Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'venial'

English Word: venial

Key Russian Translations:

• незначительный [nʲɪzˈnaʧʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal]
• прощаемый [prɐˈʂʲajɪmɨj] - [Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literary and religious contexts, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and nuanced meanings)

Pronunciation (Russian):

незначительный: [nʲɪzˈnaʧʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj]

прощаемый: [prɐˈʂʲajɪmɨj]

Note on незначительный: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making it softer and more palatalized.

Note on прощаемый: This is a passive participle; pronounce the 'щ' as a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'sh' in "she" but more sibilant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not serious or grave, especially in the context of sins, faults, or offenses (e.g., a forgivable mistake)

Translation(s) & Context:

• незначительный - Used in formal or religious contexts to describe something minor or insignificant that can be overlooked.
• прощаемый - Applied in informal settings, emphasizing the aspect of forgiveness or pardonability.

Usage Examples:

• Это был незначительный проступок, который не повлиял на общий исход.

  This was a venial offense that did not affect the overall outcome.

• В религии венальный грех считается прощаемым, в отличие от смертного.

  In religion, a venial sin is considered forgivable, unlike a mortal one.

• Её ошибка была прощаемой, так как она проявила искреннее раскаяние.

  Her mistake was venial, as she showed genuine remorse.

• Не стоит беспокоиться о таких незначительных деталях в повседневной жизни.

  Don't worry about such venial details in everyday life.

• Прощаемые ошибки часто встречаются в обучении, помогая росту.

  Venial errors are common in learning and help with growth.

Meaning 2: Minor or pardonable in a broader sense (e.g., a small fault in character)

Translation(s) & Context:

• незначительный - In everyday contexts, to downplay the severity of an action.
• прощаемый - In personal relationships, to indicate something that can be excused.

Usage Examples:

• Его незначительная оплошность не стоила того, чтобы ругаться.

  His venial slip-up wasn't worth arguing over.

• Прощаемые недостатки в характере делают человека более человечным.

  Venial flaws in character make a person more human.

• В работе такие прощаемые ошибки быстро исправляются.

  In work, such venial mistakes are quickly fixed.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. "Незначительный" is an adjective that follows the standard pattern for first-declension adjectives, while "Прощаемый" is a passive participle and may vary slightly.

Note: These adjectives change endings based on the noun they modify. For feminine and neuter forms, adjust accordingly (e.g., незначительная for feminine singular).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мелкий (minor, petty) - Often used interchangeably but implies smaller scale.
  • небольшой (small, insignificant) - More general, less formal.
• Antonyms:
  • серьёзный (serious)
  • тяжёлый (grave, heavy)

Related Phrases:

• незначительный грех - A venial sin; used in religious contexts to refer to a forgivable transgression.
• прощаемые ошибки - Venial mistakes; common in educational or professional settings to describe minor errors.
• мелкие недостатки - Petty flaws; implies insignificant character defects that are pardonable.

Usage Notes:

"Venial" corresponds most closely to "незначительный" in formal contexts like law or religion, where the emphasis is on the lack of severity. Use "прощаемый" for more interpersonal or emotional scenarios, focusing on forgiveness. Be mindful of the adjective's agreement with the noun in gender, number, and case. In Russian, these words can sound overly literary, so in casual speech, opt for simpler synonyms like "мелкий" to avoid sounding stiff.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "незначительный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "незначительный женщина" instead of "незначительная женщина". Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe, which is a common pitfall for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

• Error: Confusing "venial" with "venal" (corrupt) and translating as "венальный". Correct: Use "незначительный" for "venial". Explanation: These are homophones in English but have different meanings; "венальный" means corrupt, not forgivable.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and Orthodox Christianity, the concept of "venial sins" (незначительные грехи) is less emphasized than in Catholicism, but it still appears in discussions of morality. It reflects a broader Slavic tradition of viewing minor transgressions as part of human imperfection, often leading to themes of redemption in literature like Dostoevsky's works.

Related Concepts:

• грех (sin)
• ошибка (mistake)
• недостаток (flaw)