Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'selfish'

English Word: selfish

Key Russian Translations:

• эгоистичный [ɪɡəjˈistʲɪtɕnɨj] - [Formal, commonly used in descriptive contexts]
• эгоистский [ɪɡəjˈistskʲɪj] - [Informal, less common variant, used in everyday speech]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in discussions of personal behavior, literature, and psychology, but not as frequently as basic everyday vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of adjective forms and nuanced personality traits. For 'эгоистичный', it's B1; for 'эгоистский', it's also B1 due to similar complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

эгоистичный: [ɪɡəjˈistʲɪtɕnɨj]

эгоистский: [ɪɡəjˈistskʲɪj]

Note on эгоистичный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ist'), and the 'ч' sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Concerned chiefly with one's own interests, regardless of others, often implying a negative connotation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• эгоистичный - Used in formal writing or discussions about personality traits, such as in psychology or ethics.
• эгоистский - Applied in informal conversations, like casual critiques of behavior in social settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда эгоистичный, и не думает о чувствах других.

  He is always selfish and doesn't think about the feelings of others.

• Её эгоистичный подход к работе раздражает коллег.

  Her selfish approach to work irritates her colleagues.

• В детстве он был эгоистским, но со временем научился быть более отзывчивым.

  In childhood, he was selfish, but over time, he learned to be more responsive.

• Эгоистский человек редко заводит настоящих друзей.

  A selfish person rarely makes true friends.

• Её эгоистичные привычки проявились во время семейного отпуска.

  Her selfish habits showed during the family vacation.

Secondary Meaning: In a broader sense, self-centered behavior in non-personal contexts, like resource allocation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• эгоистичный - Used in economic or political discussions, e.g., describing policies that prioritize self-interest.

Usage Examples:

• Эгоистичный политик игнорирует нужды народа.

  The selfish politician ignores the needs of the people.

• Такая эгоистичная политика может привести к социальным конфликтам.

  Such a selfish policy can lead to social conflicts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'эгоистичный' and 'эгоистский' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow regular patterns for most forms, but 'эгоистичный' is derived from a foreign root and may feel less intuitive for learners.

For 'эгоистский', the inflections are similar but less commonly used; it follows the same adjective paradigm as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эгоцентричный (more focused on self-centeredness, often in psychological contexts)
  • самоуглубленный (implies introspection but with a selfish twist, used in literary descriptions)
• Antonyms:
  • бескорыстный (selfless, emphasizing lack of self-interest)
  • отзывчивый (responsive or altruistic, contrasting with emotional selfishness)

Related Phrases:

• эгоистичный человек - A selfish person; used to describe someone who prioritizes their own needs.
• эгоистичные мотивы - Selfish motives; common in discussions of ethics or decision-making.
• быть эгоистичным - To be selfish; a phrase for expressing behavioral traits in everyday language.

Usage Notes:

'Selfish' translates most accurately to 'эгоистичный' in formal contexts, as it captures the core idea of self-centered behavior. Choose 'эгоистский' for informal or colloquial speech, but note that it's less standard. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. For example, use 'эгоистичная' for feminine nouns. Be cautious with cultural nuances: Russian society often values collectivism, so 'эгоистичный' can carry a stronger negative connotation than in individualistic English-speaking cultures.

• Context tip: In professional or ethical discussions, pair it with phrases like 'в ущерб другим' (at the expense of others) for emphasis.
• Selection guide: If the context is psychological, prefer 'эгоистичный'; for casual blame, use 'эгоистский'.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake 'эгоистичный' for 'эгоист', which is a noun meaning 'egoist' or 'selfish person'. For instance, incorrectly saying 'Он эгоист' when meaning the adjective form; the correct adjectival use is 'Он эгоистичный'. Another error is failing to inflect properly, e.g., using 'эгоистичный' with a feminine noun without changing to 'эгоистичная'. Example of error: "Она эгоистичный" (wrong) vs. "Она эгоистичная" (correct) – this happens because English adjectives don't inflect, leading to oversight of Russian agreement rules.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'эгоистичный' often reflect a historical emphasis on collectivism, stemming from Soviet-era values that prioritized community over individual gain. This can make the word feel more judgmental in Russian contexts compared to English, where individualism is more celebrated. For example, in literature like Dostoevsky's works, selfishness is portrayed as a moral flaw tied to personal isolation.

Related Concepts:

• эгоцентризм
• алтруизм
• самоотверженность