Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Defiant'

English Word: defiant

Key Russian Translations:

• вызывающий [vɨˈzɨvajuʂːɨj] - [Adjective, Often Negative Connotation]
• дерзкий [ˈdʲerzkʲɪj] - [Adjective, Informal, Bold or Rude]
• непокорный [nʲɪpɐˈkornɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Rebellious]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

вызывающий: [vɨˈzɨvajuʂːɨj]

Note on вызывающий: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft, prolonged "sh" sound, which can be tricky for non-native speakers.

дерзкий: [ˈdʲerzkʲɪj]

Note on дерзкий: Stress on the first syllable. The soft "д" requires a slight palatalization.

непокорный: [nʲɪpɐˈkornɨj]

Note on непокорный: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the prefix "не-" which negates obedience.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Showing Defiance or Resistance (Against Authority)

Translation(s) & Context:

• непокорный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone resisting authority or rules.
• вызывающий - Often implies a provocative or challenging attitude, can be used for behavior or appearance.

Usage Examples:

• Его непокорный взгляд раздражал учителя.

  His defiant look irritated the teacher.

• Она посмотрела на него с вызывающим выражением.

  She looked at him with a defiant expression.

2. Bold or Impudent (Often Negative or Rude)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дерзкий - Commonly used in informal contexts to describe rude or insolent behavior.
• вызывающий - Can also apply here, especially if the boldness is provocative.

Usage Examples:

• Ты слишком дерзкий для своего возраста!

  You're too defiant for your age!

• Её вызывающий тон шокировал всех присутствующих.

  Her defiant tone shocked everyone present.

• Он ответил дерзким замечанием, не думая о последствиях.

  He replied with a defiant remark, not thinking about the consequences.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All translations are adjectives and follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns based on gender, number, and case.

вызывающий (Provocative/Defiant):

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	вызывающий	вызывающая	вызывающее	вызывающие
Genitive	вызывающего	вызывающей	вызывающего	вызывающих

Note: Similar declension patterns apply to дерзкий and непокорный. Consult a full declension table for other cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• нахальный (informal, rude)
• бунтарский (rebellious, often positive)

Note: "нахальный" is more negative and implies rudeness, while "бунтарский" can have a heroic or idealistic tone.

Antonyms:

• покорный (obedient)
• смиренный (humble)

Related Phrases:

• вызывающее поведение - Defiant behavior (used to describe provocative actions or attitudes).
• дерзкий ответ - Defiant reply (common in conversations to describe insolence).
• непокорный дух - Defiant spirit (often used in a poetic or formal context).

Usage Notes:

• "вызывающий" often carries a negative or provocative connotation and can describe both behavior and appearance (e.g., "вызывающий наряд" = defiant/provocative outfit).
• "дерзкий" is more informal and often used in spoken language to describe bold or rude behavior, especially by younger people.
• "непокорный" is more formal and often appears in written or literary contexts to describe resistance to authority or rules.
• Choose the translation based on the tone and context: use "дерзкий" for casual or rude defiance, "непокорный" for serious or principled resistance, and "вызывающий" for provocative attitudes.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "дерзкий" in formal writing. Incorrect: "Его дерзкий взгляд на совещании" (His defiant look at the meeting). Correct: "Его вызывающий взгляд на совещании". Explanation: "дерзкий" is too informal for professional or serious contexts; "вызывающий" is more appropriate.
• Error: Misusing "непокорный" for minor defiance. Incorrect: "Он был непокорный на уроке" (He was defiant in class). Correct: "Он был дерзкий на уроке". Explanation: "непокорный" implies deeper resistance, often to authority or societal norms, not petty classroom behavior.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, defiance (especially against authority) can carry both negative and positive connotations depending on the context. For instance, "непокорный" might be used positively in historical or literary contexts to describe resistance against oppression, as in the works of Russian poets or novelists. However, in everyday life, being "дерзкий" is often frowned upon, especially when directed at elders or authority figures, as respect for hierarchy remains significant in many social settings.

Related Concepts:

• бунт (rebellion)
• протест (protest)
• непослушание (disobedience)