Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tender'

English Word: tender

Key Russian Translations:

• нежный [ˈnʲɛʐnɨj] - [Formal, often used in emotional or descriptive contexts]
• тендер [ˈtɛndɛr] - [Informal, primarily in business or legal contexts, as a loanword]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language for emotional descriptions, but less frequent in business without specific contexts)

Difficulty: B1 for "нежный" (Intermediate, as it involves basic adjective forms); A2 for "тендер" (Beginner, due to its direct borrowing and simple usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нежный: [ˈnʲɛʐnɨj] (The 'ж' sound is a soft, voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Stress on the first syllable.)

тендер: [ˈtɛndɛr] (Pronounced with a hard 't' and emphasis on the first syllable; the 'e' sounds like the 'e' in 'bed'.)

Note on нежный: Be cautious with the palatalized 'н' which can be tricky for English speakers; it softens the sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Gentle, affectionate (as an adjective describing emotions or tenderness)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нежный - Used in formal or poetic contexts to describe something soft or caring, such as in relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Его нежный голос успокоил ребёнка. (His tender voice soothed the child.)

  Translation: His tender voice soothed the child. (This example shows the adjective in a familial context.)

• Нежные цветы расцвели в саду. (Tender flowers bloomed in the garden.)

  Translation: Tender flowers bloomed in the garden. (Illustrates use in describing delicate objects.)

• Она проявила нежность к своему другу. (She showed tenderness to her friend.)

  Translation: She showed tenderness to her friend. (Demonstrates emotional application.)

• Нежный поцелуй на прощание. (A tender kiss goodbye.)

  Translation: A tender kiss goodbye. (Used in romantic or farewell scenarios.)

• В его глазах была нежная забота. (In his eyes, there was tender care.)

  Translation: In his eyes, there was tender care. (Shows figurative use in expressions.)

Meaning 2: Tender as in a bid or offer (as a noun in business contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тендер - Common in formal business or legal settings, referring to a competitive bid.

Usage Examples:

• Компания выиграла тендер на строительство моста. (The company won the tender for building the bridge.)

  Translation: The company won the tender for building the bridge. (This highlights business competition.)

• Мы подали тендер на этот проект. (We submitted a tender for this project.)

  Translation: We submitted a tender for this project. (Shows the act of bidding.)

• Тендер был объявлен вчера. (The tender was announced yesterday.)

  Translation: The tender was announced yesterday. (Illustrates announcement in official contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "нежный" (an adjective):

This is a soft adjective in Russian, which follows standard adjectival inflections. It changes based on gender, number, and case.

For "тендер" (a masculine noun, often indeclinable as a loanword):

It is typically used in its base form and does not inflect regularly in modern Russian, especially in business jargon.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мягкий (soft, gentle; similar but more physical than emotional)
  • ласковый (affectionate; often used interchangeably with нежный in romantic contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • жесткий (harsh, rough)
  • холодный (cold, unfeeling)

Related Phrases:

• Нежные объятия (Tender embraces) - A phrase used to describe warm, affectionate hugs in personal relationships.
• Выиграть тендер (To win a tender) - Common in business, referring to succeeding in a bidding process.
• Нежный уход (Tender care) - Often used in contexts like childcare or nursing, implying gentle attention.

Usage Notes:

"Tender" as "нежный" corresponds closely to English in emotional contexts but is more formal in Russian; avoid using it in casual speech where "ласковый" might fit better. For business, "тендер" is a direct equivalent and is neutral in tone. When choosing between translations, consider the context: emotional for "нежный" and professional for "тендер". Grammatically, adjectives like "нежный" must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse "нежный" by not adjusting for case, e.g., saying "нежный дом" when it should be "нежного дома" in genitive. Correct: Use the proper inflected form to match the noun's case.
• Confusing "тендер" with similar words; for example, using "тенденция" (trend) instead. Error: "Я подал тенденцию" (incorrect). Correct: "Я подал тендер" (I submitted a tender), as "тенденция" means something entirely different.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "нежный" often carry a deeper emotional weight in literature and poetry, influenced by Romanticism in 19th-century Russian works. For instance, in Pushkin's poetry, tenderness reflects themes of love and nature, emphasizing the value of sensitivity in interpersonal relationships.

Related Concepts:

• ласковый
• мягкий
• предложение (offer, in business contexts)