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A2 adjective 9 मिनट पढ़ने का समय

бедный

Having little money or few possessions

At the A1 level, you learn 'бедный' as a basic adjective to describe people who don't have much money. It is the opposite of 'богатый' (rich). At this stage, you should focus on its basic forms: бедный (masculine), бедная (feminine), бедное (neuter), and бедные (plural). You will mostly use it in simple sentences like 'Он бедный' (He is poor) or 'Это бедная семья' (This is a poor family). You might also encounter it as a simple expression of pity, like saying 'Бедный!' when someone is sad. The goal at A1 is simply to recognize the word and use it in the nominative case. You will learn that it describes a state of lacking financial resources. It is one of the essential adjectives for describing people and their living conditions. You should practice pairing it with nouns like 'человек' (person), 'студент' (student), and 'страна' (country). Even at this early stage, you can start to see how it is used to show sympathy, which is a very common part of Russian culture. Remember, the 'ы' sound at the end of 'бедный' is a hard vowel, so make sure your pronunciation is distinct from the soft 'и'.

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'бедный' in different grammatical cases. You will learn how to say 'I am talking about a poor man' (Я говорю о бедном человеке) or 'I am helping a poor woman' (Я помогаю бедной женщине). You also start to understand the dual meaning of the word: financial poverty and emotional pity. At A2, you should be able to distinguish between 'бедный' (poor) and 'нищий' (extremely poor/destitute), though you will mostly use 'бедный'. You will also learn the comparative form 'беднее' (poorer). For example, 'Этот город беднее, чем тот' (This city is poorer than that one). You might start using the word in more varied contexts, such as describing a 'poor' meal or a 'poor' vocabulary. You will also encounter the short forms 'беден' and 'бедна' in simple sentences like 'Он беден, но честен' (He is poor but honest). This level requires you to be comfortable with the adjective's agreement with nouns in gender and number across the basic cases (Nominative, Accusative, and Genitive). You will also learn common phrases like 'бедный район' (poor neighborhood) and 'бедная жизнь' (poor life).

At the B1 level, you use 'бедный' more flexibly in complex sentences and abstract contexts. You will learn to use the short forms (беден, бедна, бедно, бедны) more naturally, especially when followed by prepositions. For example, 'Этот регион беден природными ресурсами' (This region is poor in natural resources). You will also explore the word's role in Russian literature and idioms. You should be familiar with the phrase 'Бедность — не порок' (Poverty is no vice) and understand its cultural significance. At this level, you start to use the substantivized form, where 'бедные' acts as a noun meaning 'the poor'. You might say, 'Государство должно помогать бедным' (The state should help the poor). Your understanding of the word's emotional nuance deepens; you use it to express sophisticated empathy. You also begin to see how 'бедный' can describe quality, such as a 'бедный язык' (poor language/limited vocabulary). You should be able to use the word in all six Russian cases without hesitation and understand how it changes meaning slightly depending on its position in the sentence. You will also learn related words like 'бедность' (poverty) and 'бедствовать' (to live in poverty).

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

At the B2 level, you are expected to understand the subtle stylistic differences between 'бедный' and its synonyms like 'малообеспеченный' or 'скудный'. You will use 'бедный' in more academic or professional discussions about sociology or history. You might analyze a text where 'бедный' describes the 'little man' archetype in 19th-century literature. You will also use the word in more complex grammatical structures, such as 'Будучи бедным, он не мог позволить себе книги' (Being poor, he couldn't afford books). You should be able to recognize and use the superlative forms 'самый бедный' and 'беднейший' correctly. At this level, you also learn the diminutive 'бедненький' and use it correctly in informal, affectionate contexts. You understand that 'бедный' can be used ironically or sarcastically in modern slang. You can participate in debates about poverty, using 'бедный' and its derivatives (обеднеть, беднота) to express nuanced views. Your vocabulary should now include abstract collocations like 'бедный выбор' (poor choice) or 'бедный воображением' (poor in imagination), and you should understand the instrumental case usage with short forms (беден чем-либо).

