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B2 adjective 6 دقیقه مطالعه

законный

Conforming to the law

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'законный' comes from the word 'закон' (law). Think of it as 'according to the rules.' If you follow the law, your actions are 'законные.' It is the opposite of 'незаконный' (illegal). You might see it on signs or in very simple news headlines. Just remember the root 'закон' and you will understand the basic meaning of this word.
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At the A2 level, you should start using 'законный' to describe simple things like a 'законный брак' (legal marriage). You will notice that it changes its ending based on the noun it describes: законный (masculine), законная (feminine), законное (neuter). It is a useful word to know when talking about your rights or when you want to say that something is official and allowed by the state.
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By B1, you can use 'законный' in more abstract ways. It doesn't just mean 'allowed by law,' but also 'justified.' For example, if you are angry because someone broke a promise, your anger might be 'законный гнев' (justified anger). You should be able to use it in the instrumental case with the verb 'считать' (to consider), as in 'Я считаю это законным' (I consider this legal).
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At the B2 level, you should be comfortable with the nuances between 'законный,' 'легальный,' and 'правомерный.' You should use 'законный' in professional contexts—discussing 'законные интересы' (legitimate interests) or 'законные представители' (legal representatives). You should also understand its use in literature to describe 'rightful' outcomes or 'rightful' owners of property.
At the C1 level, you should recognize the word in complex legal texts and political speeches. You should be able to discuss the philosophy of law using this term, such as the difference between a 'законное решение' (a decision based on the letter of the law) and a 'справедливое решение' (a fair decision). You should also be familiar with fixed expressions like 'законный наследник' (rightful heir) and how they function in formal prose.
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At the C2 level, 'законный' is a tool for precise legal and social analysis. You understand how it contrasts with 'легитимный' in political science (where 'законный' is about the law and 'легитимный' is about social acceptance). You can use the word to add weight to your arguments in debates, using it to denote things that are not just legal, but fundamentally correct within the established system of a society.
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مثال‌ها نکات و راهنمایی‌ها

законный در ۳۰ ثانیه

  • The word 'законный' means 'lawful' or 'legal' and is used to describe things that follow the law.
  • It is derived from the Russian noun 'закон' (law) and functions as a standard adjective.
  • Beyond legal contexts, it can mean 'justified' or 'rightful' in everyday situations like 'legitimate pride.'
  • It is a B2-level word essential for formal communication, legal discussions, and professional environments.

The Russian adjective законный (zakonnyy) is a fundamental term in both legal discourse and everyday conversation. At its core, it translates to "lawful," "legal," or "legitimate." It is derived from the noun закон (law), and its primary function is to describe actions, documents, rights, or statuses that are in strict accordance with established legislation. However, its usage extends beyond the courtroom into the realm of social expectations and logical conclusions. When a Russian speaker describes a feeling as законный, they often mean it is "justified" or "rightful." For example, законная гордость refers to a well-deserved or legitimate pride. Understanding this word requires a grasp of both the rigid legal framework of the Russian language and the nuanced ways speakers express fairness and entitlement.

Legal Validity
This is the most direct use. It refers to things like законный брак (legal marriage) or законный представитель (legal representative). In these contexts, the word serves as a formal marker of state recognition.
Rightfulness and Justification
In a more figurative sense, it describes something that is fair or expected. If someone works hard and gets a promotion, their success is seen as законный результат (a logical or rightful result) of their labor.

Это моё законное право требовать объяснений.

— "It is my legal right to demand explanations."

In business and politics, законный is often used to validate claims. For instance, законные интересы (legitimate interests) is a frequent phrase in corporate law and international relations. It implies that the interests are not just desired, but protected by the law. Interestingly, the word can also be used ironically or emphatically in slang to mean "proper" or "real," though this is less common in modern standard Russian than it was in the past. Today, sticking to the formal and semi-formal meanings is safest for learners.

У него есть законный повод для беспокойства.

— "He has a legitimate reason for concern."

Using законный correctly requires attention to gender, number, and case agreement, as it is a standard hard-stem adjective. It modifies nouns to provide a sense of authority or compliance. Because it deals with the concept of "law," it frequently appears in the nominative case for definitions and the accusative case when describing actions taken within legal bounds. It is crucial to distinguish between its literal legal meaning and its broader sense of "justified."

Agreement with Genders
Masculine: законный владелец (lawful owner); Feminine: законная жена (legal wife); Neuter: законное основание (legal basis); Plural: законные требования (lawful demands).

Суд признал это решение законным.

— "The court recognized this decision as lawful." (Note the use of the instrumental case after 'признать').

