Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inhibited'

English Word: inhibited

Key Russian Translations:

• сдержанный /sdrɪˈʒan.nɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, Often used in psychological or social contexts]
• застенчивый /zəsˈtʲen.t͡ɕɪ.vɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective, Commonly used for shyness in everyday conversations]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in literature, psychology, and casual discussions, but not as common in everyday spoken Russian as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections. For 'сдержанный', it's straightforward; for 'застенчивый', similar, but learners may struggle with nuances.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сдержанный: /sdrɪˈʒan.nɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ж' sound is like the 's' in 'measure'.)

застенчивый: /zəsˈtʲen.t͡ɕɪ.vɨj/ (The 'ч' is a soft palatal fricative; note the soft sign 'ь' affecting pronunciation.)

Note on сдержанный: Be cautious with the 'жд' cluster, which can be challenging for English speakers; it blends into a single sound. For застенчивый, the ending varies by case, affecting vowel sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Feeling shy, restrained, or self-conscious, often in social situations.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сдержанный - Used in formal contexts like psychology or descriptions of behavior, implying emotional restraint without negativity.
• застенчивый - Applied in informal settings, such as describing a person's personality in everyday life, emphasizing shyness or timidity.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда был сдержанным в обществе, избегая громких разговоров.

  He was always inhibited in society, avoiding loud conversations.

• Её застенчивый характер проявляется на вечеринках, где она редко заводит новые знакомства.

  Her inhibited nature shows at parties, where she rarely makes new acquaintances.

• Сдержанный подход к проблемам помогает избежать импульсивных решений.

  An inhibited approach to problems helps avoid impulsive decisions.

• Застенчивый ребенок неохотно участвует в групповых играх.

  The inhibited child reluctantly joins group games.

• В стрессовых ситуациях люди становятся более сдержанными, чтобы сохранить самообладание.

  In stressful situations, people become more inhibited to maintain self-control.

Secondary Meaning: Restricted or hindered, as in psychological or chemical contexts (e.g., inhibited growth).

Translation(s) & Context:

• сдержанный - In non-personal contexts, like describing restricted processes, e.g., in science or growth inhibition.

Usage Examples:

• Ингибированный рост бактерий был достигнут с помощью антибиотиков.

  The inhibited growth of bacteria was achieved using antibiotics.

• Сдержанный процесс развития может быть полезным в контролируемых экспериментах.

  An inhibited development process can be useful in controlled experiments.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'сдержанный' and 'застенчивый' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, but learners should note the agreement with nouns.

Note: These adjectives are regular, so they don't have irregular forms. If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not inflect as strictly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: робкий (timid, with a connotation of fear), стеснительный (shy, similar to застенчивый but slightly more neutral)
• Antonyms: открытый (open, extroverted), смелый (brave, bold; differs from открытый by implying courage rather than sociability)

Related Phrases:

• Сдержанный в эмоциях - Restrained in emotions (Used to describe someone who doesn't show feelings openly.)
• Застенчивый человек - An inhibited person (Common phrase for characterizing personality in social contexts.)
• Ингибированный ответ - Inhibited response (In psychological or scientific contexts, referring to delayed reactions.)

Usage Notes:

'Inhibited' often translates to 'сдержанный' in formal or psychological contexts, as it captures the idea of self-restraint without implying negativity. Use 'застенчивый' for more everyday, informal situations involving shyness. Be mindful of grammatical agreement: always match the adjective's gender, number, and case with the noun it describes. For English learners, choose 'сдержанный' when the inhibition is voluntary or controlled, versus 'застенчивый' for innate shyness. In spoken Russian, these words are versatile but avoid overusing them in casual speech where simpler terms like 'робкий' might suffice.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'сдержанный' with 'застенчивый' and using them interchangeably. Incorrect: "Он застенчивый в работе" (implying shyness in a professional setting where restraint is more appropriate). Correct: "Он сдержанный в работе" (better for controlled behavior). Explanation: 'Застенчивый' suggests timidity, while 'сдержанный' implies deliberate restraint; this can lead to miscommunication in formal contexts.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., using 'сдержанный' with a feminine noun without changing to 'сдержанная'. Incorrect: "Сдержанный женщина" (grammatically wrong). Correct: "Сдержанная женщина". Explanation: Russian requires agreement, so English speakers must practice case and gender rules to avoid basic errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being 'сдержанный' or inhibited is often viewed positively, especially in professional or social settings, as it aligns with values of modesty and emotional control. This contrasts with some Western cultures where expressiveness is encouraged. Historically, during the Soviet era, such traits were idealized in literature and propaganda, reflecting a stoic national character.

Related Concepts:

• эмоциональный (emotional)
• самообладание (self-control)
• робость (timidity)