Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'choleric'

English Word: choleric

Key Russian Translations:

• раздражительный [rəzdrɐʐɨˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Informal, Descriptive]
• холерический [xɐlʲɪˈrʲit͡ɕɪskʲɪj] - [Formal, Technical, often in psychological contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, psychology, and everyday descriptions of personality, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "happy" or "sad")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced personality descriptors. For 'раздражительный', it's B2; for 'холерический', it might be C1 due to its specialized usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

раздражительный: [rəzdrɐʐɨˈtʲelʲnɨj]

Note on раздражительный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("tel"), which can be tricky for learners due to the soft consonants; pronounce the 'ж' as a voiced fricative similar to the 's' in "measure".

Audio: []

холерический: [xɐlʲɪˈrʲit͡ɕɪskʲɪj]

Note on холерический: The initial 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative (like the 'ch' in Scottish "loch"), and the word has a rhythmic flow; common in formal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Easily angered, irritable, or quick-tempered (referring to a personality trait from the ancient four temperaments theory)

Translation(s) & Context:

• раздражительный - Used in informal or everyday contexts to describe someone's short temper, such as in personal conversations or literature.
• холерический - Employed in formal, medical, or psychological contexts, directly referencing the historical temperament classification.

Usage Examples:

• Его раздражительный характер часто приводит к конфликтам на работе. (His choleric nature often leads to conflicts at work.)

  His irritable character often leads to conflicts at work.

• Она становится раздражительной, когда устает, но это проходит быстро. (She becomes choleric when she's tired, but it passes quickly.)

  She becomes irritable when she's tired, but it passes quickly. This shows the adjective in a temporary state.

• В психологии холерический тип личности ассоциируется с энергией и импульсивностью. (In psychology, the choleric personality type is associated with energy and impulsiveness.)

  In psychology, the choleric personality type is associated with energy and impulsiveness. Here, it demonstrates formal usage.

• Не будь таким раздражительным; давай обсудим это спокойно. (Don't be so choleric; let's discuss this calmly.)

  Don't be so irritable; let's discuss this calmly. This illustrates interpersonal dialogue.

• Холерический темперамент был описан Гиппократом как доминирующий и страстный. (The choleric temperament was described by Hippocrates as dominant and passionate.)

  The choleric temperament was described by Hippocrates as dominant and passionate. This highlights historical context.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'раздражительный' and 'холерический' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for most words, with variations for hard and soft stems. 'Раздражительный' has a soft stem, while 'холерический' follows a regular pattern.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow the first declension pattern. They do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once basic adjective rules are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • гневливый (gnevlivyy) - More intense, implying frequent anger.
  • вспыльчивый (vspyhlchivyy) - Quick to flare up, often in emotional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (spokoinyy) - Calm and composed.
  • терпеливый (terpelivyy) - Patient and enduring.

Related Phrases:

• раздражительный характер - (Irritable character; refers to a personality trait in psychological discussions.)
• холерический темперамент - (Choleric temperament; used in historical or medical contexts to describe one of the four classical temperaments.)
• быть раздражительным по натуре - (To be choleric by nature; a common phrase for innate personality.)

Usage Notes:

'Choleric' in English directly corresponds to 'раздражительный' in informal Russian settings, where it describes everyday irritability. However, 'холерический' is more precise for historical or scientific contexts, drawing from the four temperaments theory. Be cautious with register: use 'раздражительный' in casual speech and 'холерический' in formal writing. Grammatically, both adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a common point of confusion for English speakers. When choosing between translations, opt for 'раздражительный' if the context is emotional or interpersonal, and 'холерический' for academic discussions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'раздражительный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "раздражительный женщина" instead of "раздражительная женщина" (irritable woman). Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree, unlike English, so learners often forget this.
• Mistake: Confusing 'холерический' with 'холeric' (a direct transliteration), which isn't standard. Correct: Use the full Russian form and pronounce it accurately. Explanation: This error stems from over-literal translation, leading to unnatural language.
• Mistake: Overusing 'раздражительный' in formal contexts. Correct: Switch to 'холерический' for precision. Explanation: It can make the speech sound too casual in professional settings.

Cultural Notes:

The concept of 'choleric' originates from ancient Greek medicine, as popularized by Hippocrates, and is still referenced in Russian culture through literature and psychology. In Russia, it often ties to discussions of personality in works like those of Chekhov, where characters with 'холерический' traits are portrayed as passionate but volatile, reflecting broader Slavic cultural emphasis on emotional expressiveness versus restraint.

Related Concepts:

• сангвинический (sanguine temperament)
• меланхолический (melancholic temperament)
• флегматический (phlegmatic temperament)