Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tolerable'

English Word: tolerable

Key Russian Translations:

• терпимый /tɨrˈpʲimɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal, Used in general contexts to describe something bearable]
• допустимый /dɐˈpʊstʲimɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal, Used in legal or regulatory contexts to mean acceptable or permissible]
• выносимый /vɨˈnosʲimɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal, Used when emphasizing endurance in everyday situations]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in discussions of tolerance or limits, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "хороший".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp the concept with some exposure to Russian adjectives and their inflections. For 'терпимый', it's straightforward; for 'допустимый', it may require understanding of formal contexts, pushing it to B2.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

терпимый: /tɨrˈpʲimɨj/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'п' is pronounced softly, which is common in Russian adjectives.)

допустимый: /dɐˈpʊstʲimɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'т' sound, a frequent challenge for non-native speakers.)

выносимый: /vɨˈnosʲimɨj/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'с' is soft, and this word often varies slightly in casual speech.)

Note on терпимый: Be cautious with the soft 'п' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers used to harder consonants. In some dialects, it might sound closer to /tɛrpʲimɨj/.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Bearable or endurable (Referring to something that can be tolerated without great discomfort)

Translation(s) & Context:

• терпимый - Used in personal or emotional contexts, such as enduring pain or difficult situations.
• выносимый - Informal contexts, like daily life challenges, emphasizing physical or mental endurance.

Usage Examples:

• Этот уровень шума терпимый, но если он усилится, станет невыносимым.

  This noise level is tolerable, but if it gets louder, it will become unbearable.

• Для меня жара в 30 градусов выносимая, но для некоторых она слишком сильная.

  For me, 30 degrees heat is tolerable, but for some, it's too intense.

• В этой работе терпимые условия, но зарплата могла бы быть выше.

  The working conditions here are tolerable, but the salary could be higher.

• После аварии боль была выносимая, но я всё равно пошёл к врачу.

  After the accident, the pain was tolerable, but I still went to the doctor.

Meaning 2: Acceptable or permissible (Referring to something that meets minimum standards or is allowed)

Translation(s) & Context:

• допустимый - Used in formal, regulatory, or professional contexts, such as rules and guidelines.
• терпимый - Less formal, applied when something is reluctantly accepted.

Usage Examples:

• Допустимый уровень загрязнения в городе был превышен, поэтому ввели новые меры.

  The tolerable level of pollution in the city was exceeded, so new measures were introduced.

• В контракте указано, что допустимые изменения должны быть согласованы заранее.

  The contract states that tolerable changes must be agreed upon in advance.

• Это терпимый риск для бизнеса, но мы должны его минимизировать.

  This is a tolerable risk for the business, but we should minimize it.

• Допустимый срок доставки — пять дней, но в реальности он может быть короче.

  The tolerable delivery time is five days, but in reality, it might be shorter.

• Для экзамена терпимый уровень ошибок — не более 10%.

  For the exam, a tolerable level of errors is no more than 10%.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo inflections based on gender, number, and case. They follow standard adjective patterns, which are mostly regular but can have variations.

For терпимый (regular adjective):

For допустимый and выносимый, they follow the same pattern as above. These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: сносный (satisfactory, but basic), приемлемый (acceptable in a neutral sense), вытерпимый (endurable with effort)
• сносный is often used interchangeably with терпимый but implies a lower standard, suitable for informal speech.
• Antonyms: невыносимый (unbearable), недопустимый (impermissible), жесткий (harsh)
• недопустимый directly contrasts with допустимый in formal contexts.

Related Phrases:

• терпимый уровень (tolerable level) - Refers to an acceptable threshold in measurements or emotions.
• допустимый риск (permissible risk) - Used in business or safety contexts to mean an acceptable level of uncertainty.
• выносимый груз (bearable load) - Describes something that can be endured physically or metaphorically.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'терпимый' closely matches the English 'tolerable' in everyday use, emphasizing endurance, while 'допустимый' is more aligned with formal or legal acceptability. Choose based on context: use 'терпимый' for personal experiences and 'допустимый' for rules. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. For example, it's common in spoken Russian to soften these words in informal settings, but avoid in writing.

• Grammar tip: Always inflect the adjective to match the noun it describes, e.g., "терпимый человек" (a tolerable person, masculine).
• Context guidance: In cultural discussions, 'терпимый' can imply patience, which is a valued trait in Russian society.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse inflections, such as using the nominative form in all cases (e.g., saying "с терпимый" instead of "с терпимым" in the instrumental case). Correct: Use "с терпимым человеком" (with a tolerable person). Another error is confusing 'терпимый' with 'терпеливый' (patient), which has a different connotation. Example of error: "Это терпеливый погода" (wrong, as 'терпеливый' means patient, not tolerable); Correct: "Это терпимая погода" (This weather is tolerable).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of 'терпимый' often ties to the historical value of endurance (e.g., 'терпение' or patience), influenced by literature like Tolstoy's works, where characters endure hardships. It reflects a societal emphasis on resilience rather than immediate comfort, which might differ from more individualistic cultures.

Related Concepts:

• терпение (patience)
• выносливость (endurance)
• допустимость (permissibility)