Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fearful'

English Word: fearful

Key Russian Translations:

• боязливый /bɐˈjæz.lʲɪ.vɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal]
• страшный /ˈstrɑʂ.nɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal, Often implies something causing fear]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its variants appear regularly in everyday Russian conversations and literature, but not as commonly as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the concept with practice, as it involves basic adjective forms and contexts, though nuances may require more advanced understanding.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

боязливый: /bɐˈjæz.lʲɪ.vɨj/

страшный: /ˈstrɑʂ.nɨj/

Note on боязливый: The stress is on the third syllable, and the 'лʲ' represents a palatalized 'l', which can be tricky for English speakers; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Note on страшный: The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to 'sh' in English "shoe".

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Feeling or showing fear; timid or anxious.

Translation(s) & Context:

• боязливый - Used in everyday contexts to describe someone who is easily frightened or hesitant, especially in informal settings.
• страшный - More formal, often describing something that inspires fear, but can overlap in emotional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда такой боязливый в новых ситуациях. (He is always so fearful in new situations.)

  English: He is always so fearful in new situations.

• Её боязливый взгляд выдал её страх. (Her fearful glance revealed her fear.)

  English: Her fearful glance revealed her fear.

• В детстве он был очень боязливым ребенком. (In childhood, he was a very fearful child.)

  English: In childhood, he was a very fearful child.

• Страшный шум разбудил меня посреди ночи. (The fearful noise woke me up in the middle of the night.)

  English: The fearful noise woke me up in the middle of the night. (Here, 'страшный' emphasizes the intensity of fear caused by the noise.)

• Боязливые люди часто избегают рискованных приключений. (Fearful people often avoid risky adventures.)

  English: Fearful people often avoid risky adventures.

Meaning 2: Causing fear or alarm; frightening.

Translation(s) & Context:

• страшный - Commonly used for objects, events, or situations that are frightening, in both formal and informal contexts.
• боязливый - Less common for this meaning; typically reserved for personal emotions rather than external threats.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм был слишком страшным для детей. (This movie was too fearful for children.)

  English: This movie was too fearful for children.

• Страшная буря разрушила несколько домов. (The fearful storm destroyed several houses.)

  English: The fearful storm destroyed several houses.

• Её страшный крик эхом разнесся по дому. (Her fearful scream echoed through the house.)

  English: Her fearful scream echoed through the house.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'боязливый' and 'страшный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most cases.

For 'боязливый' (a regular adjective):

For 'страшный' (also regular):

These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once the basic patterns are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • трусливый (cowardly; more negative connotation)
  • испуганный (frightened; often temporary state)
• Antonyms:
  • смелый (brave)
  • бесстрашный (fearless)

Related Phrases:

• Боязливый как заяц - Literally: Fearful like a hare; English: Used to describe someone extremely timid in everyday idiomatic expressions.
• Страшная сказка - English: A scary fairy tale; common in children's literature to denote frightening stories.
• Полный страха - English: Full of fear; a phrase to describe overwhelming anxiety in narratives.

Usage Notes:

'Боязливый' is best used for personal traits or emotional states, aligning closely with the English 'fearful' in psychological contexts, while 'страшный' often describes external factors that induce fear. In formal writing, opt for 'страшный' to emphasize intensity. Be mindful of gender and case agreement in sentences. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use 'боязливый' for internal fear and 'страшный' for something objectively frightening.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'боязливый' to describe inanimate objects, e.g., "боязливый дом" (incorrectly implying a fearful house).

  Correct: Use 'страшный дом' (a scary house). Explanation: 'Боязливый' is typically for living beings or personal emotions, while 'страшный' fits objects.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "боязливый женщина" instead of "боязливая женщина".

  Correct: Always match gender, number, and case. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with their nouns, which is a common pitfall for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of fear like 'боязливый' often appear in folklore and literature, such as in fairy tales by Pushkin, where characters face 'страшные' (frightening) creatures. This reflects a cultural emphasis on bravery and resilience in the face of adversity, rooted in historical contexts like wartime experiences.

Related Concepts:

• трусость (cowardice)
• храбрость (bravery)
• паника (panic)