Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'irrational'

English Word: irrational

Key Russian Translations:

• иррациональный /ɪrraˈtsɪjənalʲ/ - [Formal, Mathematical context]
• неразумный /nʲɪrɐˈzumnɨj/ - [Informal, Everyday emotional or logical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in academic and philosophical discussions, but less frequent in casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for иррациональный due to its technical nature; A2 for неразумный as it's more straightforward)

Pronunciation (Russian):

иррациональный: /ɪrraˈtsɪjənalʲ/

Note on иррациональный: The stress falls on the fourth syllable; be cautious with the soft 'л' sound, which is palatalized in Russian.

неразумный: /nʲɪrɐˈzumnɨj/

Note on неразумный: The initial 'н' is palatalized; this word often has a softer, more emotional pronunciation in spoken Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not based on reason or logic (e.g., in mathematics or philosophy)

Translation(s) & Context:

• иррациональный - Used in formal, scientific, or mathematical contexts, such as describing irrational numbers.
• неразумный - Used in informal settings to describe irrational behavior or decisions in everyday life.

Usage Examples:

• В математике π является иррациональным числом, которое невозможно выразить как простую дробь.

  In mathematics, π is an irrational number that cannot be expressed as a simple fraction.

• Его решение было неразумным, так как оно не учитывало возможные последствия.

  His decision was irrational, as it didn't take into account possible consequences.

• Иррациональные страхи могут помешать человеку жить нормальной жизнью.

  Irrational fears can prevent a person from living a normal life.

• Этот аргумент кажется неразумным в контексте научных доказательств.

  This argument seems irrational in the context of scientific evidence.

• В философии иррациональные идеи иногда используются для объяснения человеческой интуиции.

  In philosophy, irrational ideas are sometimes used to explain human intuition.

Meaning 2: Lacking reason or sensibility (e.g., emotional or impulsive)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неразумный - Common in psychological or interpersonal contexts, emphasizing emotional impulsivity.
• иррациональный - Less common here, but used in formal analyses of behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Её иррациональное поведение во время спора удивило всех присутствующих.

  Her irrational behavior during the argument surprised everyone present.

• Неразумный страх темноты часто встречается у детей.

  An irrational fear of the dark is common among children.

• Вместо логического подхода, он выбрал иррациональный путь, основанный на эмоциях.

  Instead of a logical approach, he chose an irrational path based on emotions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Иррациональный follows standard first-declension adjective patterns, while неразумный is also a standard adjective but may vary slightly in informal use.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • иррациональный: абсурдный (absurd) - Often used for illogical ideas with a humorous connotation.
  • неразумный: глупый (foolish) - Implies a lack of wisdom, more emotional than logical.
• Antonyms:
  • иррациональный: рациональный (rational)
  • неразумный: разумный (sensible)

Related Phrases:

• иррациональный страх - Irrational fear; often used in psychology to describe phobias without basis.
• неразумное решение - Irrational decision; common in discussions about poor choices in daily life.
• иррациональные числа - Irrational numbers; a key phrase in mathematics.
• неразумный поступок - Foolish act; implies impulsive behavior with negative outcomes.

Usage Notes:

Use "иррациональный" for precise, technical contexts like mathematics or philosophy, where it directly mirrors the English "irrational" in meaning. "Неразумный" is better for everyday emotional scenarios, as it conveys a sense of unreasonableness without formality. Be mindful of context: in Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they describe. For learners, choose "иррациональный" in academic writing and "неразумный" in casual conversation to avoid sounding overly stiff.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "иррациональный" in everyday contexts, e.g., saying "Он иррациональный" to mean "He is irrational" in a casual argument. Correct: "Он неразумный" – because "иррациональный" sounds too formal and may confuse listeners in informal settings.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "иррациональный решение" (incorrect gender agreement). Correct: "иррациональное решение" for neuter nouns. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, so always check the noun first.

• Error: Confusing with similar words like "абсурдный," leading to overuse. Correct: Use "иррациональный" only for non-logical concepts, not absurdity. Explanation: This can make speech less precise; practice with examples to differentiate.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "неразумный" often carry a moral or emotional weight, reflecting the influence of literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's exploration of irrational human behavior). "Иррациональный" is more neutral and tied to Western scientific traditions, highlighting Russia's historical blend of Eastern intuition and Western rationality in intellectual discourse.

Related Concepts:

• рациональный
• абсурдный
• интуиция
• логический