Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mistaken'

English Word: mistaken

Key Russian Translations:

• ошибочный /ɐʂɨˈboʧnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective form]
• неправильный /nʲɪˈpravʲilʲnɨj/ - [Informal, Everyday usage]

Frequency: Medium (Common in written and formal contexts, but less frequent in casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions; for 'ошибочный', it's B1, while 'неправильный' is A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ошибочный: /ɐʂɨˈboʧnɨj/

Note on ошибочный: The 'ш' sound is a voiceless retroflex fricative (/ʂ/), which can be challenging for English speakers; stress falls on the third syllable.

неправильный: /nʲɪˈpravʲilʲnɨj/

Note on неправильный: The 'п' is unaspirated; pay attention to the soft sign 'ь' affecting the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Wrong, incorrect, or based on error (as an adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ошибочный - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as scientific reports or legal documents, to describe something that is factually incorrect.
• неправильный - Applied in everyday situations, like casual conversations, to indicate something that is not right or accurate.

Usage Examples:

• Это был ошибочный вывод, основанный на неполных данных.

  This was a mistaken conclusion based on incomplete data.

• Его неправильный подход к проблеме привел к неудаче.

  His mistaken approach to the problem led to failure.

• В статье содержится ошибочный факт, который может ввести в заблуждение читателей.

  The article contains a mistaken fact that could mislead readers.

• Не правильный, а неправильный ответ был выбран по ошибке.

  Not the correct, but the mistaken answer was chosen by mistake.

• Оказывается, мой первоначальный план был ошибочным из-за неверной информации.

  It turns out, my initial plan was mistaken due to incorrect information.

Meaning: Being in error or misunderstood (in a personal context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ошибочный - Less common here; better for impersonal errors, e.g., in judgments or perceptions.
• неправильный - Often used informally to describe personal mistakes or misunderstandings.

Usage Examples:

• Я понял, что был ошибочным в своих ожиданиях.

  I realized that I was mistaken in my expectations.

• Ее неправильное понимание ситуации вызвало конфликт.

  Her mistaken understanding of the situation caused conflict.

• Этот ошибочный взгляд на историю часто встречается в популярной литературе.

  This mistaken view of history is often found in popular literature.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'ошибочный' and 'неправильный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard first-declension patterns, though they can have irregularities in certain forms.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the noun in all aspects. For short forms (predicative), 'ошибочен' or 'неправилен' can be used in certain contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неверный (slightly more emphatic, often for unfaithful or inaccurate)
  • ложный (implies falsehood or deception)
• Antonyms:
  • правильный (correct, accurate)
  • верный (true, faithful)

Related Phrases:

• Допустить ошибку - To make a mistake; used in contexts of personal error or oversight.
• Исправить ошибочный вывод - To correct a mistaken conclusion; common in academic or professional settings.
• Не правильный, а неправильный выбор - Not the correct, but the mistaken choice; highlights alternatives in decision-making.

Usage Notes:

'Ошибочный' is more formal and precise for describing errors in facts or judgments, making it a closer match to 'mistaken' in English, especially in written contexts. 'Неправильный' is versatile for everyday use but can feel less sophisticated. Choose based on context: use 'ошибочный' for intellectual or scientific errors, and 'неправильный' for general mistakes. Always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Common Errors:

• English speakers often confuse 'ошибочный' (adjective for 'mistaken') with 'ошибаться' (verb meaning 'to be mistaken'). Incorrect: "Я ошибочный" (wrong, as it should be "Я ошибался" for "I was mistaken"). Correct: Use 'ошибочный' only as an adjective, e.g., "ошибочный факт". This error stems from not distinguishing parts of speech.

• Overusing 'неправильный' in formal contexts where 'ошибочный' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "неправильный вывод" instead of "ошибочный вывод" in a scientific paper, which can sound too casual.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, admitting to being 'mistaken' (e.g., through 'ошибочный') is often seen as a sign of humility and intellectual honesty, especially in education and professional environments. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on accuracy and truth, influenced by historical events like the Soviet emphasis on science and ideology.

Related Concepts:

• Ошибка (error or mistake)
• Правильный (correct)
• Заблуждение (misconception)