Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mild'

English Word: mild

Key Russian Translations:

• мягкий [ˈmʲæ.kʲɪj] - [Informal/Formal, Adjective, Used in everyday contexts for softness or moderation]
• нежный [ˈnʲeʐ.nɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used specifically for gentleness or delicacy]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in spoken and written Russian, especially in descriptions of weather, flavors, or personality traits).

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2 on CEFR scale; involves adjective inflections, which can be challenging for beginners, but straightforward for intermediate learners).

Pronunciation (Russian):

мягкий: [ˈmʲæ.kʲɪj]

Note on мягкий: The initial "м" is palatalized, which may be difficult for English speakers; practice the soft "y" sound as in "yes".

нежный: [ˈnʲeʐ.nɨj]

Note on нежный: The "ж" is a voiced fricative, similar to "s" in "measure"; stress on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not strong, intense, or severe (e.g., referring to weather, flavors, or pain)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мягкий - Used in contexts describing mild weather or flavors, such as in casual or formal conversations about climate.
• нежный - Used for more delicate or gentle applications, like describing a mild personality or touch.

Usage Examples:

• Сегодня погода мягкая, как в ранней весне. (Segodnya pogoda myagkaya, kak v ranney vesne.)

  Today the weather is mild, like in early spring.

• Этот чай мягкий на вкус, без горечи. (Etot chay myagkiy na vkus, bez gorestsi.)

  This tea is mild in taste, without bitterness.

• Её нежный голос успокоил ребёнка. (Ey nezhnij golos uspokoil rebyonka.)

  Her mild voice soothed the child.

• Мягкий климат позволяет выращивать разнообразные культуры. (Myagkij klimat pozvolyaet vyrashchivat raznoobraznye kul'tury.)

  The mild climate allows for growing a variety of crops.

• После мягкого ветра ночь стала прохладной. (Posle myagkogo vetra noch' stala prokhladnoj.)

  After the mild wind, the night became cool.

Meaning 2: Gentle or moderate in character (e.g., referring to personality or behavior)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нежный - Common in literary or emotional contexts for describing mild temperament.
• мягкий - Used in everyday situations for someone who is mild-mannered or not aggressive.

Usage Examples:

• Он имеет мягкий характер, всегда избегает конфликтов. (On imeet myagkij kharakter, vsegda izbegaet konfliktov.)

  He has a mild character and always avoids conflicts.

• Её нежные манеры покорили всех в компании. (Ey nezhnye manyery pokorili vsekh v kompanii.)

  Her mild manners won over everyone in the company.

• Мягкий подход к детям помогает в воспитании. (Myagkij podkhod k detyam pomogaet v vospitanii.)

  A mild approach to children helps in upbringing.

• В этом фильме показан нежный герой, не способный на жестокость. (V etom fil'me pokazhan nezhnij geroy, ne sposobnyj na zhestokost'.)

  In this film, a mild hero is shown, incapable of cruelty.

• Мягкий тон в разговоре может разрядить напряжение. (Myagkij ton v razgovore mozhet razryadit' napryazhenie.)

  A mild tone in conversation can ease tension.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "мягкий" and "нежный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow the standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Легкий (Legkiy) - Lighter or less intense; often used for mild flavors.
  • Мерный (Mernyj) - Measured or moderate; implies a controlled mildness.
• Antonyms:
  • Жесткий (Zhestkij) - Harsh or severe.
  • Сильный (Sil'nyj) - Strong or intense.

Related Phrases:

• Мягкий климат (Myagkiy klimat) - Mild climate; refers to temperate weather conditions without extremes.
• Нежный вкус (Nezhnyj vkus) - Mild taste; used for subtle flavors in food or drinks.
• Мягкий ветер (Myagkiy veter) - Mild wind; describes a gentle breeze.

Usage Notes:

"Мягкий" is the most direct translation for "mild" in contexts like weather or physical sensations, while "нежный" is better for emotional or delicate situations. In Russian, these adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe, so pay attention to gender and case. For example, use "мягкий" in formal writing or speech, but it can also be informal. When choosing between translations, opt for "нежный" if emphasizing tenderness, as it's less common in everyday talk.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "мягкий" interchangeably with "нежный" without considering context. For instance, saying "нежный погода" (incorrect) instead of "мягкая погода" for mild weather.

  Correct: Мягкая погода (Myagkaya pogoda) - The adjective must match the feminine noun "погода". Explanation: "Нежный" implies emotional softness, not weather, leading to confusion.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "мягкий дом" when it should be "мягкий дом" in nominative, but "мягкого дома" in genitive.

  Correct: Use the proper case, like "в мягком климат" (v myagkom klimat) for "in a mild climate". Explanation: Russian requires agreement, unlike English, so learners often overlook this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "мягкий" is often associated with the ideal of a mild Russian winter, which contrasts with the stereotype of harsh, snowy conditions. This can evoke a sense of nostalgia or relief, as seen in literature like Chekhov's works, where mild weather symbolizes tranquility amidst life's hardships.

Related Concepts:

• Теплый (Teplij) - Warm
• Умеренный (Umerennyj) - Moderate
• Спокойный (Spokojnyj) - Calm