Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'incorrigible'

English Word: incorrigible

Key Russian Translations:

• неисправимый [nʲɪˈspɾavʲɪmɨj] - [Formal, often used in literary or psychological contexts]
• закоренелый [zəkɐˈrʲenʲɪlʲɪj] - [Informal, emphasizing deep-rooted habits]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are not everyday vocabulary but appear in discussions of behavior, education, or literature.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it involves understanding nuanced adjectives and their inflections; for "неисправимый," it's B2, while "закоренелый" might be B1 due to simpler usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

неисправимый: [nʲɪˈspɾavʲɪmɨj]

закоренелый: [zəkɐˈrʲenʲɪlʲɪj]

Note on неисправимый: The stress falls on the third syllable, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'н' sound; variations in fast speech may soften the 'р'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Unable to be corrected or reformed (e.g., in the context of behavior or habits)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неисправимый - Used in formal settings, such as psychology or education, to describe someone who doesn't change despite efforts.
• закоренелый - Applied in informal or everyday contexts to indicate deeply ingrained negative traits, like in personal anecdotes.

Usage Examples:

• Он был неисправимым оптимистом, несмотря на все неудачи. (He was an incorrigible optimist despite all the failures.)

  English Translation: He was an incorrigible optimist despite all the failures.

• Её закоренелые привычки делали её неисправимой в глазах общества. (Her incorrigible habits made her seem unreformable in the eyes of society.)

  English Translation: Her incorrigible habits made her seem unreformable in the eyes of society.

• В детстве он был закоренелым проказником, но никто не мог его исправить. (As a child, he was an incorrigible mischief-maker, but no one could reform him.)

  English Translation: As a child, he was an incorrigible mischief-maker, but no one could reform him.

• Неисправимый лентяй всегда находил оправдания для своей бездеятельности. (The incorrigible lazy person always found excuses for their idleness.)

  English Translation: The incorrigible lazy person always found excuses for their idleness.

• Закоренелый скептик отказывался верить в изменения. (The incorrigible skeptic refused to believe in change.)

  English Translation: The incorrigible skeptic refused to believe in change. This example shows the word in a philosophical context.

Meaning 2: Incurably mischievous or playful (e.g., in a light-hearted sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неисправимый - Often used affectionately in family or social settings to describe playful behavior.
• закоренелый - Less common here, but can imply a persistent, harmless naughtiness.

Usage Examples:

• Её неисправимая шаловливость заставляла всех улыбаться. (Her incorrigible playfulness made everyone smile.)

  English Translation: Her incorrigible playfulness made everyone smile.

• Закоренелый шутник в компании всегда придумывал забавные истории. (The incorrigible joker in the group always came up with funny stories.)

  English Translation: The incorrigible joker in the group always came up with funny stories.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неисправимый" and "закоренелый" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns for short and long forms, with "неисправимый" being more regular.

Note: These adjectives do not change in comparative forms unless modified (e.g., "более неисправимый" for "more incorrigible").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неподдающийся (nepoddayushchiysya) - Similar to "incorrigible" but emphasizes resistance.
  • упрямый (upryamyy) - Stubborn, with a connotation of willful persistence.
• Antonyms:
  • исправимый (ispravimyy) - Correctable or reformable.
  • послушный (poslushnyy) - Obedient, directly contrasting stubborn behavior.

Related Phrases:

• неисправимый оптимист (neisp Ravimyy optimist) - An incorrigible optimist; used to describe someone who remains positive despite setbacks.
• закоренелый холостяк (zakorenelyy kholostyak) - A confirmed bachelor; implies a deeply set lifestyle choice.
• неисправимая привычка (neisp Ravimaya privychka) - An incorrigible habit; common in self-improvement contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Incorrigible" translates most directly to "неисправимый" in formal contexts, such as legal or educational discussions, where precision is key. Choose "закоренелый" for more informal or emotional narratives. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. For English learners, note that Russian lacks articles, so focus on context for nuance. If multiple translations apply, select based on tone: "неисправимый" for neutral/factual, "закоренелый" for expressive.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "неисправный" (meaning "faulty" as in machinery) instead of "неисправимый." Correct: "неисправимый" for people or behaviors. Explanation: "Неисправный" refers to broken objects, not character traits, which can confuse literal translations.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "неисправимый женщина" instead of "неисправимая женщина." Correct: Always match gender and case. Explanation: Russian requires full agreement, unlike English, leading to grammatical errors in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "неисправимый" often appear in literature (e.g., in works by Dostoevsky) to depict characters with unchangeable flaws, reflecting themes of human imperfection and redemption. This can tie into broader philosophical discussions in Russian society about personal reform versus fate.

Related Concepts:

• упрямство (upryamstvo) - Stubbornness
• неподатливость (nepodatlivost') - Inflexibility
• реформация (reformatsiya) - Reformation