In complex sentences, законный often works with verbs of perception or declaration like считать (to consider) or объявлять (to declare). For example, "Мы считаем это требование законным" (We consider this demand lawful). This structure is essential for expressing opinions on legality. Furthermore, the word is often negated as незаконный (illegal), which is just as common. When you want to emphasize that something is strictly by the book, you might say "вполне законный" (perfectly legal).

Они вступили в законный брак в прошлом году.

— "They entered into a legal marriage last year."

You will encounter законный in several specific environments. First and foremost is the legal and bureaucratic sphere. Any document involving the state—visas, contracts, property deeds—will use this word to establish validity. If you are watching a Russian news broadcast (like Vremya or RBK), you will hear it in reports about new legislation, court rulings, or international disputes. It provides a tone of formality and authority that words like "хороший" (good) or "правильный" (correct) cannot match.

In the Media
Journalists use it to describe the "legitimate" government of a country or the "lawful" protests of citizens. It is a key word in political rhetoric.
In Literature and Cinema
Classical Russian literature (Dostoevsky, Tolstoy) often uses законный when discussing inheritance, family honor, and the moral versus the legal. In detective movies, the "законный представитель" (legal representative) is a recurring character.

Это был законный финал этой долгой истории.

— "It was a fitting (justified) end to this long story."

Beyond formal settings, you might hear it in workplace disputes. An employee might say, "У меня есть законный отпуск" (I have a legal vacation/time off), asserting their rights. It is also used in sports to describe a "legal" move or a "valid" goal. In everyday life, it serves as a shield; by calling something законный, a person is saying that their position is unassailable because it is backed by the rules.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is over-relying on законный when they actually mean "legal" in a business sense. While законный is almost always correct, Russian has more specific terms like легальный (legal/not black market) and правомерный (acting within rights). Using законный to describe a business might sound a bit like saying it is "law-abiding" rather than just "legally registered."

Confusion with 'Правовой'
Learners often confuse законный (lawful/legitimate) with правовой (legal/relating to law). For example, "legal system" is правовая система, not законная система.
Incorrect Short Forms
While short forms like законен, законна, законно exist, they are used much less frequently than the full forms. Beginners often try to use the short form in places where a Russian speaker would use the adverb or the full adjective.

Ошибка: Это правовое требование. Правильно: Это законное требование.

— "Legal requirement" uses 'законное' because it is based on a specific law.

Another mistake is the placement of the adjective. In Russian, adjectives almost always precede the noun. Saying "брак законный" instead of "законный брак" changes the emphasis to "The marriage is legal" rather than just "a legal marriage." Finally, be careful with the word легитимный (legitimate). While synonyms, легитимный is usually reserved for political power and governments, whereas законный is for everyday legalities.

Russian is rich with synonyms for "legal," each with a specific nuance. Choosing the right one depends on whether you are talking about state laws, moral rights, or official procedures. Законный is the broadest and most common, but these alternatives are vital for B2-level proficiency.

Легальный vs. Законный
Легальный is often used for things that are not prohibited (like a legal business or legal software). Законный implies it follows the spirit and letter of a specific law (like a legal heir).
Правомерный
This is a more formal, academic term meaning "acting within the law" or "justified by law." It is frequently used in legal documents to describe actions.
Справедливый
While this means "fair," it is often the better choice when you want to say something is "rightful" in a moral sense rather than just a legal one.

Его действия были правомерными в данной ситуации.

— "His actions were lawful (within his rights) in this situation."

چقدر رسمی است؟

رسمی

"Ваши законные требования будут рассмотрены в установленном порядке."

خنثی

"Это мой законный выходной."

غیر رسمی

"Слушай, это же законный способ сэкономить!"

Child friendly

"У каждого есть законное право на отдых и игры."

عامیانه

"Это законно круто!"

نکته جالب

The root 'кон' in 'закон' is the same root found in 'конец' (end) and 'начало' (beginning, via an older form). So, 'закон' literally relates to the 'bounds' or 'limits' of behavior.

راهنمای تلفظ

UK /zɐˈkon.nɨj/
US /zɑːˈkoʊn.ni/
On the second syllable (за-КОН-ный).
هم‌قافیه با
иконный (iconic) оконный (window-related) поклонный (worship-related) беспоклонный исконный (original/native) склонный (inclined) посторонный (though usually посторонний) хладнокровный (though different ending, similar rhythm)
خطاهای رایج
  • Stressing the first syllable (ЗА-конный) - incorrect.
  • Pronouncing the double 'н' too quickly like a single 'н'.
  • Forgetting to reduce the first 'а' to a schwa-like sound.
  • Mispronouncing the 'ы' at the end as 'и'.
  • Over-emphasizing the 'о' which should be clear but not elongated.

سطح دشواری

خواندن 3/5

Easy to recognize due to the common root 'закон'.

