Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'repent'

English Word: repent

Key Russian Translations:

• раскаяться /rɐˈskajɪtʲsə/ - [Formal, Reflexive Verb, Often used in religious or moral contexts]
• сожалеть /sɐˈʐalʲetʲ/ - [Informal, Everyday regret, Less intense than раскаяться]
• покаяться /pɐkɐˈjatsə/ - [Formal, Primarily ecclesiastical or religious settings]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, religious texts, and reflective discussions, but less frequent in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate) for раскаяться and покаяться due to reflexive forms and cultural nuances; A2 (Elementary) for сожалеть as it's more straightforward

Pronunciation (Russian):

раскаяться: /rɐˈskajɪtʲsə/

сожалеть: /sɐˈʐalʲetʲ/

покаяться: /pɐkɐˈjatsə/

Note on раскаяться: This is a reflexive verb, so the -ся ending indicates self-action; stress on the second syllable can be tricky for learners. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on сожалеть: The 'ж' sound is a soft fricative; practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Note on покаяться: Similar to раскаяться, it's reflexive; the initial 'по-' prefix affects the rhythm.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To feel regret or remorse for one's sins or past actions

Translation(s) & Context:

• раскаяться - Used in formal, moral, or religious contexts, implying deep introspection and change.
• сожалеть - Applied in everyday situations for milder regret, such as missing an opportunity.
• покаяться - Specific to religious or confessional settings, often involving confession.

Usage Examples:

• Он раскаялся в своих грехах и решил изменить свою жизнь.

  He repented of his sins and decided to change his life. (Shows reflexive use in a moral context.)

• После ошибки она сожалеет о сказанных словах, но уже поздно.

  After the mistake, she regrets the words she said, but it's too late. (Illustrates everyday informal regret.)

• В церкви люди покаялись в своих проступках перед священником.

  In church, people repented of their misdeeds before the priest. (Demonstrates religious context.)

• Я раскаялся в том, что не поддержал друга в трудный момент.

  I repented for not supporting my friend in a difficult moment. (Highlights personal reflection.)

• Он сожалеет о потраченном времени, но продолжает учиться на ошибках.

  He regrets the wasted time but continues to learn from his mistakes. (Shows progressive use in self-improvement.)

To express sorrow for wrongdoing in a broader sense

Translation(s) & Context:

• раскаяться - In literary or philosophical discussions, emphasizing transformation.
• покаяться - In historical or cultural narratives, like in Russian literature (e.g., Dostoevsky).

Usage Examples:

• Герой романа раскаялся в своих преступлениях, что стало поворотным моментом.

  The novel's hero repented of his crimes, which became a turning point. (Context: Literary narrative.)

• Она покаялась публично, чтобы искупить вину перед обществом.

  She repented publicly to atone for her guilt before society. (Context: Social or public confession.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, with раскаяться and покаяться being reflexive (ending in -ся). Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for the infinitive and key conjugated forms of раскаяться as an example (imperfective aspect).

For сожалеть (also imperfective): It follows similar patterns but is not reflexive. Example: Я сожалею (I regret). It remains relatively regular without major irregularities.

покаяться is irregular in some aspects due to its perfective form; consult a full conjugation chart for nuances.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: сожалеть (milder regret), жалеть (to pity or regret), каяться (to confess sins)
• Antonyms: гордиться (to be proud, as it opposes remorse), игнорировать (to ignore, implying no regret)

Note: Сожалеть is often used interchangeably with жалеть in informal contexts, but жалеть can imply more empathy toward others.

Related Phrases:

• Признать свои ошибки - To admit one's mistakes; used in self-reflection or apologies.
• Искупить вину - To atone for guilt; common in moral or legal contexts.
• Раскаяние души - Remorse of the soul; a poetic phrase for deep inner regret.

Usage Notes:

When translating "repent," choose раскаяться for religious or profound moral contexts, as it aligns closely with biblical connotations. Сожалеть is better for everyday expressions of regret, avoiding overly formal language. Be mindful of the reflexive -ся ending in раскаяться and покаяться, which requires agreement with the subject. In Russian, these verbs often pair with prepositions like "в" (in) for specific regrets, e.g., раскаяться в грехах. For English learners, start with simpler forms before tackling inflections.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using раскаяться in casual conversations where сожалеть is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я раскаялся в опоздании" instead of "Я сожалею об опоздании." Correct: The former sounds overly dramatic; explanation: Раскаяться implies deep moral transformation, while сожалеть suits minor regrets.

• Error: Omitting the reflexive -ся in раскаяться, e.g., saying "раскаять" which is incorrect. Correct: Always use "раскаяться"; explanation: This changes the verb to non-reflexive, altering the meaning entirely.

• Error: Confusing with English "repent" in non-religious contexts, leading to overuse of покаяться. Correct: Use сожалеть for secular regret; explanation: Покаяться is church-specific and may sound out of place in daily talk.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, especially influenced by Orthodox Christianity, "repent" translations like раскаяться and покаяться carry strong spiritual connotations, often linked to confession and redemption in literature (e.g., Tolstoy or Dostoevsky). This reflects a cultural emphasis on introspection and moral accountability, differing from more casual Western uses of regret.

Related Concepts:

• грех (sin)
• молитва (prayer)
• исповедь (confession)