Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'insane'

English Word: insane

Key Russian Translations:

• безумный [bɪˈzum.nɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Singular]
• сумасшедший [su.məs.ˈʃɛd.sʲɪj] - [Adjective, Informal, Plural or Singular]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, psychology, and everyday conversations, but not as frequent as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and contextual nuances; for 'безумный', it may be slightly easier, while 'сумасшедший' can vary to B2 due to informal connotations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

безумный: [bɪˈzum.nɨj] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ы' sound is a soft, back vowel typical in Russian.)

сумасшедший: [su.məs.ˈʃɛd.sʲɪj] (Stress on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'ш' sound, which can be tricky for learners.)

Note on безумный: This word has a literary feel; the 'з' is pronounced as a voiced 'z', and variations in speed can affect vowel clarity.

Note on сумасшедший: Often used in spoken language; be aware of regional accents that might soften the 'ш' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Mentally deranged or suffering from insanity

Translation(s) & Context:

• безумный - Used in formal or literary contexts, such as describing psychological conditions.
• сумасшедший - Applied in informal settings, like casual conversations about erratic behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал безумным после той трагедии. (He became insane after that tragedy.)

  Translation: He became insane after that tragedy. (This example shows the adjective in a past context, highlighting emotional distress.)

• Сумасшедший человек бродил по улицам. (The insane person was wandering the streets.)

  Translation: The insane person was wandering the streets. (Demonstrates informal usage with a noun modifier in a descriptive sentence.)

• Её безумные поступки напугали всех. (Her insane actions frightened everyone.)

  Translation: Her insane actions frightened everyone. (Illustrates plural or modified forms in a narrative context.)

• Этот сумасшедший план может сработать. (This insane plan might work.)

  Translation: This insane plan might work. (Shows usage in hypothetical or ironic scenarios.)

• Безумный взгляд в его глазах пугал. (The insane look in his eyes was frightening.)

  Translation: The insane look in his eyes was frightening. (Emphasizes adjectival agreement with nouns in descriptive phrases.)

Meaning 2: Extremely foolish or unreasonable

Translation(s) & Context:

• безумный - In contexts like criticizing irrational decisions, often in formal writing.
• сумасшедший - For everyday expressions of absurdity, like in casual complaints.

Usage Examples:

• Это безумная идея — прыгнуть с парашютом без подготовки. (This is an insane idea — jumping with a parachute without training.)

  Translation: This is an insane idea — jumping with a parachute without training. (Highlights idiomatic use in risk assessment.)

• Сумасшедшие цены в магазине шокировали покупателей. (The insane prices in the store shocked the customers.)

  Translation: The insane prices in the store shocked the customers. (Demonstrates agreement with plural nouns in commercial contexts.)

• Безумный риск не оправдывает результат. (Insane risk doesn't justify the outcome.)

  Translation: Insane risk doesn't justify the outcome. (Used in philosophical or reflective discussions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'безумный' and 'сумасшедший' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns with some irregularities.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the noun they modify. If used as predicates, they may not inflect in some cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • психический (more clinical, often used in medical contexts)
  • ненормальный (general term for abnormal, with less intensity)
• Antonyms:
  • разумный (sane or reasonable)
  • нормальный (normal)

Related Phrases:

• Безумная идея (Insane idea) - A phrase used to describe an impractical or wild concept.
• Сумасшедший дом (Insane asylum or madhouse) - Refers to a place for the mentally ill, with historical connotations.
• Безумно влюбиться (To fall insanely in love) - Expresses intense, irrational emotions in romantic contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Безумный' is more formal and literary, often aligning with 'insane' in a psychological sense, while 'сумасшедший' is casual and can imply foolishness rather than clinical insanity. Choose based on context: use 'безумный' for written or serious discussions, and 'сумасшедший' for spoken language. Be cautious with grammar—always ensure adjective agreement with nouns. In Russian, these words can carry a pejorative tone, so they're best avoided in polite conversation unless emphasizing absurdity.

Common Errors:

• Using 'безумный' interchangeably with 'сумасшедший' without considering formality: Error - "Он сумасшедший в формальном отчёте" (incorrect for formal reports). Correct: "Он безумный в формальном отчёте." Explanation: 'Сумасшедший' is too informal for official contexts.
• Forgetting adjective inflections: Error - "безумный женщина" (grammatically wrong). Correct: "безумная женщина." Explanation: Adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'безумный' often appear in literature (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works), symbolizing inner turmoil or societal critique. 'Сумасшедший' might evoke stereotypes from Soviet-era films, where insanity represents chaos or rebellion, helping users understand the emotional depth beyond literal meaning.

Related Concepts:

• психология (psychology)
• психиатрия (psychiatry)
• ненормальность (abnormality)