Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'remorseful'

English Word: remorseful

Key Russian Translations:

• раскаявшийся [rɐskɐˈjafʲɪʂɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• сожалеющий [səʐɐˈlʲejʊʂɨj] - [Informal, Often used in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its variants appear in literature, formal writing, and discussions of emotions, but are not as common in casual conversation as more basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and nuanced emotional vocabulary. For 'раскаявшийся', it may be slightly more challenging due to its formal tone, while 'сожалеющий' is closer to A2 for basic forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

раскаявшийся: [rɐskɐˈjafʲɪʂɨj]

сожалеющий: [səʐɐˈlʲejʊʂɨj]

Note on раскаявшийся: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ja'), and the 'щ' sound can be tricky for English speakers, as it is a soft, palatalized fricative similar to 'sh' but more emphatic. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on сожалеющий: This word has a rolling 'ж' sound, which is softer than English 'zh' in 'measure'. Practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Feeling or expressing deep regret or remorse for past actions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• раскаявшийся - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone who has repented, often with a moral or religious connotation, such as in confessions or reflections.
• сожалеющий - Applied in everyday situations to express milder regret, like in apologies or personal stories, and is more versatile in informal speech.

Usage Examples:

• Он был раскаявшийся грешник, который искал прощения у своих близких.

  He was a remorseful sinner who sought forgiveness from his loved ones.

• После ошибки она стала сожалеющий работником, стараясь исправить ситуацию.

  After the mistake, she became a remorseful employee, trying to fix the situation.

• В романе главный герой изображён как раскаявшийся человек, борющийся с прошлым.

  In the novel, the main character is depicted as a remorseful person struggling with his past.

• Друзья заметили, что он сожалеющий о своих словах и решил извиниться.

  Friends noticed that he was remorseful about his words and decided to apologize.

• Её раскаявшийся взгляд тронул всех в комнате, заставив задуматься о своих поступках.

  Her remorseful glance moved everyone in the room, prompting them to reflect on their actions.

Secondary Meaning: Expressing sorrow or penitence in a broader emotional sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сожалеющий - In this context, it's used for everyday expressions of regret, such as in social interactions or self-reflection, without the intensity of 'раскаявшийся'.

Usage Examples:

• Сожалеющий тон его голоса показал, что он осознал ошибку.

  The remorseful tone of his voice showed that he realized his mistake.

• Она написала сожалеющий пост в социальных сетях после инцидента.

  She wrote a remorseful post on social media after the incident.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'раскаявшийся' and 'сожалеющий' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with the nouns they modify, with some irregularities in certain forms.

For 'раскаявшийся' (more formal and often used in past contexts):

For 'сожалеющий' (more flexible and common):

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form or predicative use, e.g., "Он раскаявшийся" (He is remorseful). Irregularities are minimal, but always agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: кающийся [used in religious contexts, implying repentance]; раскаивающийся [similar to раскаявшийся but more ongoing]; сожалеющий [as above, for milder regret]
• сожалеющий and раскаявшийся can sometimes be interchangeable, but раскаявшийся implies deeper moral reflection.
• Antonyms: бессовестный [shameless]; равнодушный [indifferent]

Related Phrases:

• С чувством раскаяния - With a sense of remorse (Used in formal apologies or confessions.)
• Полный сожаления - Full of regret (Common in emotional narratives.)
• Раскаявшийся грешник - A remorseful sinner (Often in literary or religious contexts.)

Usage Notes:

'Remorseful' in English often corresponds to 'раскаявшийся' in Russian for deep, introspective regret, especially in formal or literary settings, while 'сожалеющий' is better for everyday, lighter expressions. Be mindful of context: use 'раскаявшийся' in moral or ethical discussions, as it carries a stronger connotation of repentance. Grammatically, always inflect the adjective to match the noun it describes. When choosing between translations, opt for 'сожалеющий' in spoken language to avoid sounding overly dramatic.

• Scene-specific: In phone conversations or informal chats, 'сожалеющий' fits better than 'раскаявшийся'.
• Grammar tip: Russian adjectives like these must agree in case, so practice with sentences to master this.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the inflections, for example, using 'раскаявшийся' in the wrong case, such as saying "Я видел раскаявшийся человек" instead of the correct "Я видел раскаявшегося человека" (I saw the remorseful person). This error stems from English's lack of case systems. Correct usage: Always adjust the ending based on the noun's case. Another mistake is overusing 'раскаявшийся' in casual speech, which can sound unnatural; instead, use 'сожалеющий' for everyday regret.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'раскаявшийся' are heavily influenced by literature and Orthodox Christianity, often appearing in works by authors like Dostoevsky to depict moral redemption. This reflects a cultural emphasis on introspection and confession, where remorse is seen as a path to personal growth, unlike in some Western contexts where it's more privately expressed.

Related Concepts:

• вина (guilt)
• сожаление (regret)
• покаяние (penance)