نوشتن 4/5

Requires correct adjective endings and knowledge of collocations.

صحبت کردن 4/5

Stress is important, and the double 'н' sound must be clear.

گوش دادن 3/5

Common in news and formal speech, usually clearly articulated.

بعداً چه یاد بگیریم؟

پیش‌نیازها

закон право суд правило человек

بعداً یاد بگیرید

законность правомерный легитимный законодательство соблюдать

پیشرفته

презумпция юрисдикция арбитраж подсудность правопреемник
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مثال‌ها بر اساس سطح

1

Это законный закон.

This is a lawful law.

Basic nominative adjective-noun agreement.

2

Он законный муж.

He is a legal husband.

Masculine singular nominative.

3

Это законное дело.

This is a legal matter.

Neuter singular nominative.

4

Там законные люди.

There are law-abiding people there.

Plural nominative.

5

Я хочу законный ответ.

I want a lawful answer.

Accusative masculine (inanimate).

6

Это не законный путь.

This is not a legal way.

Negation with 'не'.

7

У нас есть законный план.

We have a legal plan.

Possessive construction 'у нас есть'.

8

Она законная жена.

She is a legal wife.

Feminine singular nominative.

1

Они заключили законный брак.

They entered into a legal marriage.

Verb 'заключить' + accusative.

2

Это моё законное право.

This is my legal right.

Possessive pronoun 'моё' agreement.

3

Где ваш законный представитель?

Where is your legal representative?

Interrogative sentence.

4

Мы ищем законный способ помочь.

We are looking for a legal way to help.

Present tense verb + accusative.

5

Это законное решение проблемы.

This is a legal solution to the problem.

Genitive case 'проблемы'.

6

У него есть законный паспорт.

He has a legal passport.

Adjective modifying an inanimate object.

7

Это была законная покупка.

It was a legal purchase.

Past tense 'была' with feminine noun.

8

Они живут в законном доме.

They live in a legal house.

Prepositional case 'в ... доме'.

1

Ваш гнев вполне законен.

Your anger is quite justified.

Short form adjective 'законен'.

2

Суд признал эти действия законными.

The court recognized these actions as lawful.

Instrumental case after 'признать'.

3

Это законный результат вашего труда.

This is the rightful result of your labor.

Genitive case 'вашего труда'.

4

У нас есть законные основания для отказа.

We have legal grounds for refusal.

Plural accusative.

5

Он является законным наследником состояния.

He is the rightful heir to the fortune.

Instrumental case after 'являться'.

6

Вы должны соблюдать законный порядок.

You must observe the legal order.

Modal verb 'должны' + infinitive.

7

Это вполне законный вопрос.

That is a perfectly legitimate question.

Adverb 'вполне' modifying the adjective.

8

Они действуют в рамках законных процедур.

They are acting within the framework of legal procedures.

Genitive plural after 'в рамках'.

1

Компания защищает свои законные интересы.

The company protects its legitimate interests.

Reflexive possessive 'свои'.

2

Это законное требование профсоюза.

This is a lawful demand of the labor union.

Genitive singular 'профсоюза'.

3

Его претензии на трон были законными.

His claims to the throne were legitimate.

Plural instrumental as a predicate.

4

Мы получили законное разрешение на строительство.

We received a legal permit for construction.

Accusative neuter.

5

Законный владелец картины был найден.

The lawful owner of the painting was found.

Passive participle 'найден'.

6

Это решение имеет законную силу.

This decision has legal force.

Idiomatic phrase 'иметь законную силу'.

7

Полиция проверяет законность этого бизнеса.

The police are checking the legality of this business.

Noun 'законность' derived from the adjective.

8

Он выразил законное недовольство сервисом.

He expressed legitimate dissatisfaction with the service.

Instrumental case 'сервисом'.

1

Принцип законности является основополагающим.

The principle of legality is fundamental.

Abstract noun usage.

2

Необходимо обеспечить законный характер выборов.

It is necessary to ensure the lawful nature of the elections.

Complex verbal construction.

3

Это законное ожидание сторон договора.

This is a legitimate expectation of the parties to the contract.

Genitive plural 'сторон'.

4

Действия властей были признаны вполне законными.

The authorities' actions were recognized as entirely lawful.

Passive voice + instrumental.

5

Он опирается на законные нормы международного права.

He relies on the lawful norms of international law.

Preposition 'на' + accusative plural.

6

Законный оборот наркотических средств строго регулируется.

The legal turnover of narcotic drugs is strictly regulated.

Passive present tense.

7

Это законная гордость за достижения страны.

This is a justified pride in the country's achievements.

Figurative use of 'законная'.

8

Существует законный способ обхода этих ограничений.

There is a legal way to bypass these restrictions.

Genitive plural 'ограничений'.