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

At the C1 level, you have a near-native grasp of the word 'бедный'. You understand its deep historical and literary roots, from the 'Poor Liza' of sentimentalism to the 'Poor Folk' of realism. You can use the word to convey subtle shades of irony, tragedy, or social criticism. You are comfortable with the most formal uses of the word, such as 'беднейшее крестьянство' (the poorest peasantry) in historical contexts. You can also use the word in philosophical discussions, such as the concept of being 'poor in spirit' (нищий духом, though 'бедный' can sometimes be used in related discussions). You understand the etymological connection between 'бедный' and 'беда' (misfortune/trouble) and can use this knowledge to explain the word's emotional weight. Your use of 'бедный' in speech is indistinguishable from a native speaker's, especially in how you use it as an interjection of pity. You can also distinguish between technical poverty (economic) and metaphorical poverty (spiritual, intellectual) with ease. You are familiar with rare or archaic uses of the word in poetry and can interpret its meaning in 18th and 19th-century texts where the language might be slightly different from modern Russian.

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

At the C2 level, you possess a masterly command of 'бедный'. You can use it with complete stylistic precision across all registers, from the most informal slang to the most elevated academic discourse. You can analyze the evolution of the word's meaning throughout the history of the Russian language. You are aware of how 'бедный' has been used in political propaganda, social reform movements, and theological debates. You can use the word in creative writing to evoke specific atmospheres, utilizing its phonetic qualities and its rich web of associations. You understand the most obscure idioms and proverbs containing the word and can use them appropriately in conversation. Your understanding of the word includes its relationship with its antonyms and synonyms in every possible context. You can discuss the socioeconomic implications of 'бедный' in contemporary Russia versus the Soviet era or the Tsarist period. Essentially, the word is no longer just a vocabulary item for you; it is a tool that you can use to express complex thoughts about the human condition, social justice, and emotional empathy with the same nuance as a highly educated native speaker.

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

इसका अभ्यास करें उदाहरण नोट्स और सुझाव

бедный 30 सेकंड में

Primarily means 'poor' in a financial sense, lacking money or resources.
Commonly used to express pity or sympathy ('Poor you!').
Can describe a lack of quality or quantity (e.g., poor soil, poor vocabulary).
Has short forms (беден, бедна) used to describe a state of being lacking in something.

The Russian adjective бедный (bednyy) is a multi-faceted word that every student of the Russian language must master early on. At its most fundamental level, it describes a lack of material wealth, corresponding directly to the English word 'poor'. However, its semantic range extends far beyond simple economics, often dipping into the realms of emotion, quality, and even philosophical state. In Russian culture, the concept of being 'poor' is historically intertwined with the idea of misfortune and spiritual trial, making the word deeply evocative in literature and daily speech alike.

Financial Poverty: This is the primary usage, denoting a person or family that lacks sufficient money to meet basic needs or lives in humble conditions. It is less extreme than 'нищий' (destitute/begging) but clearly indicates a struggle.

Этот бедный студент работает по ночам, чтобы оплатить учёбу.

Translation: This poor student works at night to pay for his studies.

Beyond the wallet, бедный is frequently used as an expression of sympathy or pity. In this context, it has nothing to do with money. When you see someone who is suffering, tired, or has experienced a stroke of bad luck, you might call them 'бедный'. For instance, if a friend has a bad cold, you might say 'Бедный ты мой!' (My poor [friend]!). This usage is incredibly common in Russian social interactions and demonstrates empathy.

Qualitative Lack: It can also describe something that is meager or lacking in quality. For example, 'бедный ужин' (a meager dinner) or 'бедный воображением' (poor in imagination). This usage is more abstract and often found in formal or literary contexts.

Почва в этом регионе очень бедная.

Translation: The soil in this region is very poor (nutrient-deficient).

In Russian literature, the 'poor clerk' or 'poor official' is a recurring archetype (the 'маленький человек' or 'little man'). Writers like Gogol and Dostoevsky explored the dignity and suffering of the 'бедный' class, cementing the word's place as a central pillar of Russian social consciousness. Understanding this word requires recognizing the thin line between lack of money and the burden of existence.

Grammatical Nuance: As a hard-stem adjective, it follows standard declension patterns. Its short forms (беден, бедна, бедно, бедны) are often used in more formal writing or to describe a specific state of being lacking in something (e.g., 'он беден словами' - he is poor in words).

