Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Bore'

English Word: bore

Key Russian Translations:

• скучать [ˈskʊt͡ɕatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, To feel bored]
• надоедать [nədɐˈjedətʲ] - [Informal, Verb, To annoy or bore someone]
• скука [ˈskukə] - [Formal, Noun, Boredom]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in conversational and written Russian)

Difficulty: скучать (B1 - Intermediate), надоедать (B2 - Upper Intermediate), скука (A2 - Elementary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

скучать: [ˈskʊt͡ɕatʲ]

Note on скучать: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ч" sound is a soft affricate, similar to "ch" in "church."

надоедать: [nədɐˈjedətʲ]

Note on надоедать: Stress on the third syllable. The "д" is soft due to the following "е."

скука: [ˈskukə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To feel bored (as a state of mind)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скучать - Used when someone feels bored or misses something/someone.

Usage Examples:

• Я скучаю без тебя.

  I feel bored without you (or I miss you).

• На уроке я всегда скучаю.

  I always feel bored in class.

• Дети скучают дома.

  The kids are bored at home.

2. To bore someone (to annoy or cause boredom)

Translation(s) & Context:

• надоедать - Used when someone or something is annoying or tiresome to others.

Usage Examples:

• Его долгие рассказы мне надоели.

  His long stories bore me (or annoy me).

• Не надоедать мне с вопросами!

  Don't bore me with your questions!

3. Boredom (as a concept or noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скука - Refers to the state or feeling of boredom itself.

Usage Examples:

• От скуки я начал читать книгу.

  Out of boredom, I started reading a book.

• Это место - настоящая скука.

  This place is pure boredom.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

скучать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb of the first conjugation. Below is the present tense conjugation:

надоедать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb, follows similar conjugation patterns to first conjugation verbs.

скука (Noun, Feminine): Declines as a regular feminine noun in -a. Below are the main cases:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for скучать (to feel bored):

• тосковать (to feel melancholic or bored)
• маяться (to be bored or idle)

Synonyms for надоедать (to bore someone):

• доставать (to annoy or pester, colloquial)
• утомлять (to tire or bore)

Antonyms for скучать:

• интересоваться (to be interested)
• увлекаться (to be fascinated)

Related Phrases:

• скучать по дому - To miss home (or feel bored without home).
• надоедать своими просьбами - To bore/annoy with one's requests.
• умирать от скуки - To die of boredom (idiomatic expression).

Usage Notes:

• скучать can mean both "to be bored" and "to miss someone/something." Context is key to understanding the intended meaning. For example, "скучать по тебе" means "to miss you."

• надоедать often carries a stronger sense of annoyance than just boredom. It is used when someone's actions are tiresome or repetitive.

• скука as a noun is often used in expressions like "от скуки" (out of boredom) to explain why someone does something.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "скучать" (to be bored/miss) with "надоедать" (to bore someone). English speakers might say "Я надоедаю" when they mean "Я скучаю" (I am bored).

  Correction: Use "скучать" when describing your own boredom. Example: "Я скучаю на работе" (I am bored at work), not "Я надоедаю на работе."

• Error: Incorrect use of prepositions with "скучать." Learners often omit "по" when it means "to miss."

  Correction: Use "скучать по + Dative case" when meaning "to miss." Example: "Я скучаю по друзьям" (I miss my friends).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing boredom ("скука") can sometimes imply a deeper sense of existential melancholy or dissatisfaction, especially in literature and art. The concept of "скука" is often tied to the idea of idleness or lack of purpose, as seen in classic Russian novels like those by Dostoevsky or Chekhov.

Related Concepts:

• тоска (melancholy or longing)
• лень (laziness)
• безразличие (indifference)