Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'patience'

English Word: patience

Key Russian Translations:

• терпение (/tʲɪrˈpʲenʲɪje/) - [Neutral, commonly used in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word is frequently encountered in literature, conversations, and proverbs, but not as common in casual slang.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun inflections and common emotional vocabulary, per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

терпение: /tʲɪrˈpʲenʲɪje/

Note on терпение: The stress falls on the second syllable (/ˈpʲenʲɪje/), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants (e.g., 'тʲ' sounds like a soft 't'). Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset.

Translation(s) & Context:

• терпение - Used in general contexts to describe personal endurance, such as in daily life, relationships, or work situations. (e.g., In formal writing or conversations about character traits.)

Usage Examples:

• У него большое терпение в сложных ситуациях. (U nego bol'shoe terpenie v slozhnykh situatsiyakh.)

  He has great patience in difficult situations. (This example shows the noun in a nominative case, emphasizing personal qualities.)

• Терпение — ключ к успеху в изучении языков. (Terpenie — klyuch k uspekhu v izuchenii yazykov.)

  Patience is the key to success in language learning. (Here, it appears in a proverbial or motivational context, often in instrumental case implications.)

• Без терпения невозможно воспитать детей. (Bez terpeniya nevozmozhno vospitat' detey.)

  Without patience, it's impossible to raise children. (Demonstrates use in negative constructions, highlighting necessity.)

• Её терпение лопнуло после часа ожидания. (Ey terpenie lopnulo posle chasa ozhidaniya.)

  Her patience snapped after an hour of waiting. (Illustrates a breaking point, common in narrative contexts.)

• В этой работе требуется терпение и усидчивость. (V etoy rabote trebuyetsya terpenie i usidchivost'.)

  This job requires patience and perseverance. (Shows combination with other nouns in a list, in professional settings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Терпение" is a neuter noun in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows regular inflection patterns for nouns ending in -ие. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The word is invariant in terms of gender and does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward for learners once basic declensions are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • выносливость (/vɨˈnoslʲivostʲ/) - Emphasizes endurance in physical or mental challenges.
  • устойчивость (/uˈstojɪvostʲ/) - Focuses on stability and resilience, often in abstract contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • нетерпение (/nʲɪtʲɪrˈpʲenʲɪje/) - Directly opposite, implying impatience or restlessness.
  • раздражительность (/rɐzdrɐʐʲɪˈtʲelʲnəstʲ/) - Suggests irritability, with a focus on emotional volatility.

Related Phrases:

• Терпение — залог успеха. (Terpenie — zalog uspekha.) - Meaning: Patience is the guarantee of success. (A common proverb used to encourage perseverance.)
• Иметь терпение камня. (Imet' terpenie kamnya.) - Meaning: To have the patience of a stone. (Idiomatic expression for extreme endurance in challenging situations.)
• Терять терпение. (Teryat' terpenie.) - Meaning: To lose patience. (Used in contexts of frustration or exhaustion.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "терпение" directly corresponds to the English "patience" as a noun, but it's often used in more formal or reflective contexts compared to everyday English. For instance, it's common in proverbs or philosophical discussions. When choosing between synonyms like "выносливость," opt for "терпение" in emotional or interpersonal scenarios. Grammatically, always inflect it according to the case required by the sentence structure, such as instrumental case in phrases like "с терпением" (with patience). Avoid literal translations; instead, adapt to natural Russian expressions for better fluency.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "терпение" (noun) with "терпеливый" (adjective, meaning "patient"). Incorrect: "Он терпение человек." (Wrong: He patience person.) Correct: "Он терпеливый человек." (He is a patient person.) Explanation: English learners often forget to adjust for word class; use "терпеливый" for descriptive attributes.

• Overusing in informal speech: Incorrectly forcing "терпение" into casual contexts where a lighter synonym like "терпимость" (tolerance) might fit better. Explanation: This can make speech sound overly formal; assess the register before use.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, patience ("терпение") is highly valued and often linked to historical resilience, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works or Soviet-era narratives. It embodies the idea of enduring hardship without complaint, reflecting themes in Russian folklore and proverbs, such as "Терпение и труд все перетрут" (Patience and labor will grind everything down). This cultural emphasis can help English speakers understand why the concept appears frequently in Russian media and daily conversations.

Related Concepts:

• спокойствие (spokoynie) - Calmness
• выдержка (vydyerzhka) - Self-control
• терпимость (terpimost') - Tolerance