Using бедный correctly involves understanding its placement and the specific case endings required by the Russian grammar system. Because it is an adjective, it must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. Let's look at the primary ways it integrates into Russian sentences.

Attributive Use (Before the Noun): When you place 'бедный' before a noun, you are describing a permanent or characteristic state of that noun. 'Бедный человек' (a poor person). In this position, it can mean either financially poor or pitiable, depending on the context.

Мы живём в бедном районе города.

Translation: We live in a poor neighborhood of the city. (Prepositional case, masculine/neuter singular).

If you use it as an exclamation of pity, it usually precedes the noun or pronoun. 'Бедная девочка!' (Poor girl!). Notice how the tone of voice usually shifts to a softer, more sympathetic register in these instances.

Predicative Use (Short Forms): The short forms (беден, бедна, бедно, бедны) are used when 'poor' is the main predicate of the sentence, often followed by the preposition 'на' + accusative or 'чем' (instrumental) to indicate what the subject is poor in.

Эта диета бедна витаминами.

Translation: This diet is poor in vitamins. (Short form feminine + instrumental case).

When discussing comparative wealth, the comparative form 'беднее' is used. 'Моя семья беднее, чем их' (My family is poorer than theirs). This is a standard synthetic comparative. The superlative can be formed with 'самый' (самый бедный) or the suffix '-ейший' (беднейший), though the latter is quite formal.

Substantivized Use: Sometimes 'бедный' acts as a noun. 'Бедные всегда будут с нами' (The poor will always be with us). In this case, it declines like an adjective but functions as the subject or object of the sentence.

Помощь бедным — это долг каждого.

Translation: Helping the poor is everyone's duty. (Dative plural substantivized adjective).

Remember to differentiate between 'бедный' (lacking money) and 'скудный' (lacking abundance/scant). Use 'бедный' for people and general conditions, and 'скудный' for things like meals, information, or resources where the emphasis is on the small quantity or insufficiency.

The word бедный is ubiquitous in Russian life, appearing in everything from classical literature to modern news broadcasts and everyday conversations. Its versatility makes it a staple of the lexicon.

In Literature and Art: Russian literature is famous for its preoccupation with the 'poor'. You will find this word in the titles of famous works like 'Бедные люди' (Poor Folk) by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Here, it isn't just about money; it's about the psychological and social state of being marginalized.

«Бедные люди» — первый роман Достоевского.

Translation: 'Poor Folk' is Dostoevsky's first novel.

In movies and theater, you'll hear the phrase 'Бедный Йорик!' (Poor Yorick!) when Hamlet is translated into Russian. This highlights the word's use as an expression of tragic pity. In songs, particularly 'chanson' or folk music, 'бедный' often describes the life of a lonely traveler or a person who has lost everything.

In News and Economics: Journalists use 'бедный' to discuss socio-economic issues, though they often prefer more formal terms like 'малообеспеченные слои населения' (low-income segments of the population). However, headlines might use 'бедный' for impact: 'Бедные регионы страны требуют поддержки' (Poor regions of the country require support).

Разрыв между богатыми и бедными продолжает расти.

Translation: The gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow.

In daily life, you will hear it in sympathetic exclamations. If a child falls down, a mother might say 'Бедненький!' (Poor little one!), using the diminutive form to add extra tenderness. If someone loses their wallet, a bystander might sigh, 'Бедный человек, как же так...' (Poor man, how could this happen...). It is a word that bridges the gap between cold economic facts and warm human emotion.

Idiomatic Speech: You'll hear it in proverbs like 'Бедность — не порок' (Poverty is no vice), which is a common cultural refrain used to justify or console someone in financial difficulty. It suggests that while being poor is hard, it is not a moral failing.

While бедный seems straightforward, English speakers often trip over its nuances, particularly regarding intensity and the distinction between 'poor' as an economic state versus 'poor' as a quality of an object.

Mistake 1: Confusing 'Бедный' with 'Нищий': In English, 'poor' can cover a wide range. In Russian, 'бедный' is a general term, but 'нищий' specifically refers to someone who is destitute, often homeless or begging. Calling a low-income friend 'нищий' could be seen as a grave insult, whereas 'бедный' is more descriptive and less harsh.

