Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'distracted'

English Word: distracted

Key Russian Translations:

• рассеянный (rəˈsʲejnɨj) - [Adjective, Informal, Commonly used in everyday contexts]
• отвлечённый (ɐtvlʲɪˈtɕonnyj) - [Adjective, Formal, Often used in professional or psychological discussions]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in spoken and written Russian, especially in literature, conversations, and media about focus and attention.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level per CEFR; learners at this stage can handle basic adjective forms and contexts, though full inflection requires practice. For 'рассеянный', it's B1; for 'отвлечённый', it may edge toward B2 due to its more formal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

рассеянный: rəˈsʲejnɨj

Note on рассеянный: The stress is on the second syllable ('sʲej'). Be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which softens the preceding consonant, a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

отвлечённый: ɐtvlʲɪˈtɕonnyj

Note on отвлечённый: Stress falls on the third syllable ('tɕon'). The 'ч' sound (as in 'ch' in 'church') is palatalized, which is typical in Russian adjectives. Practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Unable to concentrate due to mental diversion or preoccupation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• рассеянный - Used in casual, everyday situations to describe someone who is absent-minded or not focused, such as during a conversation or while working.
• отвлечённый - Applied in more formal contexts, like educational or psychological settings, to indicate something that diverts attention away from a task.

Usage Examples:

• Он был рассеянный во время урока, потому что думал о предстоящей поездке.

  He was distracted during the lesson because he was thinking about the upcoming trip.

• Из-за громкой музыки она стала отвлечённой и не смогла закончить отчёт.

  Because of the loud music, she became distracted and couldn't finish the report.

• Рассеянный водитель едва не попал в аварию, проверяя телефон.

  The distracted driver almost got into an accident while checking his phone.

• В шумном офисе сотрудники часто бывают отвлечёнными из-за разговоров коллег.

  In the noisy office, employees are often distracted by their colleagues' conversations.

Meaning 2: Mentally disturbed or agitated, often implying emotional distraction.

Translation(s) & Context:

• рассеянный - In emotional contexts, to describe someone who is unfocused due to stress or worry, common in personal narratives.

Usage Examples:

• После ссоры она чувствовала себя рассеянной и не могла сосредоточиться на работе.

  After the argument, she felt distracted and couldn't focus on her work.

• Рассеянный от усталости, он забыл о встрече с друзьями.

  Distracted by fatigue, he forgot about the meeting with his friends.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'рассеянный' and 'отвлечённый' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with the nouns they modify. They are not irregular but require attention to endings.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form or predicative use (e.g., "он рассеян" - he is distracted), which simplifies usage in certain sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • невнимательный (less emotional, more about lack of attention)
  • абстрактный (in a philosophical sense, implying detachment)
• Antonyms:
  • внимательный (attentive, focused)
  • сосредоточенный (concentrated, engaged)

Related Phrases:

• быть рассеянным - To be absent-minded; often used to describe temporary lapses in focus.
• отвлечь внимание - To distract attention; a common phrase in educational or safety contexts.
• рассеянный взгляд - A distracted gaze; implies a look that shows lack of concentration, often in literature.

Usage Notes:

'Рассеянный' is the most direct equivalent to 'distracted' in informal English contexts, while 'отвлечённый' aligns better with situations involving external diversions. Choose 'рассеянный' for personal or emotional states and 'отвлечённый' for formal scenarios. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. For example, in sentences with verbs like 'быть' (to be), the short form (e.g., 'рассеян') is preferred for predicates.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'рассеянный' interchangeably with 'отвлечённый' without considering context. For instance, English learners might say 'он отвлечённый от работы' when 'он рассеянный на работе' is more natural for internal distraction.

  Correct: 'Он рассеянный, потому что устал.' (He is distracted because he's tired.)

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying 'рассеянный женщина' instead of 'рассеянная женщина'.

  Correct: 'Рассеянная женщина' (The distracted woman). Explanation: Adjectives must match the noun's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'рассеянный' often appear in literature (e.g., in Chekhov's stories) to depict characters who are introspective or overwhelmed by life's complexities, reflecting a cultural emphasis on emotional depth and introspection rather than purely practical focus.

Related Concepts:

• внимание (attention)
• сосредоточенность (concentration)
• абстракция (abstraction)