Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'intransigent'

English Word: intransigent

Key Russian Translations:

• непримиримый [nʲɪprʲɪˈmʲirʲɪmɨj] - [Formal]
• упрямый [ʊˈpramɨj] - [Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal discussions, debates, or written contexts, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual nuances; for "непримиримый," it's slightly more advanced due to formal connotations, while "упрямый" is accessible at B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

непримиримый: [nʲɪprʲɪˈmʲirʲɪmɨj]

упрямый: [ʊˈpramɨj]

Note on непримиримый: The stress falls on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making it softer and more palatalized.

Note on упрямый: This word has a straightforward pronunciation, but the "у" sound is like the "oo" in "book," and it's often used with emphasis in spoken Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Refusing to compromise or change one's position, often in a principled or stubborn manner

Translation(s) & Context:

• непримиримый - Used in formal or political contexts, such as negotiations or ideological debates, to describe someone who won't yield.
• упрямый - Applied in everyday situations to denote stubbornness, often with a negative connotation in informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он был непримиримым в своих убеждениях, отказываясь идти на компромисс.

  He was intransigent in his beliefs, refusing to compromise.

• Её непримиримая позиция в переговорах привела к тупику.

  Her intransigent position in the negotiations led to a deadlock.

• Упрямый ребенок не хотел делиться игрушками с другими.

  The intransigent child didn't want to share toys with others.

• В политике непримиримые лидеры часто вызывают конфликты.

  In politics, intransigent leaders often cause conflicts.

• Его упрямый характер мешал ему адаптироваться к изменениям.

  His intransigent nature hindered him from adapting to changes.

Meaning 2: Stubbornly persistent or unyielding in behavior

Translation(s) & Context:

• упрямый - Common in personal or relational contexts, emphasizing emotional stubbornness.
• непримиримый - Less common here, but used in more serious, ideological scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Упрямый фермер настаивал на своих методах, несмотря на советы экспертов.

  The intransigent farmer insisted on his methods despite expert advice.

• Её непримиримое отношение к работе сделало её лидером в команде.

  Her intransigent attitude toward work made her a leader in the team.

• Упрямый студент отказывался переписывать эссе, даже с ошибками.

  The intransigent student refused to rewrite the essay, even with errors.

• Не-примиримые дебаты в парламенте длились часами.

  The intransigent debates in parliament lasted for hours.

• Его упрямость в дружбе иногда отталкивала людей.

  His intransigent stubbornness in friendships sometimes pushed people away.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "непримиримый" and "упрямый" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives, with some irregularities in spelling.

Note: These adjectives do not change for feminine or neuter forms in a completely irregular way, but follow the standard pattern (e.g., непримиримая for feminine singular). They are invariable in terms of root changes but adjust endings per case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • твердый (tvёrdyy) - Similar to "непримиримый," but implies firmness without aggression.
  • настойчивый (nastóichivyy) - Often used interchangeably with "упрямый" in persistent contexts, but less negative.
• Antonyms:
  • гибкий (gibkiy) - Flexible or adaptable.
  • компромиссный (kompromissnyy) - Willing to compromise.

Related Phrases:

• непримиримая позиция - An intransigent position; used in debates or negotiations to describe a rigid stance.
• упрямый как осёл - Stubborn as a mule; a common idiom implying extreme intransigence in everyday contexts.
• непримиримый конфликт - Intransigent conflict; refers to ongoing disputes that won't resolve.

Usage Notes:

"Непримиримый" is the most precise translation for "intransigent" in formal or political contexts, aligning closely with its English connotation of principled refusal to compromise. Use "упрямый" for more casual, everyday stubbornness, but be aware it can carry a pejorative tone. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. When choosing between translations, consider the context: formal writing favors "непримиримый," while spoken language leans toward "упрямый." Avoid direct word-for-word translation; instead, focus on the situation to select the appropriate term.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "непримиримый" in informal settings where "упрямый" is more natural, e.g., saying "Он непримиримый в еде" instead of "Он упрямый в еде" (He is intransigent with food).
  Correct: "Он упрямый в еде" – Explanation: "Непримиримый" sounds overly formal and may confuse listeners in casual contexts.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "непримиримый женщина" instead of "непримиримая женщина" (intransigent woman).
  Correct: "Непримиримая женщина" – Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; here, it's feminine.
• Mistake: Confusing with similar words like "твердый," leading to misuse in emotional contexts.
  Correct: Use "упрямый" for personal stubbornness; Explanation: "Твердый" implies strength without emotional rigidity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "непримиримый" often evoke historical contexts, such as the Soviet era's ideological rigidity or modern political debates. It can carry a positive connotation in revolutionary or patriotic narratives, symbolizing unyielding resolve, whereas "упрямый" is more neutral or negative in daily life, reflecting the cultural value placed on adaptability in personal relationships.

Related Concepts:

• компромисс
• гибкость
• настойчивость