❌ Он нищий (He is a beggar/destitute - too harsh if they just have a low salary).
✅ Он бедный (He is poor).

Another common error involves the misuse of short forms. Learners often try to use 'беден' as an attributive adjective before a noun. This is grammatically incorrect in Russian.

Mistake 2: Overusing 'Бедный' for Poor Quality: While you can say 'бедный завтрак' (a poor breakfast), Russians often prefer 'плохой' (bad), 'скромный' (modest), or 'скудный' (scant). If you describe a poorly made movie as 'бедный фильм', it might sound like the film itself has no money, rather than being low quality. Use 'плохой' or 'некачественный' instead.

❌ Это бедный перевод (This is a poor translation).
✅ Это плохой/некачественный перевод.

A third mistake is failing to use the diminutive 'бедненький' when expressing pity towards children or pets. Using the standard 'бедный' can sound a bit too formal or detached in a domestic setting. Adding the suffix '-еньк-' softens the word and conveys the appropriate level of affection.

Mistake 3: Case Agreement with 'Бедным': When 'бедный' is used as a noun (substantivized), learners often forget it still declines like an adjective. For example, 'I help the poor' must be 'Я помогаю бедным' (Dative), not 'Я помогаю бедные'.

Russian has a rich vocabulary for describing lack and misfortune. Choosing the right word depends on whether you are being formal, empathetic, or descriptive of a specific degree of poverty.

Бедный vs. Нищий: 'Бедный' is the general term for 'poor'. 'Нищий' (nishchiy) means 'destitute' or 'beggar'. If 'бедный' is someone who struggles to buy a new car, 'нищий' is someone who struggles to buy bread. 'Нищий' can also be used metaphorically for 'spiritually bankrupt' (нищий духом).

Он не просто бедный, он совершенно нищий.

Translation: He isn't just poor; he is completely destitute.

For a more formal or bureaucratic tone, use малообеспеченный (low-income) or неимущий (indigent/property-less). These are common in government documents, news reports, and social work contexts. They lack the emotional weight of 'бедный' and are more clinical.

Бедный vs. Скудный: 'Скудный' (skudnyy) refers to quantity and is usually applied to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. A 'скудный ужин' is a meager meal. A 'скудная растительность' is sparse vegetation. While 'бедный' can be used here, 'скудный' emphasizes the insufficiency and smallness of the amount.

В пустыне очень скудная растительность.

Translation: There is very sparse vegetation in the desert.

When you want to express pity without the financial connotation, you can use несчастный (unhappy/unfortunate). While 'бедный' implies you feel sorry for them, 'несчастный' implies they are in a state of misery. 'Бедный' is often more affectionate, whereas 'несчастный' is more dramatic.

Summary Comparison

Бедный: General 'poor', empathetic.
Нищий: Extreme poverty, begging.
Малообеспеченный: Formal, 'low-income'.
Скудный: Meager, scant (quantity).
Несчастный: Unfortunate, miserable.

How Formal Is It?

औपचारिक

"Данный регион является экономически бедным."

तटस्थ

"Он бедный человек, у него нет семьи."

अनौपचारिक

"Бедняжка, ты опять проиграл!"

Child friendly

"Бедный мишка упал на пол."

बोलचाल

"Ну ты и бедный на идеи сегодня."

रोचक तथ्य

The root of 'бедный' is the same as in 'победа' (victory), which literally meant 'after the trouble/suffering'. This shows how deeply the concept of suffering (беда) is embedded in the Russian language.

उच्चारण मार्गदर्शिका

UK /ˈbʲednɨj/

US /ˈbʲednɨj/

The stress is on the first syllable: бЕдный.

तुकबंदी

вредный (harmful) медный (copper) бледный (pale) безвредный (harmless) победный (victorious) обедный (dinner-related) наследный (hereditary) заповедный (sacred/reserved)

आम गलतियाँ

Pronouncing 'б' as a hard 'b' instead of a soft 'bʲ'.
Replacing 'ы' with a clear 'i' (ee) sound.
Dropping the 'й' at the end.
Stressing the second syllable.
Pronouncing 'е' as 'э' without softening the preceding consonant.

