Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mettle'

English Word: mettle

Key Russian Translations:

• мужество [ˈmuʐɨstvə] - [Formal]
• стойкость [ˈstoɪkəstʲ] - [Formal, often in contexts of endurance]
• характер [xɐˈrakʲtʲər] - [Informal, emphasizing personal traits]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, motivational contexts, and everyday discussions of character, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and nuanced emotional states. For 'мужество', it's B2; for 'стойкость', it's also B2 due to its association with resilience in various scenarios).

Pronunciation (Russian):

мужество: [ˈmuʐɨstvə]

стойкость: [ˈstoɪkəstʲ]

характер: [xɐˈrakʲtʲər]

Note on мужество: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like the 's' in 'measure'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Courage or spirit, especially in challenging situations

Translation(s) & Context:

• мужество - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe heroic bravery, e.g., in historical or personal development scenarios.
• стойкость - Applied in contexts involving endurance and resilience, such as overcoming adversity.
• характер - More general, for everyday situations emphasizing inner strength or personality traits.

Usage Examples:

• Он проявил мужество в бою, несмотря на опасность. (He showed mettle in battle, despite the danger.)

  English Translation: He demonstrated courage in battle, even though it was risky.

• Её стойкость в трудные времена вдохновила всю команду. (Her mettle during tough times inspired the whole team.)

  English Translation: Her resilience in difficult periods motivated everyone around her.

• Этот человек имеет сильный характер, который помогает ему преодолевать препятствия. (This person has the mettle that helps him overcome obstacles.)

  English Translation: This individual possesses a strong character that aids in surmounting challenges.

• В повседневной жизни мужество проявляется в маленьких поступках. (In everyday life, mettle is shown through small acts.)

  English Translation: In daily routines, courage is evident in minor deeds.

• Его стойкость перед неудачами сделала его успешным. (His mettle in the face of failures made him successful.)

  English Translation: His endurance against setbacks led to his achievements.

Secondary Meaning: Quality or temperament, as in testing one's abilities

Translation(s) & Context:

• характер - Used in informal settings to test or reveal personal qualities.
• мужество - Less common, but in motivational contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Экзамен проверил её характер как специалиста. (The exam tested her mettle as a professional.)

  English Translation: The test examined her quality and temperament in her field.

• Спорт помогает развивать мужество в молодёжи. (Sports help build mettle in youth.)

  English Translation: Athletics assist in fostering courage among young people.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Мужество' is a neuter noun in the second declension. It follows standard Russian noun patterns with regular inflections for cases and numbers. 'Стоимость' is also a feminine noun with regular inflections, while 'характер' is masculine.

For 'стойкость' (feminine): Similar pattern, e.g., Genitive: стойкости. For 'характер' (masculine): Regular, e.g., Genitive: характера. These are not irregular, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • смелость (bravery; more about boldness than endurance)
  • отвага (courage; often in heroic contexts, with a slight nuance of recklessness)
• Antonyms:
  • трусость (cowardice; directly opposite in meaning)
  • слабость (weakness; emphasizes lack of resilience)

Related Phrases:

• Проявить мужество - (To show mettle; used to describe demonstrating courage in action.)
• Иметь стойкость духа - (To have mettle of spirit; refers to inner resilience in challenges.)
• Тестировать характер - (To test one's mettle; common in competitive or personal growth contexts.)

Usage Notes:

'Мужество' directly corresponds to the English 'mettle' in formal contexts, such as literature or speeches, and is preferred for heroic narratives. 'Стоимость' is better for endurance-related scenarios, like in sports or adversity. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use 'характер' for everyday personality traits to avoid sounding overly dramatic. Grammatically, these nouns require appropriate case agreement with prepositions, e.g., 'в мужестве' (in mettle). English learners should note that Russian often pairs these words with verbs like 'проявить' (to show) for dynamic usage.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'мужество' with 'муж' (husband), leading to misuse in sentences. Incorrect: "Его муж в бою" (His husband in battle). Correct: "Его мужество в бою" (His mettle in battle). Explanation: 'Мужество' derives from 'муж' meaning 'man', but it's an abstract noun, not a person.
• Overusing in informal speech: Learners might say 'мужество' in casual conversations where 'характер' fits better, making it sound pompous. Correct approach: Reserve 'мужество' for serious contexts.
• Forgetting inflections: Saying "проявить мужество" in all cases without adjusting, e.g., incorrectly using nominative in genitive-required phrases.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'мужество' is often linked to historical figures like those in World War II narratives or literary heroes in works by Tolstoy, symbolizing national resilience and moral strength. It carries a deeper connotation of collective endurance, as seen in phrases from Soviet-era propaganda, helping users appreciate its role in Russian identity and storytelling.

Related Concepts:

• смелость
• храбрость
• душевная сила