Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'predator'

English Word: predator

Key Russian Translations:

• хищник (/xʲɪʂnʲɪk/) - [Formal, Singular, Used in biological, ecological, or metaphorical contexts]
• планктонный хищник (/ˈplanktənnɨj xʲɪʂnʲɪk/) - [Formal, Compound term, Used specifically for marine predators, e.g., in scientific discussions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in specialized contexts like biology, ecology, or crime reports, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves basic noun declensions and contextual usage; for 'планктонный хищник', it may reach B2 due to compound structure).

Pronunciation (Russian):

хищник: /xʲɪʂnʲɪk/ (The 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'. Stress on the first syllable.)

планктонный хищник: /ˈplanktənnɨj xʲɪʂnʲɪk/ (Stress on the first syllable of 'планктонный'; the 'й' in 'планктонный' is a soft palatal approximant.)

Note on хищник: Be cautious with the 'щ' sound, which is a voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative—practice it as a combination of 'sh' and 'ch' for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: An animal that hunts and kills other animals for food (Biological context).

Translation(s) & Context:

• хищник - Used in formal scientific or educational settings to describe predators in ecosystems.
• планктонный хищник - Applied in marine biology for plankton-eating predators, emphasizing specialized environments.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу хищник охотится на мелких млекопитающих, чтобы выжить.

  In the forest, the predator hunts small mammals to survive. (This example shows 'хищник' in a natural habitat context, demonstrating nominative case usage.)

• Многие хищники в океане имеют острые зубы для захвата добычи.

  Many predators in the ocean have sharp teeth for capturing prey. (Illustrates 'хищники' in plural form, common in descriptive biology texts.)

• Планктонный хищник, такой как креветка, играет ключевую роль в пищевой цепи.

  A plankton predator, such as a shrimp, plays a key role in the food chain. (This uses the compound term in a scientific discussion, highlighting ecological relationships.)

• Если хищник исчезает из экосистемы, это может привести к дисбалансу.

  If a predator disappears from the ecosystem, it can lead to imbalance. (Demonstrates 'хищник' in a hypothetical scenario, showing its role in broader contexts.)

Meaning 2: A person who exploits or preys on others (Metaphorical or social context).

Translation(s) & Context:

• хищник - Used metaphorically in informal or formal discussions about human behavior, such as in crime or business.

Usage Examples:

• В бизнесе хищник всегда ищет способы обогатиться за счет других.

  In business, a predator always looks for ways to enrich themselves at the expense of others. (This example shows metaphorical usage in a professional setting.)

• Этот хищник обманул множество людей, используя хитрые схемы.

  This predator deceived many people using cunning schemes. (Illustrates 'хищник' in a negative social context, emphasizing accusative case.)

• Общество должно защищаться от таких хищников, как мошенники.

  Society must protect itself from such predators as fraudsters. (Shows 'хищников' in plural, in a broader societal discussion.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Хищник' is a masculine noun (3rd declension). It follows regular Russian noun patterns with changes in cases and numbers. Below is a table of its inflections:

For 'планктонный хищник', it is a compound: 'планктонный' (adjective) declines as a regular adjective, while 'хищник' follows the above. It is not invariant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • охотник (okhotnik) - More specific to hunters; implies active pursuit.
  • пожиратель (pozhiratel) - Emphasizes consuming; used in poetic or archaic contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • жертва (zhertva) - Directly opposite, meaning victim or prey.
  • травоядное (travoyadnoye) - For animal contexts, meaning herbivore.

Related Phrases:

• Хищные птицы (khishnyye ptitsy) - Predatory birds; a phrase used in ornithology to describe birds of prey.
• Цепочка хищников (tsepochka khishnikov) - Chain of predators; refers to food chains in ecosystems.
• Хищник и жертва (khishnik i zhertva) - Predator and prey; a common ecological or metaphorical expression.

Usage Notes:

• 'Хищник' directly corresponds to 'predator' in English but is more versatile in Russian, often used in both literal and figurative senses. Choose it for formal writing; in informal speech, context clarifies meaning.
• In biological contexts, pair it with adjectives like 'морской' (morskoy, marine) for precision.
• Grammar note: Always decline according to case; beginners may forget genitive forms, leading to awkward phrasing.
• When multiple translations exist, use 'планктонный хищник' for specialized topics to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'хищник' without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я видел хищник" instead of "Я видел хищника" (accusative). Correct: Always adjust for case; explanation: Russian nouns must agree with the sentence structure, unlike English.
• Error: Confusing with 'охотник', treating them as identical; e.g., using 'охотник' for a lion when 'хищник' is more accurate. Correct: 'Охотник' implies intentional hunting; use 'хищник' for instinctive predation; explanation: This mix-up stems from partial synonyms, so check context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and literature, 'хищник' often symbolizes survival instincts, as seen in works like Tolstoy's stories or modern ecology discussions. It reflects Russia's vast natural landscapes, where predator-prey dynamics are a common theme in folklore, emphasizing the harshness of nature and human parallels.

Related Concepts:

• экосистема (ekosistema)
• пищевая цепь (pishchevaya tsep')
• мошенник (moshennik)