Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bashful'

English Word: bashful

Key Russian Translations:

• застенчивый [zɐˈstʲenʲtɕɪvɨj] - [Informal, Common]
• стеснительный [stʲɪˈsnʲitʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Neutral, Common]
• робкий [ˈropkʲɪj] - [Formal, Slightly Literary]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

застенчивый: [zɐˈstʲenʲtɕɪvɨj]

Note on застенчивый: Pay attention to the soft 'ч' sound, which is a common challenge for non-native speakers.

стеснительный: [stʲɪˈsnʲitʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on стеснительный: The stress falls on the second syllable; misplacing stress can alter meaning.

робкий: [ˈropkʲɪj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Shy or timid in social situations

Translation(s) & Context:

• застенчивый - Often used for describing someone shy in a casual or endearing way.
• стеснительный - Neutral term, widely used in everyday speech for shyness or embarrassment.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой застенчивый, что не может говорить с незнакомцами.

  He is so bashful that he can't talk to strangers.

• Она стеснительная девушка и всегда краснеет, когда её хвалят.

  She is a bashful girl and always blushes when praised.

• Маленький мальчик был застенчивым на вечеринке.

  The little boy was bashful at the party.

2. Reserved or hesitant (often in formal or literary contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• робкий - Used in more formal or literary contexts to describe timidity or hesitation.

Usage Examples:

• Его робкий голос едва был слышен в толпе.

  His bashful voice was barely audible in the crowd.

• Она сделала робкий шаг вперёд, неуверенная в себе.

  She took a bashful step forward, unsure of herself.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

застенчивый (Adjective): Follows standard adjective declension in Russian based on gender, number, and case.

стеснительный (Adjective): Similar to застенчивый, follows regular adjective declension.

робкий (Adjective): Follows regular adjective declension, often used in literary contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• скромный (modest, reserved)
• несмелый (timid, not bold)

Note: "скромный" can imply modesty beyond shyness, while "несмелый" emphasizes lack of courage.

Antonyms:

• смелый (bold)
• уверенный (confident)

Related Phrases:

• застенчивый взгляд - a bashful look (used to describe shy or timid glances)
• стеснительная улыбка - a bashful smile (often used for someone embarrassed or shy)
• робкий характер - a bashful nature (used to describe someone's inherent timidity)

Usage Notes:

• "застенчивый" is often perceived as more endearing and less formal than "стеснительный".
• "стеснительный" can also imply embarrassment in specific situations, not just general shyness.
• "робкий" is more formal and often used in written or literary contexts to describe hesitation or fearfulness.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "робкий" in casual speech to describe everyday shyness. This can sound overly formal or out of place.

  Incorrect: Он робкий, когда говорит с друзьями. (He is bashful when talking to friends.)

  Correct: Он застенчивый, когда говорит с друзьями.

  Explanation: "робкий" is better reserved for formal or literary contexts, while "застенчивый" fits casual conversations.

• Error: Misplacing stress in "стеснительный", pronouncing it as [ˈstʲesnʲitʲɪlʲnɨj].

  Explanation: The correct stress is on the second syllable [stʲɪˈsnʲitʲɪlʲnɨj]. Incorrect stress can confuse listeners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "bashful" or shy (застенчивый/стеснительный) is often seen as a positive trait, especially in children or young women, as it is associated with modesty and politeness. However, excessive shyness might be viewed as a lack of confidence in professional or social settings.

Related Concepts:

• скромность (modesty)
• смущение (embarrassment)
• робость (timidity)