Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'imprudent'

English Word: imprudent

Key Russian Translations:

• неразумный /nɪrəˈzʊmnɨj/ - [Formal; used in serious or professional contexts]
• неосторожный /nʲɪɐˈstorəʐnɨj/ - [Informal; often in everyday conversations about carelessness]

Frequency: Medium; these words are commonly encountered in literature, media, and discussions but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate); involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual nuances, suitable for learners with basic Russian grammar knowledge. For 'неразумный', the difficulty is slightly higher due to its formal connotations.

Pronunciation (Russian):

неразумный: /nɪrəˈzʊmnɨj/

Note on неразумный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('zʊm'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'r' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

неосторожный: /nʲɪɐˈstorəʐnɨj/

Note on неосторожный: The initial 'nʲ' is a palatalized 'n', common in Russian; it may sound like a soft 'ny' to English ears. Variations in regional accents can affect the vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not showing care for the consequences of an action; lacking wisdom or prudence in decision-making.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неразумный - Often used in formal settings, such as legal or ethical discussions, to describe decisions with potential negative outcomes.
• неосторожный - Applied in informal contexts, like personal anecdotes, to highlight recklessness in daily life.

Usage Examples:

• Его неразумное вложение денег привело к большим потерям. (His imprudent investment led to significant losses.)

  His imprudent investment led to significant losses. (This example shows the word in a financial context, emphasizing long-term consequences.)

• Она совершила неосторожный поступок, не проверив документы. (She made an imprudent action by not checking the documents.)

  She made an imprudent action by not checking the documents. (Illustrates everyday carelessness in a practical scenario.)

• Неразумный выбор друзей может повлиять на всю жизнь. (An imprudent choice of friends can affect one's entire life.)

  An imprudent choice of friends can affect one's entire life. (Demonstrates use in social or relational contexts with a formal tone.)

• Неосторожный водитель вызвал аварию на мокрой дороге. (The imprudent driver caused an accident on the wet road.)

  The imprudent driver caused an accident on the wet road. (Shows the word in a safety-related context, common in informal narratives.)

• В неразумном стремлении к успеху он忽略ил здоровье. (In his imprudent pursuit of success, he neglected his health.)

  In his imprudent pursuit of success, he neglected his health. (Highlights the word in motivational or reflective contexts, varying sentence structure.)

Meaning 2: Lacking foresight or caution in behavior.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неосторожный - Best for impulsive actions in casual speech.
• неразумный - Suited for more deliberate, unwise choices in written or formal language.

Usage Examples:

• Неосторожные слова в споре могут разрушить отношения. (Imprudent words in an argument can destroy relationships.)

  Imprudent words in an argument can destroy relationships. (Focuses on verbal interactions in interpersonal contexts.)

• Его неразумная политика привела к экономическому кризису. (His imprudent policy led to an economic crisis.)

  His imprudent policy led to an economic crisis. (Applies to broader, systemic issues in formal discourse.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'неразумный' and 'неосторожный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

Note: These follow regular adjective inflections. There are no irregular forms, but pay attention to the soft sign in 'неразумный' which affects pronunciation in inflected forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: глупый (meaning more foolish, with a connotation of stupidity); опрометчивый (implying rashness, often in hasty decisions)
• Antonyms: разумный (sensible, wise); осторожный (careful, cautious; differs by emphasizing prevention over wisdom)

Related Phrases:

• неразумное поведение - Imprudent behavior (Refers to unwise actions in ethical or social contexts.)
• неосторожный шаг - Imprudent step (Used for a risky move, often metaphorically in decision-making.)
• опрометчивое решение - Imprudent decision (A fixed phrase highlighting hasty choices with potential regrets.)

Usage Notes:

'Неразумный' is a closer match to 'imprudent' in formal English contexts, emphasizing a lack of judgment, while 'неосторожный' aligns more with carelessness in informal settings. Choose based on the situation: use 'неразумный' for decisions involving foresight (e.g., business), and 'неосторожный' for immediate risks (e.g., physical safety). Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. In spoken Russian, these words can carry a judgmental tone, so context is key to avoid offense.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'неразумный' in casual conversation where 'неосторожный' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Он неразумный водитель" instead of "Он неосторожный водитель" for a careless driver. Correct: 'Неосторожный' fits better as it implies momentary lapses, while 'неразумный' suggests deeper folly. Explanation: This confuses formality levels, leading to unnatural speech.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "неразумный женщина" (incorrect) instead of "неразумная женщина". Correct: "неразумная женщина". Explanation: Russian requires gender agreement, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'неразумный' often tie into proverbs emphasizing wisdom and caution, such as "Семь раз отмерь, один раз отрежь" (Measure seven times, cut once), reflecting a cultural value on prudence to avoid imprudent actions. This stems from historical contexts where impulsivity could lead to severe consequences in communal or rural life.

Related Concepts:

• рискованный (risky)
• безрассудный (reckless)
• опрометчивый (hasty)