Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'priceless'

English Word: priceless

Key Russian Translations:

• бесценный [bʲɪˈsʲt͡sɛnnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary, formal, and cultural contexts, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; Requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and vocabulary for value-related concepts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бесценный: [bʲɪˈsʲt͡sɛnnɨj]

Note on бесценный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("sʲt͡sɛnnɨj"). Be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making it softer and more palatalized. Variations in regional accents may slightly alter vowel sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Of inestimable value; something that cannot be priced due to its rarity, sentiment, or importance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесценный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe items, experiences, or memories that hold immense emotional or historical value, such as art or family heirlooms.

Usage Examples:

• Эта картина бесценна для нашей семьи, так как она принадлежала нашим предкам.

  This painting is priceless to our family because it belonged to our ancestors.

• Бесценный опыт путешествий обогащает жизнь человека.

  The priceless experience of traveling enriches a person's life.

• Для коллекционера эта монета бесценна из-за её редкости.

  For the collector, this coin is priceless due to its rarity.

• Время, проведённое с друзьями, часто бывает бесценным.

  Time spent with friends is often priceless.

• Бесценные уроки истории помогают избежать прошлых ошибок.

  Priceless lessons from history help avoid past mistakes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Бесценный is an adjective in Russian, which means it inflects based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, agreeing with the nouns they modify. Below is a table outlining its inflections:

Note: This adjective follows the standard first-declension pattern, with no irregularities. It remains unchanged in short form contexts, such as in predicates (e.g., "Это бесценно" - "This is priceless").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ценный (tsennyj) - Valuable; often used for material worth, with less emotional connotation.
  • драгоценный (dragotsennyj) - Precious; implies high monetary or sentimental value, similar to priceless but can include gems or jewels.
• Antonyms:
  • дешёвый (deshyovyj) - Cheap; directly opposite in terms of perceived value.
  • бесполезный (bespoleznyj) - Useless; contrasts with the utility implied in something priceless.

Related Phrases:

• Бесценный подарок - A priceless gift; Refers to a present that holds immense sentimental value, not necessarily monetary.
• Бесценное время - Priceless time; Used to describe time that is irreplaceable, such as time with loved ones.
• Бесценный опыт - Priceless experience; Common in educational or personal growth contexts, emphasizing lifelong lessons.

Usage Notes:

Бесценный is a direct and idiomatic translation for "priceless" in contexts involving inestimable value, but it is more commonly used in formal, literary, or poetic Russian rather than everyday conversation. Unlike English, where "priceless" can be ironic (e.g., something very cheap), in Russian, бесценный always conveys genuine high value. When choosing between translations like бесценный and драгоценный, opt for бесценный for emotional or historical significance. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case, as Russian requires this for proper sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using бесценный interchangeably with ценный without considering context. For example, learners might say "Эта книга ценная" when meaning "priceless," but this implies only monetary value.

  Correct: "Эта книга бесценная" (This book is priceless). Explanation: Ценный focuses on tangible worth, while бесценный emphasizes intangibility.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "бесценный женщина" instead of "бесценная женщина."

  Correct: "Бесценная женщина" (A priceless woman). Explanation: Adjectives must match the noun's gender (feminine in this case).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like бесценный often evoke themes of heritage and emotional depth, as seen in literature by authors like Tolstoy. For instance, family heirlooms or historical artifacts are frequently described as бесценный, reflecting Russia's emphasis on preserving cultural history amid its turbulent past. This term can carry a sense of nostalgia or national pride, especially in discussions of art or traditions.

Related Concepts:

• драгоценный
• ценный
• неоценимый (another synonym for invaluable)