Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'paragon'

English Word: paragon

Key Russian Translations:

• образец [ɐˈbrazʲɪts] - [Formal, used in contexts describing models or standards]
• идеал [ɪˈdʲe.əl] - [Informal, Plural possible, used in philosophical or everyday discussions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, education, and professional contexts, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage; for 'образец', it's B2; for 'идеал', it's B1 due to simpler forms)

Pronunciation (Russian):

образец: [ɐˈbrazʲɪts]

Note on образец: The stress falls on the second syllable; be cautious with the palatalized 'zʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the ending.

идеал: [ɪˈdʲe.əl]

Note on идеал: Stress on the second syllable; the 'dʲ' is softly palatalized, similar to 'j' in 'jump'. Plural form 'идеалы' [ɪˈdʲe.əlɨ] adds a subtle 'ɨ' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A perfect example or model of a quality

Translation(s) & Context:

• образец - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing standards in science or art.
• идеал - Applied in more abstract or personal contexts, like ideals in philosophy or relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Этот художник считается настоящим образцом таланта в современном искусстве.

  This artist is considered a true paragon of talent in modern art.

• Её образ жизни — идеал для молодых предпринимателей.

  Her way of life is an ideal (paragon) for young entrepreneurs.

• В музее выставлен образец древней вазы, который поражает своей сохранностью.

  In the museum, there is a paragon of an ancient vase that impresses with its preservation.

• Идеал красоты в этой культуре часто представляется через исторические образцы.

  The ideal (paragon) of beauty in this culture is often represented through historical examples.

• Как образец лидерства, он всегда ставит интересы команды на первое место.

  As a paragon of leadership, he always puts the team's interests first.

Meaning 2: Something serving as a standard of excellence

Translation(s) & Context:

• идеал - Often in motivational or ethical discussions, emphasizing aspiration.
• образец - In practical settings, like quality control or education.

Usage Examples:

• Этот проект — идеал инноваций, но требует адаптации к местным условиям.

  This project is a paragon of innovation but requires adaptation to local conditions.

• Образец этичного поведения в бизнесе — ключ к долгосрочному успеху.

  A paragon of ethical behavior in business is key to long-term success.

• Идеал спортивного достижения мотивирует атлетов преодолевать пределы.

  The paragon of athletic achievement motivates athletes to push their limits.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Образец' is a masculine noun in the third declension, which follows regular patterns but has some irregularities in genitive and prepositional cases. 'Идеал' is also masculine and follows standard patterns.

Note: Both words are invariant in gender but change by case and number as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эталон (etalon) - More technical, often used in scientific contexts.
  • модель (model) - Emphasizes imitation or representation.
  • стандарт (standard) - Implies a baseline for comparison.
• Antonyms:
  • неудача (failure) - Opposite in terms of success or quality.
  • аномалия (anomaly) - Deviates from the norm or ideal.

Related Phrases:

• Образец для подражания - A role model or paragon to emulate; used in educational or inspirational contexts.
• Идеал красоты - The ideal of beauty; common in discussions of aesthetics or culture.
• Стать образцом - To become a paragon; implies achieving excellence as a standard.

Usage Notes:

'Образец' directly corresponds to 'paragon' in formal English contexts, such as in business or academia, and is preferred for tangible examples. 'Идеал' is better for abstract or aspirational uses. Be mindful of grammatical gender and case in Russian sentences; for instance, use the genitive case after prepositions like 'без' (without). In informal speech, 'идеал' might be more flexible, but avoid it in technical writing where 'образец' is standard.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'образец' in plural without context, e.g., saying "образцы" when referring to a single ideal. Correct: Stick to singular for abstract concepts. Example: Incorrect: "Это образцы успеха" (if only one is meant); Correct: "Это образец успеха".
• Mistake: Confusing with English pronunciation; learners might stress the wrong syllable. Explanation: In Russian, stress is vital; misplacing it can change meaning or comprehension.
• Mistake: Overusing 'идеал' in formal settings; it can sound overly poetic. Correct: Opt for 'образец' in professional contexts for precision.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'образец' often tie to historical figures or Soviet-era ideals of excellence, such as in literature with characters from Tolstoy's works serving as paragons of morality. This reflects a cultural emphasis on collective standards and personal aspiration in a society valuing tradition and innovation.

Related Concepts:

• эталон
• модель
• стандарт
• идеализация