Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impressionable'

English Word: impressionable

Key Russian Translations:

• впечатлительный [vʲpʲɪˈt͡ɕatlʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, used in descriptive contexts]
• восприимчивый [vɐsˈprʲiɪmt͡ɕɪvɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, often in psychological or educational contexts]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are commonly encountered in literature, psychology, and everyday discussions about personality, but not as frequent as basic adjectives.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it involves understanding abstract concepts and adjective inflections; for 'впечатлительный', it may be slightly easier, while 'восприимчивый' could edge toward B2+ due to nuanced usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

впечатлительный: [vʲpʲɪˈt͡ɕatlʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on впечатлительный: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ('t͡ɕat'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants; variations in informal speech may soften the 't͡ɕ' sound.

восприимчивый: [vɐsˈprʲiɪmt͡ɕɪvɨj]

Note on восприимчивый: Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech, with the initial 'vɐs' potentially merging; focus on the stressed 'prʲi' for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Easily influenced by others' ideas, feelings, or experiences, often implying vulnerability or sensitivity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• впечатлительный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe people, especially children or artists, who are emotionally responsive.
• восприимчивый - Applied in more analytical contexts, such as psychology, to indicate openness to external influences without emotional connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Дети в этом возрасте очень впечатлительны и легко перенимают чужие привычки.

  Children at this age are very impressionable and easily adopt others' habits.

• Её впечатлительный характер сделал её уязвимой к негативным влияниям.

  Her impressionable nature made her vulnerable to negative influences.

• Восприимчивый ум учёного позволяет ему быстро усваивать новые идеи.

  The impressionable mind of the scientist allows him to quickly absorb new ideas.

• Молодёжь часто бывает восприимчивой к модным тенденциям в искусстве.

  Youth is often impressionable to fashionable trends in art.

• Этот впечатлительный подросток был глубоко затронут книгой, которую он прочитал.

  This impressionable teenager was deeply affected by the book he read.

Meaning 2: Capable of being impressed or marked, in a more literal or figurative sense (less common in everyday usage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• впечатлительный - Rarely used in this sense, but can apply in artistic or material contexts, e.g., something that retains impressions.

Usage Examples:

• Материал оказался впечатлительным и сохранил отпечаток пальца.

  The material turned out to be impressionable and retained the fingerprint.

• Восприимчивый к деталям художник создал шедевр.

  The impressionable (to details) artist created a masterpiece.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'впечатлительный' and 'восприимчивый' are adjectives, which in Russian follow standard inflection patterns for quality adjectives. They change based on gender, number, and case. Here's a breakdown:

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow the first declension pattern. They do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once the basic rules are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • чувствительный (chuvstvitel'nyy) - More emotional connotation.
  • восприимчивый (already listed as key, but as a synonym here for nuance).
  • подверженный (podverzhennyy) - Implies susceptibility without full emotional depth.
• Antonyms:
  • невозмутимый (nevozmutimyy) - Unshakable or imperturbable.
  • устойчивый (ustoychivyy) - Stable or resistant to influence.

Related Phrases:

• Очень впечатлительный человек - Very impressionable person; used to describe someone highly sensitive.
• Восприимчивый к критике - Impressionable to criticism; implies openness that can be positive or negative.
• Быть впечатлительным в юности - To be impressionable in youth; a common phrase in developmental discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Impressionable' translates most directly to 'впечатлительный' in emotional contexts, but 'восприимчивый' is better for intellectual or neutral scenarios. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which differs from English. For formal writing, prefer 'впечатлительный' for personal traits; in scientific texts, 'восприимчивый' is more appropriate. Be cautious with context: overuse can imply naivety, so it's often paired with qualifiers like 'очень' (very).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'впечатлительный' interchangeably with 'восприимчивый' without considering connotation. For example, learners might say "Он восприимчивый к эмоциям" when meaning emotional influence, but it sounds odd because 'восприимчивый' leans intellectual. Correct: "Он впечатлительный к эмоциям." Explanation: 'Восприимчивый' is for cognitive openness, not emotional.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "Она впечатлительный" (incorrect feminine form). Correct: "Она впечатлительная." Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, so always check the subject.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'впечатлительный' often appear in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky) to describe characters' psychological depth, reflecting a historical emphasis on introspection and emotional realism. This can highlight the cultural value placed on personal sensitivity, contrasting with more stoic traditions in other societies.

Related Concepts:

• эмоциональный (emotsional'nyy)
• уязвимый (uyazvimyy)
• психологический (psikhologicheskiy)