Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mature'

English Word: mature

Key Russian Translations:

• зрелый [ˈzrelɨj] - [Formal, Adjective; Used in contexts involving full development, such as maturity in age, ideas, or fruits]
• взрослый [vzrosˈlɨj] - [Informal, Adjective; Primarily for human age or adulthood, but can overlap with 'mature' in certain contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday Russian, especially in educational, psychological, and agricultural discussions, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of adjective inflections and contextual nuances. For 'зрелый', it's B2 due to its regular declension; for 'взрослый', it's also B2 as it involves similar patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

зрелый: [ˈzrelɨj]

Note on зрелый: The stress falls on the first syllable ('zre-'), and the 'ы' sound is a distinct back vowel, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'l' sound.

взрослый: [vzrosˈlɨj]

Note on взрослый: Stress is on the second syllable ('sly-'), and the 'вз' cluster requires a smooth transition, similar to 'v' in English 'view'. Avoid over-emphasizing the 'z'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Mature (fully developed, ripe, or emotionally grown)

Translation(s) & Context:

• зрелый - Used in formal or literary contexts for intellectual, emotional, or physical maturity, such as describing a person’s mindset or a fruit’s ripeness.
• взрослый - Applied in everyday contexts for age-related maturity, like adulthood, but less for abstract concepts like ideas.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фрукт уже зрелый, его можно есть прямо с дерева.

  This fruit is already mature; you can eat it straight from the tree.

• Её зрелый подход к проблемам всегда впечатляет коллег.

  Her mature approach to problems always impresses her colleagues.

• Взрослый человек должен уметь принимать решения самостоятельно.

  A mature person should be able to make decisions independently.

• Зрелый художник часто черпает вдохновение из жизненного опыта.

  A mature artist often draws inspiration from life experience.

• Не все взрослые люди демонстрируют зрелый характер в конфликтах.

  Not all mature-aged people demonstrate a mature character in conflicts.

Mature (in the sense of sexually or biologically developed)

Translation(s) & Context:

• зрелый - Used in scientific or medical contexts for biological maturity.
• взрослый - Common in social or legal contexts for adulthood.

Usage Examples:

• Зрелый организм способен к размножению.

  A mature organism is capable of reproduction.

• Взрослый индивид имеет полные гражданские права.

  A mature individual has full civil rights.

• Зрелый возраст начинается после 18 лет в многих странах.

  Mature age begins after 18 years in many countries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'зрелый' and 'взрослый' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, but 'зрелый' is straightforward, while 'взрослый' has no irregularities.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form usage in modern Russian, but full inflections are required in sentences like "зрелый фрукт" (mature fruit).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • спелый (specifically for ripeness in fruits; less formal than зрелый)
  • законченный (for completed or fully formed ideas; implies a sense of perfection)
• Antonyms:
  • незрелый (immature, opposite of зрелый)
  • несовершеннолетний (underage, opposite of взрослый in age contexts)

Related Phrases:

• зрелый возраст - Refers to mature age, often meaning adulthood or prime of life.
• взрослый человек - Means an adult person, used in social or legal discussions.
• зрелый ум - Describes a mature mind, implying wisdom and experience.

Usage Notes:

While 'mature' in English can be versatile, in Russian, choose 'зрелый' for abstract or developmental maturity (e.g., emotions, ideas) and 'взрослый' for age-related contexts. 'зрелый' is more formal and literary, making it suitable for academic writing, whereas 'взрослый' fits casual conversations. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences; for example, say "зрелая женщина" for a mature woman. When translating, consider the context to avoid ambiguity—'mature' as in wine aging might lean toward 'зрелый'.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'зрелый' interchangeably with 'взрослый' without context, e.g., saying "зрелый ребенок" (mature child) when meaning an adult child, which could confuse listeners as 'зрелый' implies full development.

  Correct: Use 'взрослый ребенок' for an adult child. Explanation: 'зрелый' focuses on emotional or intellectual growth, not just age.

• Error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "зрелый женщина" instead of "зрелая женщина".

  Correct: Always inflect based on gender and case. Explanation: Russian requires agreement, so mismatched forms sound grammatically incorrect to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'зрелый' often carries a positive connotation of wisdom and experience, influenced by historical literary works like those of Tolstoy, where mature characters represent depth and reflection. 'взрослый' is more neutral and tied to legal adulthood (e.g., 18 years old), reflecting Russia's emphasis on personal responsibility from a young age in societal norms.

Related Concepts:

• молодой (young)
• законченный (completed or finished)
• несовершеннолетний (minor or underage)