Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'incapacitated'

English Word: incapacitated

Key Russian Translations:

• неспособный [nʲɪˈspɐsəbnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• недееспособный [nʲɪdʲiˈʲɛspəsbənɨj] - [Formal, Legal/Medical Context]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly used in formal, professional, or medical discussions but not in everyday casual speech.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and contextual usage. For 'неспособный', it's B2; for 'недееспособный', it may lean towards B2-C1 due to legal nuances.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неспособный: [nʲɪˈspɐsəbnɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ы' sound is a subtle, back vowel common in Russian.)

Note on неспособный: Pay attention to the soft 'н' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its palatalization. Variations in regional accents may slightly alter vowel length.

недееспособный: [nʲɪdʲiˈʲɛspəsbənɨj] (Stress on the fourth syllable; the 'дʲ' is a soft 'd' sound.)

Note on недееспособный: This word often has a more emphatic pronunciation in legal contexts, with a clearer distinction between syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Unable to function or perform due to physical, mental, or legal reasons (e.g., in medical or everyday contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неспособный - Used in general contexts to describe someone who is incapable, such as due to injury or illness (Formal, descriptive language).

Usage Examples:

• После аварии он стал неспособным к физической работе.

  After the accident, he became incapacitated for physical work.

• Эта машина неспособна развивать высокую скорость из-за старости.

  This machine is incapacitated from reaching high speeds due to its age.

• Неспособный к обучению ребенок нуждается в специальной поддержке.

  The child incapacitated for learning needs special support.

• Из-за болезни она чувствовала себя неспособной продолжить путешествие.

  Due to illness, she felt incapacitated to continue the trip.

Meaning 2: Legally or officially unable to act (e.g., in legal or administrative contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• недееспособный - Used in legal contexts to indicate someone who lacks legal capacity, such as a minor or someone deemed unfit (Formal, official documents).

Usage Examples:

• Суд признал его недееспособным из-за психического расстройства.

  The court declared him incapacitated due to a mental disorder.

• Недееспособный гражданин не может подписывать контракты без опекуна.

  An incapacitated citizen cannot sign contracts without a guardian.

• В случае недееспособности, имущество управляется доверенным лицом.

  In the event of incapacitation, the property is managed by a trustee.

• Она была признана недееспособной после инцидента, но позже восстановила права.

  She was declared incapacitated after the incident but later regained her rights.

• Недееспособный наследник требует специального юридического рассмотрения.

  An incapacitated heir requires special legal consideration.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives and follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular but depend on gender, number, and case. 'Неспособный' and 'недееспособный' decline based on the noun they modify.

These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. For feminine or neuter nouns, adjust accordingly (e.g., неспособная for feminine singular).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бессильный (bessil'nyy) - Similar to 'powerless', but with a connotation of complete lack of strength.
  • невменяемый (nevmenyaemyy) - Often used in legal contexts, implying mental incapacity.
• Antonyms:
  • способный (sposobnyy) - Capable or able.
  • дееспособный (deesposobnyy) - Legally competent.

Related Phrases:

• Неспособный к работе - Incapable of working (Used in employment or medical contexts to describe disability.)
• Недееспособный из-за возраста - Incapacitated due to age (Common in discussions about elderly care or legal guardianship.)
• Стать неспособным - To become incapacitated (A phrase for describing a sudden loss of ability, e.g., after an accident.)

Usage Notes:

'Неспособный' is a general adjective for everyday incapacity and directly corresponds to 'incapacitated' in non-legal English contexts, but it's more formal in Russian. 'Недееспособный' is specifically for legal or official scenarios, akin to 'legally incapacitated'. Always consider the context: use 'неспособный' for physical/mental inability and 'недееспособный' for rights-related issues. In Russian, these words must agree grammatically with the nouns they modify, which can be tricky for English learners due to case endings. When choosing between translations, opt for 'недееспособный' in formal documents to avoid understatement.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'неспособный' in legal contexts where 'недееспособный' is required. For example, an English learner might say "Он неспособный подписать договор" instead of "Он недееспособный подписать договор".

  Correct: "Он недееспособный и не может подписать договор без опекуна." Explanation: 'Неспособный' implies general inability, while 'недееспособный' specifies legal incapacity, which is crucial in official settings.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "неспособный женщина" (incorrect) instead of "неспособная женщина".

  Correct: "Неспособная женщина" (feminine form). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the gender, number, and case of the noun, unlike English adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'недееспособный' carry significant legal and social implications, often tied to family structures and state welfare systems. For instance, during Soviet times, incapacity was frequently linked to state-provided support, reflecting a collectivist approach to disability and care, which contrasts with more individualistic Western views.

Related Concepts:

• инвалид (invalid)
• бессильность (powerlessness)
• опекунство (guardianship)