कठिनाई स्तर

पठन 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts as it appears frequently in common phrases and literature.

लिखना 3/5

Requires correct adjective endings and knowledge of when to use short forms.

बोलना 2/5

Simple to pronounce, but requires the right intonation for expressing pity.

श्रवण 2/5

Easily distinguishable, though can be confused with 'бледный' (pale) if heard unclearly.

आगे क्या सीखें

पूर्वापेक्षाएँ

человек деньги есть нет богатый

आगे सीखें

бедность нищий скудный несчастный сочувствие

उन्नत

малообеспеченный неимущий нуждающийся бедолага беднеть

ज़रूरी व्याकरण

Adjective Agreement

Бедная (f) женщина, бедный (m) мужчина.

Short Form Usage

Он беден (state) vs Он бедный человек (attribute).

Instrumental Case with Short Forms

Речь бедна фактами (instrumental).

Substantivization

Помогать бедным (acting as a noun).

Comparative Degree

Он беднее, чем я думал.

पूरी व्याख्या पढ़ने के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें

स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण

Он очень бедный человек.

He is a very poor person.

Nominative masculine singular adjective.

Это бедная семья.

This is a poor family.

Nominative feminine singular adjective.

У меня бедная собака, она болеет.

I have a poor dog, she is sick.

Here 'бедный' means 'pitiable' or 'unfortunate'.

Они бедные, у них нет денег.

They are poor, they have no money.

Nominative plural adjective.

Бедный мальчик!

Poor boy!

Exclamatory use expressing pity.

Это бедное село.

This is a poor village.

Nominative neuter singular adjective.

Мой друг не богатый, он бедный.

My friend is not rich, he is poor.

Contrast between antonyms.

Бедная кошка хочет есть.

The poor cat wants to eat.

Feminine singular, used for pity.

Мы купили подарок для бедной девочки.

We bought a gift for the poor girl.

Genitive feminine singular.

В этом городе много бедных людей.

There are many poor people in this city.

Genitive plural.

Он живёт в бедном доме.

He lives in a poor house.

Prepositional masculine singular.

Я сочувствую бедному студенту.

I sympathize with the poor student.

Dative masculine singular.

Моя страна беднее, чем твоя.

My country is poorer than yours.

Comparative degree.

Он беден, но очень добр.

He is poor, but very kind.

Short form masculine singular.

Мы помогаем бедной женщине.

We are helping a poor woman.

Dative feminine singular.

Это был бедный завтрак.

It was a meager breakfast.

Meaning 'meager' or 'scant'.

Государство должно заботиться о бедных.

The state must take care of the poor.

Substantivized adjective in the prepositional plural.

Эта почва бедна минералами.

This soil is poor in minerals.

Short form feminine + instrumental case.

Его речь была бедна фактами.

His speech was poor in facts.

Short form feminine, metaphorical use.

Бедность — не порок, это испытание.

Poverty is no vice; it is a trial.

Noun form 'бедность' related to the adjective.

Бедный ты мой, как же ты устал!

My poor [friend], how tired you are!

Common empathetic exclamation.

Он вырос в бедном, но интеллигентном окружении.

He grew up in a poor but cultured environment.

Prepositional neuter singular.

Нельзя смеяться над бедными.

One must not laugh at the poor.

Substantivized adjective in the instrumental plural.

У него очень бедный словарный запас.

He has a very poor vocabulary.

Metaphorical use describing quality.

Беднейшие слои населения больше всего страдают от инфляции.

The poorest segments of the population suffer most from inflation.

Superlative form 'беднейшие'.

Автор описывает жизнь бедных чиновников.

The author describes the life of poor officials.

Genitive plural.

Его воображение оказалось слишком бедным для такой задачи.

His imagination proved too poor for such a task.

Short form neuter + instrumental.

Несмотря на бедный улов, рыбаки были в хорошем настроении.

Despite the meager catch, the fishermen were in a good mood.

Accusative masculine singular, meaning 'meager'.

Она почувствовала себя бедной родственницей на этом празднике.

She felt like a poor relation at this celebration.

Idiomatic expression 'бедный родственник'.

Бедный духом человек часто ищет утешения в материальном.

A person poor in spirit often seeks comfort in material things.

