Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rapacity'

English Word: rapacity

Key Russian Translations:

• жадность [ʐɐd.nəsʲtʲ] - [Formal]
• хищничество [xʲiʂ.nʲi.t͡ɕes.tvo] - [Formal, often in contexts of predatory behavior]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literary and formal discussions, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections; 'жадность' is B2, while 'хищничество' might lean towards C1 due to its less frequent use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жадность: [ʐɐd.nəsʲtʲ]

хищничество: [xʲiʂ.nʲi.t͡ɕes.tvo]

Note on жадность: The initial 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English, and can be challenging for beginners; stress falls on the first syllable.

Note on хищничество: The 'щ' is a voiceless palatal fricative, like 'sh' in 'she' but more prolonged; this word has a rolling quality in spoken Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Extreme greed for wealth or material things (the primary meaning of rapacity).

Translation(s) & Context:

• жадность - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe personal or excessive greed, often with a negative connotation.
• хищничество - Applied in contexts involving predatory or exploitative behavior, such as in business or nature.

Usage Examples:

• Его жадность не знает границ; он готов обманывать друзей ради денег.

  His rapacity knows no bounds; he is willing to deceive friends for money.

• В истории хищничество крупных корпораций часто приводило к экономическим кризисам.

  In history, the rapacity of large corporations often led to economic crises.

• Жадность этого политика проявилась в его коррупционных схемах.

  The rapacity of this politician was evident in his corrupt schemes.

• Хищничество в дикой природе – это естественный инстинкт, но у людей оно часто становится разрушительным.

  Rapacity in the wild is a natural instinct, but in humans, it often becomes destructive.

• Её жадность к власти сделала её изолированной от общества.

  Her rapacity for power made her isolated from society.

2. Predatory or aggressive behavior (a secondary, more metaphorical meaning).

Translation(s) & Context:

• хищничество - Common in discussions of exploitation or aggression, such as in ecology or politics.
• жадность - Less common here, but can be used metaphorically for aggressive acquisition.

Usage Examples:

• Хищничество мультинациональных компаний угрожает местным экосистемам.

  The rapacity of multinational companies threatens local ecosystems.

• Его жадность к знаниям заставила его игнорировать моральные границы.

  His rapacity for knowledge made him ignore moral boundaries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'жадность' and 'хищничество' are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow the standard patterns for third-declension nouns. 'Жадность' is an abstract noun and inflects regularly, while 'хищничество' is also regular but may vary slightly in formal contexts.

*Note: 'Жадность' is often used in singular form as an abstract concept and does not frequently take plural inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: алчность (more intense, often financial greed), корыстолюбие (self-interest driven greed)
• Antonyms: щедрость (generosity; implies the opposite of self-centered accumulation)

Related Phrases:

• неуемная жадность - Insatiable rapacity; used to describe endless greed in personal or professional contexts.
• хищничество ради прибыли - Rapacity for profit; common in business or economic discussions to highlight exploitative practices.
• жадность до власти - Rapacity for power; often appears in political or historical narratives.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'жадность' directly corresponds to the core meaning of rapacity as excessive greed and is preferred in everyday formal language, while 'хищничество' emphasizes a more predatory aspect, making it suitable for contexts involving exploitation or aggression. Be mindful of the noun's feminine gender, which affects adjective agreements (e.g., "большая жадность" for "great rapacity"). Use 'жадность' in literary or moral discussions, and 'хищничество' in analytical or scientific ones. Grammatically, these words require appropriate case endings based on sentence structure, so English learners should practice with prepositions like "из-за" (because of) which take genitive case.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse 'жадность' as an adjective, confusing it with 'жадный' (greedy). Error: "Он жадность человек" (incorrect). Correct: "Он жадный человек" or "Его жадность очевидна". Explanation: 'Жадность' is a noun, so it needs to be used in nominal phrases.

• Another common mistake is incorrect inflection, such as using nominative in all cases. Error: "Я боюсь жадность" (should be genitive for fear of something). Correct: "Я боюсь жадности". Explanation: Always adjust for case to maintain grammatical accuracy in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'жадность' often appear in literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where rapacity is portrayed as a moral flaw leading to downfall. This reflects historical influences from Orthodox Christianity, emphasizing virtues like humility over greed, and is evident in proverbs like "Жадность фраера погубила" (Greed ruined the fool), highlighting how rapacity is seen as a destructive force in society.

Related Concepts:

• алчность
• корыстолюбие
• эгоизм