Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'respect'

English Word: respect

Key Russian Translations:

• уважение /u.vɐ.ˈʐenʲ.jə/ - [Formal, Noun]
• уважать /u.vɐ.ˈʐatʲ/ - [Formal, Verb]

Frequency: Medium (уважение is commonly used in everyday formal and social contexts, while уважать appears frequently in discussions of ethics and relationships.)

Difficulty: B1 for уважаение (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun declensions); B2 for уважать (Upper-Intermediate, due to verb conjugations and nuanced usage).

Pronunciation (Russian):

уважение: /u.vɐ.ˈʐenʲ.jə/

уважать: /u.vɐ.ˈʐatʲ/

Note on уважать: The "ж" sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like the "s" in "measure." Pronounce with emphasis on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Admiration or regard for someone or something (as a noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уважение - Used in formal or professional settings to express esteem, such as in social interactions or ethical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В обществе важно проявлять уважение к старшим. (V obshchestve vazhno proyavlyat' uvazheniye k starshim.)

  In society, it's important to show respect to elders.

• Его уважение к учителям всегда было на высоте. (Yego uvazheniye k uchitelyam vsegda bylo na vysote.)

  His respect for teachers was always at a high level.

• Уважение – это основа любых здоровых отношений. (Uvazheniye – eto osnova lyubykh zdorovyh otnosheniy.)

  Respect is the foundation of any healthy relationships.

• В культуре России уважение к традиции играет ключевую роль. (V kul'ture Rossii uvazheniye k traditsii igraet klyuchevuyu rol'.)

  In Russian culture, respect for tradition plays a key role.

Meaning 2: To show admiration or regard for someone or something (as a verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уважать - Used in contexts involving actions or attitudes, such as in personal development or interpersonal communication, often implying ongoing behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны уважать чужое мнение, даже если не согласны. (My dolzhny uvazhat' chuzhoye mneniye, dazhe yesli ne soglasny.)

  We should respect others' opinions, even if we disagree.

• Он уважает своих коллег за их профессионализм. (On uvazhaet svoih kolleg za ih professionalizm.)

  He respects his colleagues for their professionalism.

• В семье важно уважать личное пространство друг друга. (V sem'ye vazhno uvazhat' lichnoye prostranstvo drug druga.)

  In a family, it's important to respect each other's personal space.

• Молодые люди должны уважать историю своей страны. (Molodye lyudi dolzhny uvazhat' istoriyu svoyey strany.)

  Young people should respect the history of their country.

• Она уважает традиции, но также открыта к изменениям. (Ona uvazhaet traditsii, no takzhe otkryta k izmeneniyam.)

  She respects traditions but is also open to changes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For уважение (a neuter noun, second declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with inflections for case and number. It is invariable in gender but changes in cases:

For уважать (a first-conjugation verb), it is regular and conjugates based on tense, aspect, and person. Present tense example:

Past tense: уважал (masc.), уважала (fem.), уважало (neut.); Future: буду уважать, etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: почтение (/ˈpoʧ.tʲenʲ.jə/ - similar but more formal, often implying deference); уважение к кому-то (can be synonymous with признательность, /prɪznɐˈtʲelʲ.nəsʲtʲ/ - gratitude with respect).
• Antonyms: пренебрежение (/prʲɪ.nʲɪˈbrʲe.ʐə.nʲ.jə/ - disdain); игнорирование (/ɪɡ.no.rʲɪˈra.və.nʲ.jə/ - ignoring).

Related Phrases:

• Проявлять уважение – To show respect (used in contexts of demonstrating esteem in social or professional settings).
• Заслуживать уважение – To earn respect (implies that respect is merited through actions).
• Уважение к закону – Respect for the law (common in legal or ethical discussions).

Usage Notes:

уважение and уважать directly correspond to the English "respect" as a noun and verb, respectively, but they carry a stronger connotation of formality in Russian culture. Use уважение in static contexts (e.g., a general feeling), and уважать for active demonstrations. Be mindful of grammatical gender and case agreements; for example, уважение is neuter, so adjectives must agree (e.g., большое уважение). In informal speech, English loanwords like "рес пект" may appear, but stick to native forms for authenticity. When choosing between translations, opt for уважать if the context involves an action.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing уважение with уважать by using the noun form when a verb is needed. Incorrect: Я уважение его. Correct: Я уважаю его. Explanation: уважение is a noun, so it can't directly replace the verb; use the proper conjugation of уважать for actions.
• Error: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., saying "к уважение" instead of "к уважению." Incorrect: к уважение. Correct: к уважению (dative case). Explanation: Russian requires precise case usage to indicate relationships, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, уважение is deeply tied to hierarchical relationships, such as respect for elders, authority figures, or traditions. This stems from historical influences like Orthodox Christianity and Soviet-era collectivism, where mutual respect (взаимное уважение) reinforces social harmony. Unlike in some Western contexts, expressing respect in Russia often involves subtle behaviors, like using formal titles (e.g., "товарищ" in the past), highlighting its role in maintaining social order.

Related Concepts:

• достоинство (dignity)
• честь (honor)
• толерантность (tolerance)