Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'merit'

English Word: merit

Key Russian Translations:

• заслуга [ˈzasɫʊɡə] - [Formal, Singular]
• достоинство [dəsˈtojnəstvə] - [Formal, Abstract]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in professional, academic, and everyday contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and formal language, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

заслуга: [ˈzasɫʊɡə]

достоинство: [dəsˈtojnəstvə]

Note on заслуга: The stress falls on the first syllable; be cautious with the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The quality of being particularly good or worthy, deserving praise or reward

Translation(s) & Context:

• заслуга - Used in formal contexts like awards, achievements, or evaluations (e.g., in professional settings or literature).
• достоинство - Applied to inherent qualities or virtues, often in philosophical or personal development discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Его заслуга в проекте была признана всей командой. (His merit in the project was recognized by the entire team.)

  English Translation: His merit in the project was recognized by the entire team.

• Это достоинство характера делает его идеальным лидером. (This merit of character makes him an ideal leader.)

  English Translation: This merit of character makes him an ideal leader.

• Заслуга учителя в воспитании учеников часто недооценивается. (The merit of the teacher in educating students is often underestimated.)

  English Translation: The merit of the teacher in educating students is often underestimated.

• В её достоинствах как специалиста нет сомнений. (There is no doubt about her merits as a specialist.)

  English Translation: There is no doubt about her merits as a specialist.

• Заслуга этой реформы в улучшении экономики страны велика. (The merit of this reform in improving the country's economy is great.)

  English Translation: The merit of this reform in improving the country's economy is great.

Meaning 2: A point or fact in favor of something; an advantage

Translation(s) & Context:

• достоинство - Often used in comparisons or arguments to highlight positive aspects (e.g., in debates or product reviews).
• заслуга - Less common in this sense, but can apply in contexts of earned advantages.

Usage Examples:

• Одним из достоинств этой книги является её доступный язык. (One of the merits of this book is its accessible language.)

  English Translation: One of the merits of this book is its accessible language.

• Заслуга этой стратегии в том, что она экономит время. (The merit of this strategy is that it saves time.)

  English Translation: The merit of this strategy is that it saves time.

• Её достоинства как кандидата перевешивают недостатки. (Her merits as a candidate outweigh the drawbacks.)

  English Translation: Her merits as a candidate outweigh the drawbacks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

заслуга is a feminine noun (3rd declension), which undergoes regular declension based on case and number. достоинство is a neuter noun (2nd declension) with standard patterns.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular forms, but pay attention to stress shifts in plural forms for accurate pronunciation.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • достоинство (similar to 'merit' but emphasizes inherent quality)
  • преимущество (focuses on advantages in comparisons; often used in business contexts)
  • заслуженность (stresses the earned aspect, with a nuance of justification)
• Antonyms:
  • недостаток (drawback or flaw)
  • поро́к (vice or defect)

Related Phrases:

• Заслужить уважение - (To earn respect; used in contexts of building reputation through merits.)
• По достоинству оценить - (To appreciate at its true merit; common in evaluations or critiques.)
• Достоинства и недостатки - (Merits and drawbacks; a standard phrase in balanced assessments.)

Usage Notes:

• заслуга typically corresponds to 'merit' in the sense of earned achievements, making it ideal for formal or professional English contexts, while достоинство aligns more with intrinsic qualities.
• Be mindful of the formal register; these words are less common in casual speech and are better suited for written or official language.
• When choosing between translations, use заслуга for actions or accomplishments (e.g., "his merit in science") and достоинство for character traits (e.g., "the merit of honesty").
• Grammatically, always decline these nouns according to Russian case requirements to avoid errors in sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using заслуга without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я вижу заслуга" instead of "Я вижу заслугу" (I see the merit).
  Correct: Я вижу заслугу. (Explanation: English speakers often forget case endings; always match the noun to the sentence's grammatical role.)
• Error: Confusing заслуга with достоинство, e.g., using заслуга for inherent qualities.
  Correct: Use достоинство for qualities like "merit of character." (Explanation: This mix-up can lead to imprecise meaning; context is key.)
• Error: Omitting stress in pronunciation, e.g., misstressing [ˈzasɫʊɡə] as [zaˈsɫʊɡə].
  Correct: Practice the correct IPA to ensure natural speech. (Explanation: Incorrect stress can make the word sound unnatural or misunderstood.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like заслуга are often tied to historical values of collectivism and recognition through state awards, such as those from the Soviet era. For instance, "заслуги перед Отечеством" (merits before the Fatherland) highlights patriotic contributions, reflecting a cultural emphasis on societal recognition over individual accolades.

Related Concepts:

• награда (award)
• достижение (achievement)
• талант (talent)