Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tolerant'

English Word: tolerant

Key Russian Translations:

• терпимый [tʲɪrˈpʲimɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• толерантный [təlʲɛrˈantnɨj] - [Informal, Modern usage, often in contexts of social issues]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday discussions about social attitudes and personal endurance, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "good").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced contexts; for 'терпимый', it's B1, while 'толерантный' might be B2 due to its loanword nature).

Pronunciation (Russian):

терпимый: [tʲɪrˈpʲimɨj]

Note on терпимый: The stress falls on the second syllable ('pʲim'), and the 'тʲ' is a palatalized 't' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

толерантный: [təlʲɛrˈantnɨj]

Note on толерантный: This is a borrowed word from English/French, so it's pronounced more straightforwardly, but the 'лʲ' is palatalized, making it softer than in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Willing to accept or endure differing opinions, behaviors, or people without becoming upset.

Translation(s) & Context:

• терпимый - Used in formal or everyday contexts to describe someone who is patient and open-minded, e.g., in social or interpersonal situations.
• толерантный - Common in modern, informal discussions about diversity, equality, or human rights, often in educational or activist settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда терпимый к чужим идеям, даже если они противоречат его собственным.

  He is always tolerant of others' ideas, even if they contradict his own.

• В этом обществе люди стараются быть толерантными к культурным различиям.

  In this society, people try to be tolerant of cultural differences.

• Её терпимый подход к критике помог избежать конфликта.

  Her tolerant approach to criticism helped avoid conflict.

• Толерантный лидер учитывает мнения всех членов команды.

  A tolerant leader takes into account the opinions of all team members.

• Несмотря на усталость, она осталась терпимой к задержкам в поездке.

  Despite her fatigue, she remained tolerant of the delays in the trip.

Meaning 2: Able to endure or withstand something, such as pain or difficult conditions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• терпимый - Applied in contexts involving physical or emotional endurance, often more literal than the first meaning.

Usage Examples:

• Этот материал очень терпимый к высоким температурам.

  This material is very tolerant of high temperatures.

• Дети в этом возрасте более терпимые к болезням.

  Children at this age are more tolerant of illnesses.

• Его организм оказался терпимым к аллергенам.

  His body turned out to be tolerant of allergens.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'терпимый' and 'толерантный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, but they must agree with the nouns they modify.

Note: 'Толерантный' follows the same regular inflection as 'терпимый', with no irregularities. These adjectives do not change in short form contexts but must always agree with the noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • терпеливый (more about patience in waiting)
  • внимательный (attentive, with a focus on consideration)
• Antonyms:
  • нетерпимый (impatient or intolerant)
  • жесткий (strict or rigid)

Related Phrases:

• Быть терпимым - To be tolerant; often used in advice or discussions about interpersonal relations.
• Толерантное общество - A tolerant society; refers to communities that embrace diversity.
• Терпимый к боли - Tolerant of pain; common in medical or physical contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Терпимый' is a more traditional Russian word, directly corresponding to the English 'tolerant' in everyday use, while 'толерантный' is a loanword often used in formal or international contexts like politics and education. Choose 'терпимый' for general conversations to sound more natural, but 'толерантный' for topics involving human rights. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. In informal speech, 'терпимый' can imply passive endurance, whereas 'толерантный' carries a positive connotation of active acceptance.

Common Errors:

• English speakers often misuse 'терпимый' by not inflecting it correctly, e.g., saying "терпимый женщина" instead of "терпимая женщина" (correct: tolerant woman). Error: Incorrect gender agreement. Correction: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender.

• Confusing 'терпимый' with 'терпеливый'; learners might use 'терпеливый' for social tolerance when 'терпимый' is more appropriate. Error: "Он терпеливый к идеям" (implies patience in waiting, not acceptance). Correction: Use 'терпимый к идеям' for tolerance of ideas.

• Overusing 'толерантный' in casual speech, which can sound overly formal or borrowed. Error: Saying 'толерантный друг' in everyday talk. Correction: Opt for 'терпимый друг' for a more natural feel.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'терпимый' reflects the historical value of endurance and resilience, stemming from Russia's complex history of invasions and social changes. 'Толерантный' has gained prominence post-Soviet era, influenced by Western ideas of multiculturalism, often in contrast to traditional Russian conservatism. Understanding these nuances can help English speakers navigate discussions on social issues without cultural missteps.

Related Concepts:

• терпение (patience)
• понимание (understanding)
• дискриминация (discrimination)