Metaphorical/philosophical use.

Регион стал заметно беднее после закрытия заводов.

The region became noticeably poorer after the factories closed.

Comparative degree.

Мы не должны оставаться равнодушными к бедному положению наших соседей.

We must not remain indifferent to the poor condition of our neighbors.

Dative neuter singular.

В повести «Бедная Лиза» Карамзин провозгласил, что и крестьянки чувствовать умеют.

In the story 'Poor Liza', Karamzin declared that even peasant women can feel.

Literary reference, feminine nominative.

Его аргументация была крайне бедна логическими связями.

His argumentation was extremely poor in logical connections.

Short form feminine + instrumental, formal register.

Проблема бедности в России имеет глубокие исторические корни.

The problem of poverty in Russia has deep historical roots.

Related noun 'бедность'.

Он беден, как церковная мышь, но гордость его не знает границ.

He is as poor as a church mouse, but his pride knows no bounds.

Idiomatic simile.

Бедный Йорик! Я знал его, Горацио.

Poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio.

Classic literary quotation.

Растительный мир тундры крайне беден из-за сурового климата.

The flora of the tundra is extremely poor due to the harsh climate.

Short form masculine, scientific context.

Это был бедный на события год.

It was a year poor in events (uneventful).

Adjective + 'на' + accusative.

Она жила в бедном квартале, где каждый день был борьбой за выживание.

She lived in a poor quarter where every day was a struggle for survival.

Prepositional masculine singular.

Экзистенциальный кризис часто делает человека внутренне бедным.

An existential crisis often makes a person internally poor.

Metaphorical use in philosophical context.

Беднейшее крестьянство стало основной опорой революционных движений.

The poorest peasantry became the main support of revolutionary movements.

Superlative form in historical analysis.

Скудость ресурсов привела к тому, что рацион населения стал крайне бедным.

The scarcity of resources led to the population's diet becoming extremely poor.

Short form masculine, formal economic context.

В его поздних работах заметен бедный колорит, что отражает его депрессивное состояние.

In his late works, a poor color palette is noticeable, reflecting his depressive state.

Art criticism context.

Бедный человек в произведениях Достоевского — это не социальный тип, а духовное состояние.

The 'poor man' in Dostoevsky's works is not a social type but a spiritual state.

Literary analysis.

Лингвистически этот диалект беден заимствованиями, что говорит о его изоляции.

Linguistically, this dialect is poor in borrowings, which speaks to its isolation.

Academic linguistic context.

Мы наблюдаем, как общество беднеет не только материально, но и культурно.

We observe how society is becoming poorer not only materially but also culturally.

Verb 'беднеть' derived from the adjective.

Бедный на нюансы перевод может исказить смысл оригинала.

A translation poor in nuances can distort the meaning of the original.

Professional translation context.

सामान्य शब्द संयोजन

бедный район

бедный студент

бедный ужин

бедный язык

бедный воображением

бедный родственник

бедный на витамины

бедный человек

бедный квартал

бедный улов

सामान्य वाक्यांश

Бедный ты мой!

Бедное дитя

Бедность — не порок

Бедные люди

Бедный как церковная мышь

Мой бедный друг

Бедным быть не стыдно

Бедный Йорик

Бедный на слова

Помощь бедным

अक्सर इससे भ्रम होता है

бедный vs бледный

Means 'pale'. Sounds similar but has an 'л' (l).

бедный vs вредный

Means 'harmful'. Rhymes with 'бедный'.

бедный vs медный

Means 'copper'. Also rhymes with 'бедный'.

मुहावरे और अभिव्यक्तियाँ

"Бедный как церковная крыса/мышь"

To have absolutely no money or assets.

Он проиграл всё в казино и теперь беден как церковная мышь.

informal

"Бедный родственник"

Someone who is treated with condescension or feels out of place among wealthier people.

На этой вечеринке я чувствовал себя бедным родственником.

neutral

"Бедный духом"

Originally biblical (Blessed are the poor in spirit), but can mean lacking inner strength.

Только бедный духом человек может так поступить.

literary/religious

"Бедная Лиза"

A reference to a tragic, innocent girl who suffers for love.

