Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inactive'

English Word: inactive

Key Russian Translations:

• неактивный [nʲɪˈaktivnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• пассивный [ˈpasʲɪvnɨj] - [Informal, Contextual when implying lack of initiative]
• нерабочее [nʲɪˈrabət͡ɕɪjə] - [Used in technical contexts, e.g., for devices]

Frequency: Medium (Common in business, technology, and everyday discussions, but not as frequent as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (Requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions; for 'неактивный', it's straightforward, but 'пассивный' may vary by context).

Pronunciation (Russian):

неактивный: [nʲɪˈaktivnɨj]

пассивный: [ˈpasʲɪvnɨj]

нерабочее: [nʲɪˈrabət͡ɕɪjə]

Note on неактивный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ak-'), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns.

Note on пассивный: Pronunciation may soften in casual speech, especially in informal contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Not active or in use (General state of inactivity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неактивный - Used in formal contexts, such as describing user accounts or processes that are paused.
• пассивный - Applied in informal or psychological contexts, implying a lack of engagement or initiative.
• нерабочее - Specific to technical or mechanical scenarios, like an "inactive" machine or system.

Usage Examples:

• Мой аккаунт в социальной сети был неактивным в течение нескольких месяцев.

  My social media account was inactive for several months.

• В пассивном состоянии батарея устройства не тратит энергию.

  In an inactive state, the device's battery does not consume energy.

• Этот сервер сейчас неррабочее из-за технических проблем.

  This server is currently inactive due to technical issues.

• После отпуска я чувствую себя пассивным и немотивированным.

  After vacation, I feel inactive and unmotivated.

• неактивный режим телефона позволяет сэкономить заряд батареи.

  The inactive mode of the phone helps save battery charge.

Lacking activity or movement (Physical or metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пассивный - Common in everyday language for describing someone who is not proactive.
• неактивный - Used in sports or health contexts, e.g., an "inactive" lifestyle.

Usage Examples:

• Пассивный образ жизни может привести к проблемам со здоровьем.

  An inactive lifestyle can lead to health problems.

• В неактивном состоянии игрок не может участвовать в матче.

  In an inactive state, the player cannot participate in the match.

• Она предпочитает пассивный отдых, просто читая книгу.

  She prefers an inactive form of relaxation, just reading a book.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'неактивный' is an adjective and follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular for most modern loanwords. It changes based on gender, number, and case.

'пассивный' follows the same declension pattern as above. 'неррабочее' is typically used as a neuter noun and has less variation, remaining mostly unchanged in informal use.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пассивный (implies lack of action, with a subtle nuance of submission)
  • застойный (used for stagnant or idle states, often in economic contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • активный (directly opposite, meaning active or engaged)
  • работающий (meaning operational or functioning)

Related Phrases:

• неактивный режим - Inactive mode (Refers to a setting where a device or system is not operational to conserve resources.)
• пассивный доход - Passive income (Income generated with little effort, common in financial discussions.)
• неррабочее состояние - Inactive state (Used in technical contexts for machinery or software.)

Usage Notes:

'Неактивный' is the most direct translation for 'inactive' in formal English-Russian contexts, such as business or technology, and aligns closely with its meaning of not being in use. 'Пассивный' should be used cautiously as it can imply a more passive or submissive attitude, which might not perfectly match 'inactive' in all scenarios. In Russian, adjectives like these must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, so always check the context. For example, choose 'неактивный' for accounts or devices, but 'пассивный' for personal behaviors. Beginners might find declensions challenging, so practice with common phrases.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Using 'пассивный' interchangeably with 'неактивный' without considering nuance. For instance, English learners might say "пассивный аккаунт" instead of "неактивный аккаунт," which could imply the account is submissive rather than just unused. Correct usage: "неактивный аккаунт." Explanation: 'Пассивный' often carries a connotation of inactivity due to choice or inertia, while 'неактивный' is more neutral.

• Another error: Forgetting to decline the adjective, e.g., saying "неактивный в генитиве" instead of "неактивного" in genitive case. Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "отсутствие неактивного состояния" (absence of an inactive state).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'пассивный' can sometimes carry a negative connotation, especially in professional or social contexts, where activity and initiative are highly valued. For example, an 'inactive' person might be seen as lazy in a society that emphasizes productivity, influenced by historical emphasis on collective effort in Soviet times.

Related Concepts:

• активный
• застой
• спящий режим