Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'irritable'

English Word: irritable

Key Russian Translations:

• раздражительный /rəzˈdraʒɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, Used in general descriptions of temperament]
• нервный /ˈnʲɛrvnɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective, Used in everyday contexts to imply nervousness or irritability]

Frequency: Medium (Common in conversational and literary Russian, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "хороший" – good)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual nuances. For 'раздражительный', it's B1; for 'нервный', it's A2 due to its simpler usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

раздражительный: /rəzˈdraʒɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/

нервный: /ˈnʲɛrvnɨj/

Note on раздражительный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('dra'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian 'ж' sound, similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Pronounce it with a soft 'л' at the end.

Note on нервный: The initial 'нʲ' is a palatalized 'n', which may sound softer; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Easily annoyed, impatient, or quick to anger (Primary sense of 'irritable' as an adjective describing temperament).

Translation(s) & Context:

• раздражительный - Used in formal contexts like psychology or literature to describe a person's chronic irritability; common in written Russian or professional discussions.
• нервный - Applied in informal, everyday situations to indicate someone who is on edge or nervous; often in casual conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Он часто бывает раздражительным после долгого рабочего дня. (On chasto byvaet razdrazhitel'nym posle dolgogo rabochego dnya.)

  He often becomes irritable after a long workday. (This shows the adjective in a nominative context describing a person's state.)

• Её нервный характер делает её раздражительной в стрессовых ситуациях. (Eyó nervnyy kharakter delayet eyó razdrazhitel'noy v stressovykh situatsiyakh.)

  Her nervous nature makes her irritable in stressful situations. (Illustrates combination with another adjective and prepositional phrases.)

• Раздражительный ребенок не терпит шума. (Razdrazhitel'nyy rebyonok ne terpit shuma.)

  The irritable child cannot stand noise. (Demonstrates use with nouns in various cases.)

• Она нервная и раздражительная, когда устаёт. (Ona nervnaya i razdrazhitel'naya, kogda ustayot.)

  She is nervous and irritable when she gets tired. (Shows juxtaposition of synonyms in a sentence.)

• В офисе он становится раздражительным из-за мелких проблем. (V ofise on stanovitsya razdrazhitel'nym iz-za melkikh problem.)

  In the office, he becomes irritable because of minor issues. (Highlights causal structures and everyday scenarios.)

Meaning 2: Prone to inflammation or sensitivity (Secondary, more medical sense, e.g., in biology or health contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• раздражительный - Used in medical or scientific contexts, such as describing irritated skin or tissues.

Usage Examples:

• Кожа может стать раздражительной от аллергенов. (Kozha mozhet stat' razdrazhitel'noy ot allergenov.)

  The skin can become irritable from allergens. (Applies to physical sensitivity.)

• Раздражительный тип кожи требует специального ухода. (Razdrazhitel'nyy tip kozhi trebuet spetsial'nogo ukhoda.)

  Irritable skin type requires special care. (Contextualizes in health discussions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'раздражительный' and 'нервный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

For 'раздражительный' (more complex due to its length), it is a short-form adjective in some contexts but primarily long-form. Here's a table for its inflections:

For 'нервный', it follows the same pattern but is simpler:

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

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вспыльчивый (vspyhlchivyy) - More intense, implying quick temper; used for explosive irritability.
  • раздраженный (razdrazhennyy) - Similar but often temporary state, not a trait.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (spokoynyy) - Calm and composed.
  • терпеливый (terpelivyy) - Patient and tolerant.

Related Phrases:

• Быть раздражительным (Byť razdrazhitel'nym) - To be irritable; used to describe ongoing mood swings.
• Нервный срыв (Nervnyy sryv) - Nervous breakdown; a phrase implying extreme irritability leading to emotional collapse.
• Раздражительный характер (Razdrazhitel'nyy kharakter) - Irritable temperament; common in psychological discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Раздражительный' is the most precise translation for the personality trait aspect of 'irritable', while 'нервный' is better for contexts involving anxiety or nervousness. In formal Russian, prefer 'раздражительный' in writing or professional settings, as it aligns closely with English usage. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns—always match gender, number, and case. For example, use 'раздражительная' for feminine subjects. When choosing between translations, consider the context: 'нервный' might sound more casual and is often paired with emotional states, whereas 'раздражительный' is neutral and versatile.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'раздражительный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "раздражительный женщина" instead of "раздражительная женщина". Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "раздражительная женщина". Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike in English, where 'irritable' doesn't change.
• Mistake: Confusing it with 'раздраженный', which means 'irritated' (a state), not a trait. Correct: Use 'раздражительный' for inherent traits. Example: Wrong: "Он раздраженный" (for personality); Right: "Он раздражительный".
• Mistake: Overusing in informal speech; 'нервный' might be more natural. Explanation: Learners often translate directly, but adapt to context for fluency.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing irritability like 'раздражительный' is often linked to the concept of 'душевное равновесие' (mental equilibrium). Historically, Russian literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's characters) portrays irritable temperaments as signs of deeper emotional turmoil, reflecting the cultural emphasis on introspection and resilience in the face of adversity.

Related Concepts:

• гнев (gnev) - Anger
• стресс (stress) - Stress
• эмоциональный (emotsional'nyy) - Emotional