Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sage'

English Word: sage

Key Russian Translations:

• мудрец [ˈmudrʲɛts] - [Formal, Noun, Refers to a wise person]
• шалфей [ʂɐlˈfʲej] - [Neutral, Noun, Refers to the herb]
• мудрый [ˈmudrɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Describes someone or something wise]

Frequency: Medium (e.g., 'мудрец' is commonly used in literature and philosophical discussions; 'шалфей' appears in everyday contexts like cooking; 'мудрый' is frequent in formal writing).

Difficulty: B1 for 'мудрец' and 'мудрый' (Intermediate, as it involves understanding Russian noun/adjective declensions); A2 for 'шалфей' (Beginner, as it's a straightforward noun with minimal inflection).

Pronunciation (Russian):

мудрец: [ˈmudrʲɛts]

шалфей: [ʂɐlˈfʲej] (Note: The 'ш' sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to the 'sh' in 'sheep', which can be challenging for English speakers.)

мудрый: [ˈmudrɨj] (Note: The 'ы' vowel is a central unrounded vowel, often approximated as 'i' in 'bit'; stress on the first syllable.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A wise person (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мудрец - Used in formal, philosophical, or literary contexts to describe a person of great wisdom, often in historical or educational settings.

Usage Examples:

• В древней Греции Сократ был великим мудрецом, чьи идеи до сих пор влияют на философию.

  In ancient Greece, Socrates was a great sage whose ideas still influence philosophy.

• Мудрец из восточных легенд часто дает советы молодым героям в их путешествиях.

  The sage from Eastern legends often gives advice to young heroes on their journeys.

• В современном обществе мудрец может быть ученым, чьи открытия изменяют мир.

  In modern society, a sage can be a scholar whose discoveries change the world.

• Дети слушают истории о мудреце, чтобы научиться ценить мудрость.

  Children listen to stories about the sage to learn to value wisdom.

• Мудрец в этой книге символизирует вечную борьбу между знанием и невежеством.

  The sage in this book symbolizes the eternal struggle between knowledge and ignorance.

2. The herb (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• шалфей - Used in everyday, neutral contexts related to cooking, medicine, or botany, often in recipes or health discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Шалфей часто добавляют в чай для улучшения пищеварения.

  Sage is often added to tea to improve digestion.

• В саду я посадил шалфей, чтобы использовать его в кулинарии.

  In the garden, I planted sage to use it in cooking.

• Шалфей имеет множество полезных свойств и используется в народной медицине.

  Sage has many beneficial properties and is used in folk medicine.

• При приготовлении супа не забудьте добавить свежий шалфей для аромата.

  When making soup, don't forget to add fresh sage for flavor.

• Шалфей можно сушить и хранить для использования в зимние месяцы.

  Sage can be dried and stored for use in the winter months.

3. Wise or judicious (Adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мудрый - Used in formal or descriptive contexts to describe people, decisions, or actions that are wise, often in literature, advice, or ethical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Его мудрый совет помог мне избежать ошибки.

  His sage advice helped me avoid a mistake.

• Мудрый лидер всегда учитывает мнение других перед принятием решений.

  A sage leader always considers others' opinions before making decisions.

• Эта мудрая книга содержит уроки, которые применимы к повседневной жизни.

  This sage book contains lessons applicable to everyday life.

• Мудрый подход к проблеме предотвратил дальнейшие конфликты.

  A sage approach to the problem prevented further conflicts.

• В старости люди становятся мудрее благодаря опыту.

  In old age, people become wiser due to experience.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'мудрец' (a masculine noun, 2nd declension):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	мудрец	мудрецы
Genitive	мудреца	мудрецов
Dative	мудрецу	мудрецам
Accusative	мудреца	мудрецов
Instrumental	мудрецом	мудрецами
Prepositional	мудреце	мудрецах

For 'шалфей' (a masculine noun, follows standard patterns but is invariable in some contexts):

It is generally uninflected in plural forms when used in botanical contexts, e.g., 'шалфей' remains the same. In everyday use, it can take standard masculine endings: Nominative singular - шалфей, Genitive singular - шалфея.

For 'мудрый' (an adjective):

It follows regular adjective declension patterns. Example in nominative: мудрый (masc.), мудрая (fem.), мудрое (neut.), мудрые (plur.).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• мудрец: философ (philosopher) - Often used for more intellectual figures.
• шалфей: полынь (wormwood) - Similar herb, but with different connotations.
• мудрый: разумный (reasonable) - Emphasizes practicality over deep wisdom.

Antonyms:

• мудрец: глупец (fool)
• шалфей: No direct antonym, as it's a plant.
• мудрый: глупый (foolish)

Related Phrases:

• Мудрец Востока - A phrase meaning "Sage of the East," often referring to wise figures in folklore.
• Шалфей в кулинарии - Meaning "Sage in cooking," used in recipes for herbal dishes.
• Мудрый выбор - Translates to "Sage choice," implying a wise decision in decision-making contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Мудрец' directly corresponds to the English 'sage' as a wise person but is more formal and literary in Russian, often appearing in proverbs or historical texts. Avoid using it in casual conversation; opt for 'мудрый' for adjectives. 'Шалфей' is the precise match for the herb and has no major restrictions, but note its use in health contexts may imply traditional medicine. When choosing between translations, consider the context: nominal for people, adjectival for qualities. Grammatically, adjectives like 'мудрый' must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'мудрец' with 'мудрый' and using the noun as an adjective. Incorrect: Он мудрец человек (wrong structure). Correct: Он мудрый человек. Explanation: 'Мудрец' is a noun and cannot modify another noun directly; use 'мудрый' for adjectival forms.
• Error: Mispronouncing 'шалфей' by softening the 'ш' sound too much. Incorrect Pronunciation: [ʃælˈfeɪ] (over-Anglicized). Correct: [ʂɐlˈfʲej]. Explanation: Russian 'ш' is sharper; practice with native audio to avoid this common slip.
• Error: Failing to decline 'мудрец' in sentences, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Incorrect: Я разговаривал с мудрец (should be мудреца in genitive). Correct: Я разговаривал с мудрецом. Explanation: Russian nouns require case agreement, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'мудрец' often evokes images from folklore and literature, such as the wise old men in Slavic fairy tales or references to figures like Leo Tolstoy's portrayals of enlightened characters. It carries a connotation of deep, almost mystical wisdom, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on intellectual and spiritual traditions. 'Шалфей' is linked to herbal remedies in Russian folk medicine, symbolizing natural healing and self-sufficiency in rural life.

Related Concepts:

• философ
• травы
• мудрость