Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'repentant'

English Word: repentant

Key Russian Translations:

• раскаявшийся [rə.skɐˈjaf.ɕɪj] - [Formal, Literary]
• кающийся [kɐˈjus.tɕɪj] - [Religious, Informal in spiritual contexts]
• сожалеющий [sə.ʐɐˈlɛ.ju.ʂɨj] - [General, Everyday regret]

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

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding adjective declensions and past participles, which may require familiarity with Russian grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

раскаявшийся: [rə.skɐˈjaf.ɕɪj] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh')

Note on раскаявшийся: This word features a soft sign (ь) that affects pronunciation, making the preceding consonant softer. Be cautious with the rolling 'r' at the beginning.

кающийся: [kɐˈjus.tɕɪj] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ю' sound is like 'yu' in "yule")

сожалеющий: [sə.ʐɐˈlɛ.ju.ʂɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; pay attention to the 'ж' sound, which is a voiced fricative)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Feeling remorseful or regretful for past actions, often with a moral or spiritual connotation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• раскаявшийся - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe deep, transformative regret, such as in religious confessions or ethical reflections.
• кающийся - Common in religious or spiritual settings, implying ongoing repentance, like in Orthodox Christian practices.
• сожалеющий - Applies to everyday situations of simple regret, without strong moral undertones.

Usage Examples:

• Он раскаявшийся грешник, который изменил свою жизнь после ошибки.

  He is a repentant sinner who changed his life after his mistake.

• В церкви многие кающиеся люди молятся за прощение.

  In church, many repentant people pray for forgiveness.

• Она сожалеющая о своих словах, но уже поздно извиняться.

  She is repentant about her words, but it's too late to apologize.

• Раскаявшийся вор вернул украденные вещи и попросил прощения.

  The repentant thief returned the stolen items and asked for forgiveness.

• Кающийся паломник путешествует, чтобы искупить грехи.

  The repentant pilgrim travels to atone for sins.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adjectives derived from verbs, so they follow Russian adjective declension rules. They agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. Below is a table for 'раскаявшийся' as an example; similar patterns apply to the others with minor variations.

For 'кающийся' and 'сожалеющий', the inflections are regular and follow standard short-form adjective patterns, but they may not change as extensively in informal use. These words are invariant in some fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • раскаивающийся (implies ongoing regret, similar to 'repentant' in process)
  • сожалеющий (more general, everyday synonym with less intensity)
  • покаявшийся (specifically for religious repentance, with subtle spiritual nuance)
• Antonyms:
  • нераскаявшийся (unrepentant, lacking regret)
  • непокорный (unsubmissive, often in moral contexts)

Related Phrases:

• раскаявшийся грешник - A repentant sinner (Used in moral or religious stories to describe redemption).
• кающийся в грехах - Repentant of sins (Common in confessional contexts, emphasizing spiritual cleansing).
• сожалеющий о ошибке - Regretful about a mistake (Applies to everyday apologies or reflections).

Usage Notes:

Choose 'раскаявшийся' for formal or literary contexts where deep moral regret is implied, as it aligns closely with the English 'repentant' in religious or ethical scenarios. 'Кающийся' is best for ongoing spiritual processes, such as in Orthodox traditions, while 'сожалеющий' suits lighter, non-spiritual regrets. Always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies—e.g., use feminine forms like 'раскаявшаяся' for female subjects. In sentences, it's often paired with verbs like 'стать' (to become) to show a change of state.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; consider the context to select the most appropriate Russian equivalent.
• In formal writing, 'раскаявшийся' may carry a more permanent connotation than the temporary regret in English.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'раскаявшийся' without proper declension, e.g., saying "раскаявшийся женщина" instead of "раскаявшаяся женщина".
  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "раскаявшаяся женщина" for feminine nouns. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, so this error can make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
• Mistake: Confusing 'кающийся' with 'сожалеющий' in religious contexts, e.g., using 'сожалеющий' for a spiritual confession.
  Correct: Use 'кающийся' for repentance involving faith. Explanation: 'Сожалеющий' implies simple regret without spiritual depth, leading to a mismatch in tone.
• Mistake: Overusing the word in casual speech, e.g., treating it like everyday English.
  Correct: Reserve for appropriate contexts. Explanation: These words sound formal or archaic in modern Russian, so they may come across as exaggerated in informal settings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, especially influenced by Orthodox Christianity, words like 'раскаявшийся' and 'кающийся' carry deep spiritual connotations, often linked to concepts of sin, confession, and redemption in literature by authors like Dostoevsky. They reflect a cultural emphasis on moral introspection and forgiveness, which may not directly translate to secular English usage.

Related Concepts:

• грех (sin)
• покаяние (repentance)
• прощение (forgiveness)