Она вела себя как настоящая бедная Лиза.

literary

"Бедность — не порок"

Poverty is not a sin; one shouldn't be ashamed of it.

Он всегда говорил, что бедность — не порок, лишь бы совесть была чиста.

proverb

"Бедным на руку"

A rare idiom meaning someone who is clumsy or unlucky in their work.

Он всегда был беден на руку, всё у него ломалось.

archaic/dialect

"Бедным умом"

Lacking intelligence or being simple-minded.

Он был беден умом, но добр сердцем.

neutral/euphemism

"Бедная овечка"

An ironic way to describe someone who pretends to be innocent and pitiable.

Не строй из себя бедную овечку, мы всё знаем.

informal/ironic

"Бедный на выдумки"

Lacking imagination or creativity.

Наш сценарист явно беден на выдумки.

neutral

"Бедность за порог не пускает"

Being so poor that one cannot even afford basic hospitality.

У них такая нужда, что бедность за порог не пускает.

folk/archaic

आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले

бедный vs нищий

Both translate to 'poor' in English.

'Нищий' is much stronger, implying destitution and begging. 'Бедный' is a general term for low income or pity.

Бедный студент (low income), нищий на улице (beggar).

бедный vs скудный

Both can describe a lack of something.

'Скудный' is used for quantity (food, info). 'Бедный' is used for people and general states.

Скудный обед vs Бедный человек.

бедный vs несчастный

Both express pity.

'Несчастный' means unhappy/unfortunate. 'Бедный' expresses the speaker's sympathy more directly.

Бедный ты мой! vs Он очень несчастный человек.

бедный vs малообеспеченный

Both refer to low income.

'Малообеспеченный' is a formal, bureaucratic term. 'Бедный' is emotional and everyday.

Пособие для малообеспеченных vs Мой бедный сосед.

бедный vs убогий

Both describe poverty.

'Убогий' has a negative, contemptuous nuance, meaning wretched or miserable.

Убогая комната (wretched room).

वाक्य संरचनाएँ

Субъект + бедный.

Этот мальчик бедный.

Бедный + Существительное + глагол.

Бедная кошка хочет пить.

Субъект + беден + инструментальный падеж.

Этот край беден лесами.

Глагол + бедным (Dative plural).

Он помогает бедным.

Сравнительная степень + чем.

Эта почва беднее, чем та.

Самый бедный + Существительное.

Это самый бедный город в стране.

Бедный на + Accusative.

Это был бедный на события день.

Причастный оборот с 'бедный'.

Будучи бедным, он всё же помогал другим.

शब्द परिवार

संज्ञा

क्रिया

विशेषण

इसे कैसे इस्तेमाल करें

frequency

High. It is one of the top 1000 most used words in Russian.

सामान्य गलतियाँ

Using 'нищий' for a regular poor person. → бедный
'Нищий' is too strong and can be offensive; it implies begging.
Using 'беден' before a noun. → бедный
Short forms like 'беден' can only be predicates (after the verb/subject).
Saying 'бедный фильм' for a bad movie. → плохой фильм
'Бедный' refers to resources or imagination, not general quality.
Forgetting adjective endings for 'the poor'. → помогать бедным
It's an adjective acting as a noun, so it needs the Dative plural ending '-ым'.
Pronouncing 'бедный' exactly like 'бледный'. → бедный (no 'л')
'Бледный' means pale. The 'л' makes a big difference.

सुझाव

Agreement

Always match 'бедный' with the gender of the person you are pitying. 'Бедный Саша' but 'Бедная Маша'.

Pity vs. Money

Remember that 'бедный' is the primary word for 'poor thing' in Russian. Use it often to show empathy.

Literature

If you see 'бедный чиновник' in a Russian book, it's a classic theme about social injustice.

Short Forms

Use short forms (беден, бедна) for a more formal or poetic description of a state.

The 'Ы' sound

Practice the 'ы' in 'бедный' by pulling your tongue back. Don't let it sound like 'ee'.

Irony

You can use 'бедняжка' sarcastically when someone is complaining about something trivial.

Substantivization

When using 'бедные' as 'the poor', treat it exactly like an adjective for endings.

Context Clues

In news, 'бедный' usually refers to regions or social groups. In drama, it's almost always about pity.

