Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'misbehave'

English Word: misbehave

Key Russian Translations:

• вести себя плохо [ˈvʲesʲtʲɪ səˈbɐ pəˈlʲo] - [Informal, commonly used for general bad behavior]
• шалить [ʂɐˈlʲitʲ] - [Informal, often for playful or minor misbehavior, especially among children]

Frequency: Medium (The phrase is common in everyday conversations, particularly in family or educational contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'быть').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves reflexive verb constructions; learners must understand verb conjugation and the reflexive particle 'себя', which can be challenging for beginners).

Pronunciation (Russian):

вести себя плохо: [ˈvʲesʲtʲɪ səˈbɐ pəˈlʲo]

Note on вести себя плохо: The stress falls on the second syllable of 'вести' and 'плохо'. Be mindful of the soft sign in 'себя', which affects pronunciation; common variations in fast speech may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

шалить: [ʂɐˈlʲitʲ]

Note on шалить: The 'ш' sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative; this verb is straightforward but may have regional variations in emphasis.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To behave badly or improperly (general misconduct)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вести себя плохо - Used in everyday informal settings, such as describing children's tantrums or adult rudeness in social situations.
• шалить - Applied to light-hearted or playful misbehavior, often in a non-serious context like kids playing pranks.

Usage Examples:

• Дети часто шалят в парке, но родители быстро их успокаивают.

  Children often misbehave in the park, but parents quickly calm them down. (This example shows playful misbehavior in a public setting.)

• На уроке он вёл себя плохо, отвлекаю других учеников разговорами.

  During the lesson, he misbehaved by distracting other students with conversations. (Illustrates disruptive behavior in an educational context.)

• Она всегда шалит на вечеринках, но все прощают её из-за хорошего настроения.

  She always misbehaves at parties, but everyone forgives her because of her good spirits. (Demonstrates light-hearted misbehavior in social gatherings.)

• Взрослые не должны вести себя плохо в общественных местах, чтобы не шокировать окружающих.

  Adults should not misbehave in public places to avoid shocking those around them. (Compares both translations in a more serious context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations involve verbs that conjugate based on tense, person, and number. 'Вести себя плохо' uses the verb 'вести' (to lead/behave), which is irregular in some forms, and includes the reflexive particle 'себя'. 'Шалить' is a regular verb but can vary by aspect.

Note: 'Шалить' is imperfective and does not change in aspect without a perfective counterpart like 'пошалить'. If the word is used as an adjective or in compounds, it remains invariant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: баловаться (to fool around, often playfully), хулиганить (to act like a hooligan, more aggressive)
• – баловаться is similar to шалить but implies more indulgence.
• Antonyms: вести себя хорошо (to behave well), быть послушным (to be obedient)

Related Phrases:

• Вести себя прилично – To behave properly; used in formal contexts to contrast with misbehavior.
• Шалить на уроке – To misbehave in class; a common phrase in educational settings.
• Плохо себя вести в обществе – To misbehave in society; emphasizes social norms.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'вести себя плохо' directly mirrors the English 'misbehave' by using a reflexive construction, making it the most accurate translation for general use. Choose 'шалить' for lighter, childlike contexts to avoid sounding too harsh. Be aware of grammatical gender and number in conjugations; for example, past tense changes based on the subject's gender. In formal writing, opt for more descriptive phrases to maintain politeness, as direct criticism can be culturally sensitive.

• Selection guide: Use 'вести себя плохо' for serious infractions and 'шалить' for playful ones.
• Grammar note: Always pair 'себя' with the verb for reflexivity; omitting it changes the meaning entirely.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'вести себя плохо' with 'плохо вести', which is grammatically incorrect as it omits the reflexive 'себя'. Incorrect: "Он плохо вести" (wrong structure). Correct: "Он вёл себя плохо". Another error is overusing 'шалить' in serious contexts, e.g., saying "Он шалил на работе" for workplace misconduct, which sounds too playful; instead, use "Он вёл себя плохо на работе" for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, misbehavior, especially among children, is often viewed through the lens of collectivism and family values. Phrases like 'шалить' carry a somewhat affectionate connotation, implying that such actions are temporary and forgivable, reflecting a cultural emphasis on patience and correction rather than immediate punishment, as seen in traditional folklore tales.

Related Concepts:

• дисциплина (discipline)
• поведение (behavior)
• нарушение (violation)