Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'resentment'

English Word: resentment

Key Russian Translations:

• обида (ɐˈbʲidə) - [Common in everyday language, often used for personal or emotional contexts]
• недовольство (nʲɪdɐˈvolʲstvə) - [Formal, used in professional or social discussions]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in literature, conversations, and media, but not as frequently as basic emotional terms.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of emotional nuances and basic sentence structures, though "обида" is slightly easier than "недовольство" which may need more contextual awareness.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обида: ɐˈbʲidə

недовольство: nʲɪdɐˈvolʲstvə

Note on обида: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'bʲ' sound, which is a palatalized consonant common in Russian. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Note on недовольство: Pronounce the 'nʲ' as a palatalized 'n', and the word has a rolling rhythm; this can be tricky for beginners due to its length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A feeling of anger or bitterness towards someone or something, often due to perceived unfairness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• обида - Used in informal, personal contexts, such as family disputes or emotional reflections.
• недовольство - Applied in formal or professional settings, like workplace complaints or societal critiques.

Usage Examples:

• Он долго не мог забыть обиду от несправедливого обвинения.

  He couldn't forget the resentment from the unfair accusation for a long time.

• Её обида на бывшего друга проявилась в холодном молчании.

  Her resentment towards her ex-friend showed in cold silence.

• Недовольство сотрудников выразилось в коллективном письме руководству.

  The employees' resentment was expressed in a collective letter to management.

• После провала проекта, его недовольство партнёрами стало очевидным.

  After the project failure, his resentment towards the partners became evident.

• Дети иногда затаивают обиду на родителей за строгие правила.

  Children sometimes harbor resentment towards parents for strict rules.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "обида" and "недовольство" are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard feminine noun declension patterns. "Обида" is a first-declension noun, while "недовольство" is also first-declension but can vary slightly due to its abstract nature.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners, but always pay attention to case endings in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• гнев (gnev) - More intense, implying anger rather than lingering bitterness.
• раздражение (razdrazhenie) - Often used for milder, temporary resentment in daily interactions.

Antonyms:

• любовь (lyubov')
• благодушие (blagodusie)

Related Phrases:

• чувство обиды - A phrase meaning "feeling of resentment," often used in psychological or emotional contexts.
• затаить обиду - Literally "to harbor resentment," implying suppressing anger for later.
• выразить недовольство - Means "to express resentment," common in formal complaints or protests.

Usage Notes:

"Обида" is the most direct translation for "resentment" in everyday English, capturing the emotional depth, while "недовольство" leans towards a more intellectual or formal dissatisfaction. Use "обида" in personal narratives or conversations about relationships, as it conveys a sense of hurt. Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian sentences, as both are feminine nouns. When choosing between translations, opt for "недовольство" in professional or public scenarios to sound more neutral and less emotional.

• Grammar note: Always decline these nouns according to the sentence case to avoid awkward phrasing.
• Context tip: In Russian culture, resentment might be expressed indirectly, so phrases like "затаить обиду" are culturally resonant.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing "обида" with "гнев," using "обида" when a more explosive anger is meant, which can understate the emotion. For example:

• Incorrect: Он чувствует обиду на шефа. (This implies lingering hurt, but if immediate anger is intended, "гнев" is better.)
• Correct: Он чувствует гнев на шефа. (More accurate for sudden resentment.)
• Explanation: English speakers often overlook the nuance; "обида" is for built-up feelings, not outbursts.

Another error is failing to decline the noun properly, e.g., using nominative in all cases, which sounds unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, resentment ("обида") is often tied to themes of personal honor and historical grievances, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works. It can reflect a cultural emphasis on enduring hardship stoically, where expressing resentment might be viewed as a sign of weakness or depth of character, influencing social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• гнев
• разочарование
• обида на судьбу