Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rapacious'

English Word: rapacious

Key Russian Translations:

• жадный /ʒɐdˈnɨj/ - [Formal; commonly used in contexts involving greed for resources or wealth]
• хищный /xʲɪʂˈnɨj/ - [Informal; emphasizes predatory or aggressive behavior, often in animal or business contexts]
• алчный /ɐlʲˈt͡ɕnɨj/ - [Formal; specifically for excessive greed, particularly in financial or moral senses]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in literature, news, and everyday conversation, but not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced contexts. For 'жадный', it's B2; for 'хищный', it might be B1 due to simpler usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жадный: /ʒɐdˈnɨj/ (The 'ж' sound is like the 's' in 'measure', and stress is on the second syllable. This word has a soft 'д' sound.)

хищный: /xʲɪʂˈnɨj/ (The 'х' is a guttural sound like in Scottish 'loch', and 'щ' is a prolonged 'sh' sound. Stress on the second syllable.)

алчный: /ɐlʲˈt͡ɕnɨj/ (The 'ч' is like 'ch' in 'church', and 'л' is palatalized. Stress on the second syllable.)

Note on жадный: Be cautious with the soft consonants; non-native speakers often harden the 'д', which can alter the word's natural flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Greedy or excessively eager for wealth or possessions

Translation(s) & Context:

• жадный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone who is avaricious, e.g., in business or personal relationships.
• алчный - Applied in ethical or moral discussions, often implying selfishness or corruption.

Usage Examples:

• Его жадный взгляд на чужие богатства вызывал отвращение. (His rapacious gaze at others' wealth evoked disgust.)

  Translation: His rapacious gaze at others' wealth evoked disgust.

• Жадный бизнесмен не остановится перед ничем, чтобы увеличить свою империю. (The rapacious businessman won't stop at anything to expand his empire.)

  Translation: The rapacious businessman won't stop at anything to expand his empire.

• Алчный политик использовал общественные средства для личной выгоды. (The rapacious politician used public funds for personal gain.)

  Translation: The rapacious politician used public funds for personal gain.

• В детстве он был жадным к игрушкам, но с возрастом научился делиться. (As a child, he was rapacious about toys, but with age, he learned to share.)

  Translation: As a child, he was rapacious about toys, but with age, he learned to share.

Meaning 2: Predatory or aggressively seizing opportunities

Translation(s) & Context:

• хищный - Often used in metaphorical or animal-related contexts, such as in nature or competitive environments.
• жадный - In extended senses, for situations involving ruthless pursuit.

Usage Examples:

• Хищный инвестор быстро захватывает рынок, не оставляя шансов конкурентам. (The rapacious investor quickly seizes the market, leaving no chances for competitors.)

  Translation: The rapacious investor quickly seizes the market, leaving no chances for competitors.

• Её хищный подход к переговорам всегда приводит к победе. (Her rapacious approach to negotiations always leads to victory.)

  Translation: Her rapacious approach to negotiations always leads to victory.

• Жадный к власти лидер игнорировал интересы народа. (The rapacious leader, greedy for power, ignored the people's interests.)

  Translation: The rapacious leader, greedy for power, ignored the people's interests.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Жадный' and 'хищный' follow standard first-declension adjective patterns, while 'алчный' is similar but may vary slightly in literary use.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow standard patterns. They do not change in predicative positions (e.g., "Он жадный" remains unchanged).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • жадный - скупой (skupoy; more about stinginess than greed)
  • хищный - агрессивный (agressivnyy; implies direct aggression)
  • алчный - корыстный (korystnyy; focuses on self-interest)
• Antonyms:
  • щедрый (shchedryy; generous)
  • бескорыстный (beskorystnyy; selfless)
  • мирный (mirnyy; peaceful, non-predatory)

Related Phrases:

• Жадный до денег - Greedy for money (Refers to someone obsessively seeking wealth.)
• Хищный взгляд - Rapacious gaze (Describes a predatory or intense look.)
• Алчный интерес - Rapacious interest (Implies selfish or exploitative curiosity.)

Usage Notes:

'Rapacious' corresponds most closely to 'жадный' in everyday contexts, but choose 'хищный' for animalistic or competitive scenarios. These words are formal and best used in written Russian or serious discussions; in informal speech, they might sound overly dramatic. Grammatically, ensure adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, as Russian requires this for fluency.

• When translating, consider the context: 'жадный' fits financial greed, while 'алчный' adds a moral judgment.
• In sentences, these adjectives often precede the noun, e.g., "жадный человек" (a rapacious person).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'жадный' interchangeably with 'скупой' without nuance. Correct: 'Жадный' means eager to acquire, while 'скупой' means reluctant to spend. Example: Incorrect: "Он скупой к деньгам" (if meaning rapacious); Correct: "Он жадный к деньгам".
• Error: Failing to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "жадный женщина" instead of "жадная женщина". Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun's gender; this is a common mistake for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'жадный' often carry negative connotations tied to historical contexts, such as the Soviet era's criticism of capitalism, where rapacious behavior was depicted as a Western flaw. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on communal sharing versus individual greed, as seen in folklore and literature like Chekhov's stories.

Related Concepts:

• скупость (skupost' - stinginess)
• агрессия (agressiya - aggression)
• корысть (koryst' - self-interest)