Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hesitation'

English Word: hesitation

Key Russian Translations:

• нерешительность [nʲɪrʲɪˈʂɨtʲɪlʲnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal]
• колебание [kəlʲɪˈbanʲɪje] - [Informal, often used in everyday contexts]
• задержка [zəˈdʲɛrʐkə] - [Used when referring to a delay or pause in action]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its variants are commonly encountered in literature, conversations, and media, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections. For 'колебание', it might be slightly easier at A2 due to its more concrete usages.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нерешительность: [nʲɪrʲɪˈʂɨtʲɪlʲnəsʲtʲ] (Stress on the fourth syllable; the 'ш' sound is a soft palatal fricative.)

колебание: [kəlʲɪˈbanʲɪje] (Stress on the third syllable; note the soft 'л' and the vowel reductions in casual speech.)

задержка: [zəˈdʲɛrʐkə] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ж' is a voiced palatal fricative, common in Russian.)

Note on колебание: In fast speech, the initial 'к' might soften, and vowel reductions can make it sound like [kəlʲəˈbanʲɪje]. Pay attention to stress to avoid mispronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state of being unsure or pausing before making a decision

Translation(s) & Context:

• нерешительность - Used in formal or psychological contexts, such as describing internal conflict.
• колебание - Common in everyday situations, like hesitating in a conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Его нерешительность в принятии решения стоила ему возможности. (His hesitation in making a decision cost him the opportunity.)

  English: His hesitation in making a decision cost him the opportunity.

• После колебания она согласилась на предложение. (After hesitation, she agreed to the proposal.)

  English: After hesitation, she agreed to the proposal. (Shows hesitation in a social context.)

• Из-за задержки в ответе переговоры затянулись. (Due to the hesitation in the response, the negotiations dragged on.)

  English: Due to the hesitation in the response, the negotiations dragged on. (Emphasizes a pause in communication.)

• Колебание в голосе говорило о его неуверенности. (The hesitation in his voice indicated his uncertainty.)

  English: The hesitation in his voice indicated his uncertainty. (Illustrates hesitation in speech patterns.)

A physical pause or delay in action

Translation(s) & Context:

• задержка - Often used for literal delays, like in timing or movement.
• колебание - Can apply to physical wavering, such as in balance or motion.

Usage Examples:

• Задержка в его шагах была заметна всем. (The hesitation in his steps was noticeable to everyone.)

  English: The hesitation in his steps was noticeable to everyone. (Depicts physical pause.)

• Колебание машины на дороге указывало на проблему с рулём. (The hesitation of the car on the road indicated a problem with the steering.)

  English: The hesitation of the car on the road indicated a problem with the steering. (Used in a mechanical context.)

• Его задержка перед дверью вызвала подозрения. (His hesitation before the door raised suspicions.)

  English: His hesitation before the door raised suspicions. (Shows hesitation as a sign of caution.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'нерешительность' is a feminine noun (3rd declension). It follows standard Russian noun inflections:

'колебание' is a neuter noun with regular inflections, similar to above. 'задержка' is a feminine noun and does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сомнение (slight doubt, often more cognitive)
  • неуверенность (general lack of confidence, applicable in broader contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • решительность (decisiveness, implying quick action)
  • уверенность (confidence, opposite in emotional state)

Related Phrases:

• Без колебания - Without hesitation; used to emphasize immediate action.
• В момент нерешительности - In a moment of hesitation; describes a critical pause.
• Преодолеть задержку - To overcome hesitation; common in motivational contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'hesitation' often translates to 'нерешительность' for abstract, emotional states, while 'колебание' is better for physical or situational pauses. Be mindful of context: formal writing prefers 'нерешительность', whereas casual speech uses 'колебание'. Grammatically, these nouns require agreement in case, gender, and number with surrounding words. For English learners, choose the translation based on whether the hesitation is internal (use 'нерешительность') or external (use 'задержка').

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'колебание' interchangeably with 'нерешительность' in formal contexts. Correct: In psychological discussions, stick to 'нерешительность' as it conveys deeper emotional uncertainty. Example of error: *Его колебание в работе* (incorrect for emotional hesitation); Correct: Его нерешительность в работе.
• Mistake: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Correct: In genitive, say 'из-за нерешительности' instead of 'из-за нерешительность'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, hesitation (e.g., 'нерешительность') is often portrayed in literature and films as a sign of introspection or moral dilemma, as seen in works by Tolstoy. It can carry a positive connotation of thoughtful consideration, unlike in some Western contexts where it's viewed as a weakness.

Related Concepts:

• решение (decision)
• сомнение (doubt)
• уверенность (confidence)