Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'opportunist'

English Word: opportunist

Key Russian Translations:

• оппортунист /ɐpɐrˈtunɪst/ - [Formal, often used in political or academic contexts]
• приспособленец /prʲɪspɐˈblʲenʲɪts/ - [Informal, colloquial and slightly pejorative, used in everyday conversations]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of politics, business, or personal behavior, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced vocabulary and cultural contexts; for 'оппортунист', it's more formal and thus slightly harder, while 'приспособленец' is accessible but context-dependent)

Pronunciation (Russian):

оппортунист: /ɐpɐrˈtunɪst/

приспособленец: /prʲɪspɐˈblʲenʲɪts/

Note on оппортунист: The stress falls on the third syllable ('tun'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian vowel reductions; pronounce it with a soft 'r' sound.

Note on приспособленец: This word has a palatalized 'l' sound, making it sound more fluid; common in spoken Russian but less in formal writing.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who exploits opportunities for personal gain, often without regard for principles or ethics.

Translation(s) & Context:

• оппортунист - Used in formal settings like politics or philosophy, implying calculated self-interest.
• приспособленец - Applied in informal, everyday contexts to describe adaptable but opportunistic behavior, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он оппортунист, всегда ищущий выгоду в любой ситуации.

  He is an opportunist, always seeking profit in any situation.

• В политике многие приспособленцы сменяют свои взгляды в зависимости от власти.

  In politics, many opportunists change their views depending on who's in power.

• Эта компания нанимает оппортунистов, которые быстро адаптируются к рынку.

  This company hires opportunists who quickly adapt to the market.

• Приспособленец в семье – это тот, кто использует родственные связи для продвижения.

  An opportunist in the family is someone who uses family ties for advancement.

• Оппортунист не остановится перед ничем, чтобы добиться успеха.

  An opportunist won't stop at anything to achieve success.

Meaning 2: Someone who is pragmatic and adaptable, without necessarily negative implications (less common in English, but possible in neutral contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• приспособленец - In neutral or positive contexts, e.g., in business adaptability, but still carries a hint of opportunism.

Usage Examples:

• В бизнесе приспособленец может преуспеть, если он гибкий и инициативный.

  In business, an opportunist can succeed if they are flexible and initiative-driven.

• Этот приспособленец использовал кризис, чтобы расширить свой бизнес.

  This opportunist used the crisis to expand his business.

• Оппортунист в науке – это тот, кто применяет новые идеи для быстрого прогресса.

  An opportunist in science is someone who applies new ideas for rapid progress.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'оппортунист' and 'приспособленец' are masculine nouns in Russian, following standard declension patterns for animate nouns. 'Оппортунист' is a borrowed word and has regular declensions, while 'приспособленец' is more native and also regular. Below is a table for their nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, and prepositional cases in singular and plural forms.

Note: These words do not change in gender but follow standard masculine patterns. They are invariant in terms of aspect since they are nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • карьерист (careerist; implies ambition-driven opportunism, often more neutral)
  • авантюрист (adventurer; suggests risk-taking and opportunism with a bolder connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • идеалист (idealist; focuses on principles over opportunities)
  • принципиальный (principled; emphasizes adherence to morals)

Related Phrases:

• Политический оппортунист – A political opportunist; refers to someone who shifts allegiances for power.
• Приспособленец в бизнесе – An opportunist in business; used for adaptable but self-serving individuals.
• Быть оппортунистом – To be an opportunist; a phrase highlighting exploitative behavior in various contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Оппортунист' is a direct loanword from English/French and is best used in formal or written contexts, closely mirroring the English 'opportunist' with its negative undertones. 'Приспособленец' is more idiomatic in Russian and conveys adaptability with a pejorative edge, often in spoken language. English speakers should note that Russian culture views opportunism as tied to survival or politics, so choose based on context—use 'оппортунист' for international discussions and 'приспособленец' for domestic scenarios. Grammatically, always decline these nouns according to Russian case rules to avoid awkwardness.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse 'оппортунист' by treating it as invariable, e.g., saying "Я видел оппортунист" instead of the correct accusative "Я видел оппортуниста." Correct: Use proper declension as shown in the inflections table.
• Confusing it with 'приспособитель' (adapter), which is less negative; e.g., incorrectly using 'приспособитель' for selfish behavior. Error example: "Он приспособитель в политике" (implying neutral adaptation). Correct: "Он приспособленец в политике" to convey opportunism.
• Overgeneralizing to plural without context, e.g., "Оппортунисты всегда выигрывают" is fine, but forgetting gender agreement in sentences can lead to errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'оппортунист' often evoke historical contexts, such as the Soviet era where opportunism was criticized in literature and politics (e.g., in works by Solzhenitsyn). It carries a strong negative connotation, symbolizing betrayal of ideals for personal gain, which contrasts with Western views where it might be seen as pragmatic.

Related Concepts:

• идеализм (idealism)
• прагматизм (pragmatism)
• карьера (career)