Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'immature'

English Word: immature

Key Russian Translations:

• незрелый [nʲɪˈzrelɨj] - [Formal, commonly used in general and scientific contexts]
• несовершеннолетний [nʲɪsəvʲɪrˈʂɛnnəlʲɪtniɪ̯] - [Formal, specifically for age-related immaturity, e.g., minors]
• детский [ˈdʲɛtskʲɪj] - [Informal, for behavioral immaturity, but less precise]

Frequency: Medium (The word 'незрелый' is commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in educational, psychological, and biological discussions, but not as frequent as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp basic forms, but understanding nuances and inflections may require practice. For 'несовершеннолетний', it might be B2 due to its legal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

незрелый: [nʲɪˈzrelɨj]

несовершеннолетний: [nʲɪsəvʲɪrˈʂɛnnəlʲɪtniɪ̯]

детский: [ˈdʲɛtskʲɪj]

Note on незрелый: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Not fully developed (e.g., in biological or physical contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• незрелый - Used in scientific or medical contexts to describe something not yet fully grown, such as fruits or cells.

Usage Examples:

• Эти фрукты ещё незрелые, поэтому они не готовы к употреблению.

  These fruits are still immature, so they are not ready for consumption.

• В биологии незрелые клетки не могут выполнять свои функции полностью.

  In biology, immature cells cannot perform their functions fully.

• Дерево производит незрелые плоды из-за неблагоприятных погодных условий.

  The tree produces immature fruits due to unfavorable weather conditions.

• Незрелый организм нуждается в дополнительном уходе для правильного развития.

  An immature organism requires additional care for proper development.

Behaviorally or emotionally immature (e.g., in psychological contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• незрелый - Used informally to describe childish behavior in adults.
• детский - Applied in everyday conversations for playful or naive actions.

Usage Examples:

• Его поведение кажется незрелым для его возраста; он часто избегает ответственности.

  His behavior seems immature for his age; he often avoids responsibility.

• Детский подход к проблемам может быть полезным, но иногда он приводит к конфликтам.

  A childish (immature) approach to problems can be useful but sometimes leads to conflicts.

• Несовершеннолетние лица не имеют права голосовать, так как считаются незрелыми в юридическом смысле.

  Minors are not allowed to vote, as they are considered immature in a legal sense.

• В эмоциональном плане она ещё незрелая, что сказывается на её отношениях.

  Emotionally, she is still immature, which affects her relationships.

• Детский юмор помогает снять напряжение, но в серьёзных ситуациях он может быть неподходящим.

  Childish (immature) humor helps relieve tension, but in serious situations, it can be inappropriate.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Незрелый' is an adjective, so it inflects for gender, number, and case, following standard Russian adjective patterns (which are mostly regular). 'Несовершеннолетний' is also an adjective but often used as a predicate or in fixed phrases. 'Детский' follows similar rules.

For 'незрелый', here is a basic inflection table:

'Несовершеннолетний' has similar inflections but is less commonly declined in casual speech. 'Детский' is invariant in most contexts but still follows the same pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • недозрелый (slightly more specific to underdevelopment, e.g., in agriculture)
  • незрелый (a variant of незрелый, used interchangeably in some regions)
• Antonyms:
  • зрелый (mature, fully developed)
  • взрослый (adult, in behavioral contexts)

Related Phrases:

• незрелый возраст - Refers to an immature age or stage of life.
• несовершеннолетний преступник - Means an immature or minor offender in legal contexts.
• детский эгоизм - Describes childish (immature) selfishness, often in psychological discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'незрелый' directly corresponds to 'immature' in contexts of development or behavior, but it's more formal than everyday English usage. Choose 'несовершеннолетний' for legal or age-related scenarios, as it implies minority status. Be mindful of gender and case agreements when using these adjectives in sentences. For informal settings, 'детский' might be preferred to convey a lighter, playful immaturity, but it can sound dismissive. English learners should practice inflections to avoid errors in written Russian.

Common Errors:

• Using 'незрелый' without proper inflection: For example, saying "незрелый женщина" instead of "незрелая женщина" (correct: immature woman). This stems from English's lack of gender agreement; always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case.
• Confusing with synonyms: Learners might misuse 'недозрелый' for behavioral immaturity when 'незрелый' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Он недозрелый в отношениях" (incorrect implication of physical underdevelopment) instead of "Он незрелый в отношениях."
• Overgeneralizing 'детский': Non-native speakers often use it too broadly, like "детский человек" (awkward; better as "незрелый человек" for an immature adult).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of maturity ('зрелость') are often tied to historical and literary traditions, such as in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, where emotional immaturity can symbolize personal growth or societal flaws. 'Несовершеннолетний' has strong legal implications due to Russia's emphasis on age-based rights, reflecting a cultural value on structured life stages.

Related Concepts:

• зрелость
• взросление
• несовершенство