Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'callous'

English Word: callous

Key Russian Translations:

• бесчувственный [bʲɪsˈtʃʊfstvʲɪnnɨj] - [Formal, Descriptive]
• черствый [ˈtʃʲerstvɨj] - [Informal, Often figurative]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

бесчувственный: [bʲɪsˈtʃʊfstvʲɪnnɨj]

Note on бесчувственный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ч' sound is soft, similar to 'ch' in "church".

черствый: [ˈtʃʲerstvɨj]

Note on черствый: Stress is on the first syllable. The 'р' is rolled, and 'ы' sounds like a short, hard 'i'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Emotionally Insensitive or Unfeeling

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесчувственный - Used to describe someone lacking empathy or emotional response, often in formal or serious contexts.
• черствый - Often used figuratively to describe a person who is emotionally cold or hardened, common in everyday speech.

Usage Examples:

• Его бесчувственный ответ шокировал всех.

  His callous response shocked everyone.

• Она стала бесчувственной после стольких лет боли.

  She became callous after so many years of pain.

• Не будь таким черствым, выслушай её!

  Don’t be so callous, listen to her!

• Его черствое отношение к проблемам других отталкивает.

  His callous attitude toward others’ problems is off-putting.

• Черствый человек редко помогает окружающим.

  A callous person rarely helps those around them.

2. Physically Hardened (e.g., Skin)

Translation(s) & Context:

• черствый - Rarely used in this sense; more common for emotional hardness. Physical context might require other terms like 'огрубевший'.

Usage Examples:

• Его руки стали огрубевшими от тяжелой работы.

  His hands became callous from hard work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	бесчувственный	бесчувственная	бесчувственное	бесчувственные
Genitive	бесчувственного	бесчувственной	бесчувственного	бесчувственных

Note: Other cases follow similar patterns. Stress remains on the second syllable across forms.

черствый (Adjective): Also follows standard adjective declension with similar patterns as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for бесчувственный:

• холодный
• равнодушный

Note: 'холодный' emphasizes emotional coldness, while 'равнодушный' suggests indifference.

Antonyms for бесчувственный:

• чувствительный
• сочувствующий

Synonyms for черствый:

• сухой
• жестокий

Antonyms for черствый:

• мягкий
• добрый

Related Phrases:

• бесчувственное сердце - "Callous heart"; used to describe someone emotionally unresponsive.
• черствый как сухарь - "Callous as a cracker"; an idiom for extreme emotional hardness.

Usage Notes:

• 'бесчувственный' is more formal and often used in written or serious contexts to describe a lack of empathy or emotion.
• 'черствый' is more colloquial and frequently used in spoken Russian, often with a figurative sense of emotional hardness. It can also mean 'stale' when referring to bread, so context is key.
• For physical callousness (e.g., skin), neither term is ideal; consider 'огрубевший' or specify context clearly.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'черствый' to describe physical calluses. Example: *Его кожа черствая* (Incorrect).

  Correction: Use 'огрубевшая кожа' instead. 'черствый' is mostly figurative for emotional hardness or stale food.

• Error: Confusing 'бесчувственный' with 'бес意識ный' (unconscious). Example: *Он бесчувственный после аварии* (Ambiguous).

  Correction: Clarify context or use 'без сознания' for unconsciousness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being perceived as 'черствый' (callous) is often frowned upon, as emotional warmth and empathy are highly valued in personal relationships. Describing someone as 'бесчувственный' or 'черствый' can carry a strong negative connotation, especially in close-knit communities.

Related Concepts:

• равнодушие (indifference)
• жестокость (cruelty)
• холодность (coldness)