Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mercy'

English Word: mercy

Key Russian Translations:

• милосердие [mʲɪlɐˈsʲerdʲɪje] - [Formal, often used in literary or religious contexts]
• пощада [pɐˈʂadə] - [Informal, typically in situations involving forgiveness or sparing in conflicts]
• сострадание [sɐstrɐˈdanʲɪje] - [Formal, emphasizing empathy and compassion]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in literature, religious texts, and everyday conversations, but not as commonly as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp the nuances, though the abstract meanings may require contextual practice. For 'пощада', it might be slightly easier at B1 due to its concrete usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

милосердие: [mʲɪlɐˈsʲerdʲɪje]

Note on милосердие: The stress is on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. A common variation in fast speech might soften the vowels.

пощада: [pɐˈʂadə]

Note on пощада: The 'щ' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'sh' but more sibilant; practice with native audio for accuracy.

сострадание: [sɐstrɐˈdanʲɪje]

Note on сострадание: Stress on the third syllable; the 'с' at the beginning is pronounced as a soft 's'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Compassion or kindness towards someone in distress (e.g., showing pity or empathy).

Translation(s) & Context:

• милосердие - Used in formal or emotional contexts, such as charitable acts or religious discussions.
• сострадание - Applied in scenarios involving deep emotional connection, like helping the needy.

Usage Examples:

• Его милосердие спасло ей жизнь в трудный момент.

  His mercy saved her life in a difficult moment.

• Врачи проявили сострадание к больному ребенку.

  The doctors showed mercy to the sick child.

• Милосердие — это основа любой истинной дружбы.

  Mercy is the foundation of any true friendship.

• Ее сострадание к бездомным вдохновило многих на помощь.

  Her mercy towards the homeless inspired many to help.

2. Forgiveness or leniency, especially in punishment or conflict (e.g., sparing someone from harm).

Translation(s) & Context:

• пощада - Common in narratives of war, justice, or personal conflicts, implying a decision not to punish.
• милосердие - Used more broadly in legal or moral contexts to mean clemency.

Usage Examples:

• Судья проявил пощаду к молодому преступнику.

  The judge showed mercy to the young criminal.

• В битве солдаты просили пощады от врагов.

  In the battle, the soldiers begged for mercy from their enemies.

• Его милосердие позволило заключенному получить досрочное освобождение.

  His mercy allowed the prisoner to be released early.

• Пощада была оказана только тем, кто сдался добровольно.

  Mercy was granted only to those who surrendered willingly.

• Родители проявили пощаду, отменив наказание.

  The parents showed mercy by canceling the punishment.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'милосердие' (a neuter noun), it follows standard Russian declension patterns for third-declension nouns. It is inflected based on case and number. Below is a table for its singular forms:

For 'пощада' (feminine noun), it has regular first-declension inflections:

'Сострадание' (neuter) follows similar patterns to 'милосердие' and does not have irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сострадательность (more emotional, focused on shared suffering)
  • доброта (general kindness, less intense than милосердие)
  • милость (similar to mercy in a divine or royal context)
• Antonyms:
  • жестокость (cruelty, direct opposite in emotional contexts)
  • бессердечие (heartlessness, implying lack of compassion)
  • суровость (harshness, especially in judgment or punishment)

Related Phrases:

• Акт милосердия - An act of mercy; used in contexts of charitable deeds.
• Проявить пощаду - To show mercy; common in legal or conflict scenarios.
• Божье милосердие - God's mercy; often in religious expressions.
• Сострадание к ближнему - Compassion towards one's neighbor; implies social responsibility.

Usage Notes:

• Choose 'милосердие' for abstract, compassionate meanings, as it aligns closely with English 'mercy' in emotional or ethical discussions. It's more formal and less common in casual speech.
• 'Пощада' is ideal for contexts involving forgiveness in conflicts, similar to 'mercy' in legal English, but avoid it in purely emotional settings where 'сострадание' fits better.
• These words are gender-neutral in usage but inflect based on grammatical case, so pay attention to sentence structure in Russian.
• In formal writing, pair with verbs like 'проявить' (to show) for emphasis.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'милосердие' with 'сострадание': Learners might use them interchangeably, but 'сострадание' emphasizes shared suffering, while 'милосердие' is about active kindness. Error: "Я чувствую милосердие к нему" (incorrect for deep empathy). Correct: "Я чувствую сострадание к нему".
• Overusing 'пощада' in non-conflict contexts: This can sound out of place. Error: "Его пощада к бедным" (implies sparing, not compassion). Correct: "Его милосердие к бедным".
• Ignoring inflections: Forgetting to change cases, e.g., using nominative in genitive contexts. Error: "Без милосердие" (should be "Без милосердия").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'милосердие' are deeply rooted in Orthodox Christianity, often appearing in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) to symbolize moral redemption. 'Пощада' might evoke historical contexts like wars, reflecting themes of survival and forgiveness in Russian history.

Related Concepts:

• справедливость (justice)
• добро (goodness)
• смирение (humility)
• терпение (patience)