Choose Wisely

Use 'нищий' only for extreme, desperate poverty. 'Бедный' is safer for general low income.

Root Link

Link 'бедный' to 'беда' (trouble) to remember its emotional and financial meanings.

याद करें

स्मृति सहायक

Think of someone in 'BED' who is 'BEDnyy' because they are too poor to afford anything else or they are sick (pitiable).

दृश्य संबंध

Imagine a man with empty pockets (financial poverty) and a sad face (emotional pity) standing next to a small bed.

Word Web

беда бедность бедняк бедно беднеть богатый (antonym) нищий скудный

चैलेंज

Try to use 'бедный' in three different ways today: once for a person's money, once for a feeling of pity, and once for a low-quality object.

शब्द की उत्पत्ति

Derived from the Proto-Slavic word *bědьnъ, which is the adjective form of *běda (trouble, need, misfortune). It is cognate with Old Church Slavonic бѣдьнъ.

मूल अर्थ: Originally, it meant 'unfortunate' or 'in a state of trouble/need', directly linked to the noun 'беда'.

Indo-European > Slavic > East Slavic > Russian.

सांस्कृतिक संदर्भ

While 'бедный' is generally neutral-sympathetic, calling someone 'бедный' to their face about their money can be patronizing. Use 'малообеспеченный' in formal settings.

English speakers often use 'poor' for quality ('poor performance'), but in Russian, 'бедный' is used less for quality and more for empathy and economics.

Бедные люди (Dostoevsky's novel) Бедная Лиза (Karamzin's story) Бедность не порок (Ostrovsky's play)

असल ज़िंदगी में अभ्यास करें

वास्तविक संदर्भ

Financial status

бедный человек
бедная семья
бедный район
жить бедно

Expressing pity

Бедный ты мой!
Бедная девочка
Мне его жаль, он такой бедный
Бедняжка

Describing quality

бедный ужин
бедный выбор
бедный язык
бедный воображением

Science/Nature

бедная почва
бедный на витамины
бедный улов
бедная флора

Literature/Art

бедный чиновник
бедный колорит
бедный сюжет
Бедные люди

बातचीत की शुरुआत

"Как ты думаешь, почему этот район такой бедный?"

"Ты читал роман Достоевского 'Бедные люди'?"

"Бедный мой пёс, он так боится грома, а твой?"

"Что лучше: быть бедным и здоровым или богатым и больным?"

"Почему почва в этой части страны такая бедная?"

डायरी विषय

Опиши случай, когда ты чувствовал себя 'бедным родственником'.

Что для тебя означает слово 'бедность'? Это только отсутствие денег?

Напиши о человеке, которому ты сказал 'Бедный ты мой!'. Что случилось?

Сравни жизнь в богатом и бедном районе твоего города.

Как ты считаешь, может ли бедный человек быть по-настоящему счастливым?

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

Yes, it can describe things like soil, vocabulary, or a meal to mean they are lacking in quality or quantity. For example, 'бедный ужин' (a meager dinner).

'Бедный' is the standard adjective. 'Бедняжка' is a diminutive noun used affectionately to mean 'poor thing'. It is very common when talking to children or friends.

The most natural way is 'Бедный ты мой!' (to a male) or 'Бедная ты моя!' (to a female). You can also just say 'Бедняжка!'.

Generally no, it's sympathetic. However, calling someone 'бедный' to their face regarding their finances can be seen as patronizing. It's better to use it as an expression of pity for their situation.

The comparative is 'беднее' (poorer). For example: 'Этот район беднее, чем центр'.

Not exactly. It means 'poor' in quality, but you wouldn't use it for a 'bad person' (плохой человек) or a 'bad movie' (плохой фильм) unless you mean they lack resources or imagination.

When using the short form to say 'poor in something', you use the instrumental case: 'беден (чем?) минералами' or the preposition 'на' + accusative: 'беден на события'.

Yes, 'бедствовать' means to live in poverty or misery. 'Беднеть' means to become poor.

The direct opposite is 'богатый' (rich).

Yes, most notably in 'Бедность — не порок' (Poverty is no vice).

सुझाव और नोट्स के लिए मुफ़्त साइन अप करें