [sɐstrɐˈdatʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Informal, emphasizing emotional compassion]
• снисходительный [snʲɪsˈxodʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Context-specific, used when implying leniency or tolerance]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its variants appear regularly in literature, religious texts, and everyday discussions, but not as commonly as basic adjectives like "хороший" (good).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Involves understanding adjective declensions and contextual nuances; "милосердный" is B1, while "сострадательный" might be B2 due to its emotional connotations.

Pronunciation (Russian):

милосердный: [mʲɪlɐˈsʲɛrndnɨj]

сострадательный: [sɐstrɐˈdatʲɪlʲnɨj]

снисходительный: [snʲɪsˈxodʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on милосердный: The stress falls on the third syllable; be cautious with the soft 'л' sound, which is common in Russian and may be challenging for English speakers. Variations in regional accents might soften the 'р'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Showing mercy, compassion, or forgiveness towards others.

Translation(s) & Context:

• милосердный - Used in formal or religious contexts, such as describing a benevolent figure or act of forgiveness.
• сострадательный - Applied in everyday emotional scenarios, like showing empathy in personal relationships.
• снисходительный - Employed when referring to tolerant behavior, often in judgmental or hierarchical situations.

Usage Examples:

• Он был милосердным судьёй, который всегда давал второй шанс подсудимым.

  He was a merciful judge who always gave defendants a second chance.

• Её сострадательный подход помог семье преодолеть трудности.

  Her compassionate approach helped the family overcome difficulties.

• Учитель был снисходительным к ученикам, которые опоздали на урок.

  The teacher was lenient towards the students who were late for class.

• В этой истории милосердный король помиловал предателя.

  In this story, the merciful king pardoned the traitor.

• Её сострадательный взгляд успокоил ребёнка во время бури.

  Her compassionate gaze calmed the child during the storm.

Meaning 2: Characterized by kindness or pity in a broader sense, often implying restraint from harshness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• милосердный - In contexts involving moral or ethical decisions, such as in literature or philosophy.
• снисходительный - When describing someone who overlooks faults for the sake of harmony.

Usage Examples:

• Милосердный Бог в русских сказках часто спасает героев от бед.

  The merciful God in Russian folktales often saves heroes from misfortune.

• Его снисходительный тон сделал критику менее болезненной.

  His lenient tone made the criticism less painful.

• Милосердный правитель ввёл реформы, чтобы помочь беднякам.

  The merciful ruler introduced reforms to help the poor.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. "Милосердный" and its variants follow standard first-declension adjective patterns with some irregularities in spelling.

For "сострадательный" and "снисходительный", the patterns are similar but may vary slightly in stress or softening of consonants. These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • добрый (kind) - More general and everyday, less formal than милосердный.
  • снисходительный (lenient) - Overlaps with merciful in tolerance contexts.
  • чуткий (sensitive) - Emphasizes emotional awareness, often used interchangeably with сострадательный in informal speech.
• Antonyms:
  • жестокий (cruel) - Direct opposite, implying harshness without pity.
  • бессердечный (heartless) - Highlights lack of compassion.

Related Phrases:

• Милосердный Бог - A common phrase in religious contexts; means "Merciful God" and refers to divine compassion in Orthodox traditions.
• Сострадательный взгляд - Means "Compassionate gaze," used to describe empathetic expressions in literature or psychology.
• Снисходительный суд - Translates to "Lenient judgment," often in legal or moral discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Merciful" translates most directly to "милосердный" in formal or biblical contexts, but English speakers should choose based on nuance: use "сострадательный" for emotional empathy and "снисходительный" for tolerance. These adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. In Russian, they are often used in literary or ethical discussions, so be mindful of the formal register to avoid sounding overly dramatic in casual conversation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "милосердный" interchangeably with "добрый" without considering context. Correct: "Добрый" is more neutral for everyday kindness, while "милосердный" implies active compassion. Example of error: Saying "Он добрый судья" when meaning merciful; Correct: "Он милосердный судья" for a judge showing mercy.

• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., using "милосердный" with a feminine noun without changing to "милосердная." Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "милосердная женщина" (merciful woman). This can lead to grammatical errors in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "милосердный" are deeply tied to Orthodox Christianity, where mercy (милосердие) is a core virtue, often referenced in literature by authors like Dostoevsky. It conveys not just kindness but a profound, almost spiritual forgiveness, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on communal and redemptive themes.

Related Concepts:

• прощение (forgiveness)
• сострадание (compassion)
• доброта (kindness)