1

Легитимность власти не всегда тождественна её законности.

The legitimacy of power is not always identical to its legality.

Philosophical/Political terminology.

2

Законный интерес должен быть защищён в судебном порядке.

A legitimate interest must be protected through judicial proceedings.

Modal phrase 'должен быть'.

3

Данная презумпция носит законный характер.

This presumption is of a legal nature.

Formal verb 'носить характер'.

4

Мы наблюдаем эрозию законных институтов гражданского общества.

We are observing the erosion of the lawful institutions of civil society.

Genitive plural with multiple modifiers.

5

Это законная реакция организма на сильный стресс.

This is a natural (rightful) reaction of the body to severe stress.

Scientific/Biological figurative use.

6

Соблюдение законных формальностей крайне важно.

Adherence to legal formalities is extremely important.

Abstract noun phrase.

7

Его аргументация была безупречно законной.

His argumentation was impeccably lawful.

Adverbial modifier 'безупречно'.

8

Законный режим имущества супругов может быть изменён.

The legal regime of spouses' property can be changed.

Passive modal construction.

ترکیب‌های رایج

законный брак
законный представитель
законное право
законные интересы
законный наследник
иметь законную силу
законное основание
законный владелец
законный гнев
на законных основаниях

عبارات رایج

Вполне законно

Законный вопрос

Законная гордость

Законный повод

Законные требования

Законное требование

Законный порядок

Законные сроки

Законная сделка

Законный путь

اصطلاحات و عبارات

"Законный вор"

Actually 'вор в законе' (thief-in-law), a specific high-ranking criminal in the underworld.

Он был известным вором в законе.

slang/criminal

"Законный финал"

A logical and expected ending to a series of events.

Его проигрыш — законный финал такой игры.

literary

"Законное место"

The place where someone or something rightfully belongs.

Эта картина заняла своё законное место в музее.

neutral

"Законная добыча"

Something acquired rightfully, often used in hunting or competition.

Этот приз — его законная добыча.

neutral

"Законный интерес"

A term used to describe a person's rights that the law should protect.

У каждого есть законный интерес в этом деле.

formal

"Законная жена"

Emphasizing that the marriage is official, often used in contrast to a mistress.

Она его законная жена, а не просто подруга.

neutral

"Законный способ"

The only way allowed by the rules.

Нет другого законного способа это сделать.

neutral

"Законный представитель"

A person empowered to act for another (e.g., a parent for a child).

Подпись должен поставить законный представитель.

formal

"Законная сила"

The authority of a legal document or decision.

Решение вступило в законную силу.

formal

"Законный наследник"

The person who has the legal right to inherit property.

Он объявился как законный наследник.

neutral

خانواده کلمه

اسم‌ها

فعل‌ها

صفت‌ها

مرتبط

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روش یادسپاری

Think of the word 'ЗА-КОН'. 'ЗА' (behind/at) the 'КОН' (the stake/the end line). If you are within the lines, you are 'законный' (legal).

تداعی تصویری

Imagine a judge hitting a gavel onto a book of laws. The book is the 'закон', and the act of the judge makes it 'законный'.

شبکه واژگان

закон (law) законность (legality) законный брак (marriage) законный наследник (heir) законное право (right) незаконный (illegal) узаконить (legalize) законно (legally)

چالش

Try to use 'законный' in three different sentences today: one about a right, one about a person, and one about a feeling (like pride or anger).

ریشه کلمه

Derived from the Old Church Slavonic word 'законъ'. This word is formed from the prefix 'за-' (beyond/behind) and the root 'конъ', which originally meant 'beginning', 'limit', or 'boundary'.

معنای اصلی: Originally, 'закон' referred to a boundary or a set limit that one must not cross. It evolved to mean the rules that govern a society.

Slavic (Indo-European). Cognates exist in most Slavic languages (e.g., Polish 'zakon', though in Polish it often refers to a religious order).

بافت فرهنگی

Be careful when using 'законный' in political contexts, as 'legitimacy' (легитимность) is a sensitive topic regarding elections and authority.

English speakers often use 'legal' for everything. In Russian, 'законный' is more about the 'law' (statute), while 'правовой' is about the 'legal system' as a whole.

The term 'вор в законе' (thief in law) is a famous part of Russian criminal subculture, referring to those who follow a strict internal code. Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' explores what is 'законный' versus what is morally permissible. Russian Constitution (Конституция РФ) frequently uses 'законный' to define citizen rights.

تمرین در زندگی واقعی

موقعیت‌های واقعی

Family Law

  • законный брак
  • законная жена
  • законный наследник
  • законный представитель ребёнка

Business

  • законный владелец
  • законная сделка
  • законные интересы компании
  • на законных основаниях

Government/Police

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