Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Bored'

English Word: Bored

Key Russian Translations:

• скучать [ˈskʊt͡ɕətʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used for feeling bored]
• скука [ˈskukə] - [Formal, Noun, Refers to the state of boredom]
• надоедать [nədɐˈjedətʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used when something or someone is boring]

Frequency: High (especially "скучать" and "скука")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "скучать" and "скука"); B1 (Intermediate for "надоедать")

Pronunciation (Russian):

скучать: [ˈskʊt͡ɕətʲ]

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

скука: [ˈskukə]

Note on скука: Stress on the first syllable. The final "а" is reduced in casual speech.

надоедать: [nədɐˈjedətʲ]

Note on надоедать: Stress on the third syllable. The "д" is pronounced softly before "е."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Feeling Bored (Personal State)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скучать - Used when expressing a personal feeling of boredom, often in casual contexts.
• скука - Refers to the abstract state or concept of boredom, often in formal or written contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Мне скучно на уроке.

  I am bored in class.

• Он скучает без друзей.

  He feels bored without friends.

• Скука одолевает меня каждый вечер.

  Boredom overcomes me every evening.

2. Causing Boredom (Something/Someone Boring)

Translation(s) & Context:

• надоедать - Used when something or someone causes boredom or annoyance, often in informal speech.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм мне надоел.

  This movie is boring me.

• Его рассказы начинают надоедать.

  His stories are starting to bore me.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

скучать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb conjugation in present, past, and future tenses.

скука (Noun, Feminine): Declines as a regular feminine noun in all cases.

надоедать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb with similar conjugation patterns to "скучать."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for скучать/скука:

• тосковать (to feel melancholic boredom)
• уныние (dejection, gloom)

Antonyms for скучать/скука:

• увлекаться (to be fascinated)
• интерес (interest)

Related Phrases:

• скучать по кому-то - To miss someone (often with a sense of boredom without them).
• от скуки - Out of boredom (doing something to pass the time).
• надоедать до смерти - To bore to death (hyperbolic expression for extreme annoyance).

Usage Notes:

• "скучать" is the most common way to express personal boredom and can also mean "to miss" someone or something, depending on context (e.g., "скучать по дому" = "to miss home").
• "скука" is a noun and is used in more formal or abstract discussions of boredom as a concept.
• "надоедать" implies active annoyance or boredom caused by something/someone and is less about a personal state of mind.
• Be mindful of verb aspects: "скучать" and "надоедать" are imperfective verbs; their perfective forms (e.g., "соскучиться," "надоесть") imply a completed or intensified action.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "скука" as a verb. Incorrect: "Я скука." Correct: "Мне скучно" or "Я скучаю" (I am bored).
• Error: Confusing "скучать" (to be bored) with "скучать по" (to miss). Incorrect: "Я скучаю тебя." Correct: "Я скучаю по тебе" (I miss you).
• Error: Using "надоедать" for personal boredom. Incorrect: "Я надоедаю." Correct: "Мне скучно" (I am bored).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing boredom ("скука") can sometimes carry a deeper philosophical or existential connotation, often linked to melancholy or a lack of purpose. This is reflected in classic Russian literature, where "скука" is a recurring theme.

Related Concepts:

• тоска (melancholy, yearning)
• уныние (dejection, gloom)
• безразличие (indifference)