Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sin'

English Word: sin

Key Russian Translations:

• грех [ɡrʲɛx] - [Formal, Noun, Singular]
• грешить [ɡrʲɪˈʂitʲ] - [Informal/Formal, Verb, Used in moral or religious contexts]

Frequency: High (Common in religious, ethical, and everyday discussions in Russian culture).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions for "грех" and basic verb conjugations for "грешить").

Pronunciation (Russian):

грех: [ɡrʲɛx] (The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in "go", but softer; stress on the first syllable.)

грешить: [ɡrʲɪˈʂitʲ] (The 'ш' sound is a voiceless retroflex fricative; stress on the second syllable. Note on грешить: Be careful with the palatalized 'тʲ', which adds a soft 'y' sound.)

Note on грех: In some dialects, the vowel might slightly vary, but standard pronunciation is consistent.

Note on грешить: This verb has aspectual pairs; the imperfective form is грешить, and the perfective is согрешить [sɐˈɡrʲɛʂitʲ].

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a noun, referring to a moral or religious wrongdoing.

Translation(s) & Context:

• грех - Used in formal, religious, or philosophical contexts to denote a transgression against divine or moral laws (e.g., in literature or sermons).

Usage Examples:

• В Библии говорится о первородном грехе, который тяготеет над человечеством.

  In the Bible, it is spoken of the original sin that weighs upon humanity.

• Его поступок был большим грехом против семьи.

  His action was a great sin against the family.

• Грех — это не только религиозное понятие, но и этическое.

  Sin is not only a religious concept but also an ethical one.

• В русской литературе грех часто символизирует внутренний конфликт.

  In Russian literature, sin often symbolizes an inner conflict.

Meaning 2: As a verb, referring to the act of committing a wrongdoing.

Translation(s) & Context:

• грешить - Used in both informal and formal settings, often with a connotation of ongoing or habitual action, especially in moral or everyday contexts (e.g., personal reflection or advice).

Usage Examples:

• Человек не должен грешить, если знает, что это вредит другим.

  A person should not sin if they know it harms others.

• Она часто грешит мелкими обманами, но раскаивается потом.

  She often sins with minor deceptions but regrets it afterward.

• В молодости мы все грешим, но учимся на ошибках.

  In our youth, we all sin, but we learn from our mistakes.

• Грешить против правды — значит потерять доверие людей.

  To sin against the truth means to lose people's trust.

• Он продолжает грешить, несмотря на предупреждения.

  He continues to sin despite the warnings.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "грех" (a masculine noun, 3rd declension):

For "грешить" (an imperfective verb, 2nd conjugation):

Note: "грех" does not change in gender but follows standard noun patterns. "грешить" has a perfective counterpart, согрешить, which is irregular in some forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • порок (porok) - More neutral, referring to a vice or flaw.
  • зло (zlo) - Emphasizes evil or wickedness, often in a broader context.
• Antonyms:
  • добродетель (dobrodetel') - Virtue or moral goodness.
  • спасение (spaseniye) - Salvation, especially in religious contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Грех на душу (Greh na dushu) - Meaning: A burden on one's conscience (used for personal guilt in everyday conversations).
• Исповедовать грехи (Ispovedovat' grehi) - Meaning: To confess sins (common in religious settings, like in Orthodox Christianity).
• Грешить против кого-то (Greshit' protiv kogo-to) - Meaning: To sin against someone (implies direct harm in interpersonal relationships).

Usage Notes:

"Грех" directly corresponds to the English "sin" as a noun in religious or moral contexts, but it's more commonly used in formal or literary Russian. For the verb "грешить", it's imperfective, indicating ongoing actions, so choose it when describing habitual sinning rather than a one-time event (use "согрешить" for completed actions). Be mindful of context: in secular conversations, these words might sound archaic or overly dramatic, so they're often reserved for ethical discussions. When selecting between translations, use "грех" for static concepts and "грешить" for dynamic ones.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "грех" with "грешить" and using the noun as a verb. Incorrect: "Я грех каждый день" (wrong structure). Correct: "Я грешю каждый день". Explanation: "Грех" is a noun and must be used with appropriate verbs; learners often forget to conjugate the verb form.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., saying "в грех" instead of "в грехе" for prepositional case. Correct: "Размышления в грехе" (Reflections in sin). Explanation: Russian nouns require proper case endings based on their role in the sentence.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, influenced by Orthodox Christianity, "грех" carries deep historical and spiritual connotations, often linked to concepts like original sin in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works). It's not just a personal moral issue but can represent societal guilt, as seen in historical contexts like the Soviet era's suppression of religion, where discussing sin was taboo but later resurfaced in post-Soviet introspection.

Related Concepts:

• раскаяние (raskayaniye)
• искупление (iskup leniye)
• духовность (dukhovnost')