Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'intransigence'

English Word: intransigence

Key Russian Translations:

• непримиримость /nʲɪprʲɪmʲɪrʲɪˈmosʲtʲ/ - [Formal, used in serious discussions or political contexts]
• упрямство /ʊˈprʲamstvə/ - [Informal, everyday language for stubborn behavior]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal writing, debates, and media, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract nouns and nuanced vocabulary; for 'непримиримость', it may lean towards B2+, while 'упрямство' is more B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

непримиримость: /nʲɪprʲɪmʲɪrʲɪˈmosʲtʲ/

упрямство: /ʊˈprʲamstvə/

Note on непримиримость: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ri'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants; pronounce it with a soft 'r' sound.

Note on упрямство: This word has a softer, more fluid pronunciation; the 'у' is like the 'oo' in 'book'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The refusal to change one's views, behavior, or policies, often implying stubbornness or rigidity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• непримиримость - Used in formal or political contexts, such as negotiations or ideological debates, to denote an uncompromising stance.
• упрямство - Applied in everyday situations, like personal relationships or minor conflicts, to describe general stubbornness.

Usage Examples:

• Его непримиримость в переговорах помешала достижению соглашения.

  His intransigence in the negotiations prevented the agreement from being reached.

• В политике такая непримиримость часто приводит к конфликтам.

  In politics, such intransigence often leads to conflicts.

• Её упрямство в мелочах раздражало друзей.

  Her intransigence in trivial matters irritated her friends.

• Несмотря на упрямство, он иногда уступал в спорах.

  Despite his intransigence, he sometimes yielded in arguments.

• Пример непримиримости в истории — это позиция некоторых лидеров во время холодной войны.

  An example of intransigence in history is the stance of certain leaders during the Cold War.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both key translations are nouns. 'Непримиримость' is a feminine noun (3rd declension), which inflects regularly based on case and number. 'Упрямство' is also a neuter noun but follows standard patterns with some irregularities in certain forms.

Note: These nouns do not change in plural forms as frequently as some others, but always adjust for case in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • строптивость (similar to 'упрямство', but implies more resistance or defiance)
  • закоснелость (used for deeply ingrained intransigence, often in a pejorative sense)
• Antonyms:
  • гибкость (flexibility, contrasting with rigid intransigence)
  • уступчивость (yielding or compromise-oriented behavior)

Related Phrases:

• Политическая непримиримость — A phrase meaning 'political intransigence', often used in discussions of diplomacy.
• Упрямство характера — Refers to 'intransigence of character', describing personal traits in psychology or literature.
• Не идти на компромисс из-за непримиримости — Means 'not to compromise due to intransigence', highlighting conflict resolution scenarios.

Usage Notes:

'Непримиримость' is the most direct and formal equivalent to 'intransigence' in English, ideal for academic or political contexts, while 'упрямство' is better for informal settings like everyday conversations. English speakers should note that Russian nouns require case agreement, so 'непримиримость' changes form based on its role in the sentence (e.g., genitive for possession). When choosing between translations, opt for 'непримиримость' in professional writing and 'упрямство' in narrative or descriptive language to match tone and register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'непримиримость' in casual speech, which sounds overly formal. Correct: Switch to 'упрямство' for everyday contexts, e.g., Incorrect: "Его непримиримость в игре" (His intransigence in the game) → Correct: "Его упрямство в игре" (as it fits informal play).

• Error: Forgetting case inflections, such as using nominative in all positions. Correct: In a sentence like "Я уважаю его упрямство" (I respect his intransigence), ensure genitive for possession if needed, e.g., "Несмотря на упрямство" (Despite the intransigence).

• Error: Confusing with similar words like 'терпение' (patience). Explanation: 'Intransigence' implies resistance, not endurance, so always pair it with conflict scenarios to avoid misuse.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'непримиримость' often carries historical connotations, such as the unyielding stances during the Soviet era or in Russian literature (e.g., characters in Dostoevsky's works). It can symbolize national resilience but is sometimes criticized as a barrier to diplomacy, reflecting cultural values of steadfastness versus adaptability.

Related Concepts:

• компромисс (compromise)
• гибкость (flexibility)
• терпение (patience)