Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nervous'

English Word: nervous

Key Russian Translations:

• нервный /ˈnʲɛr.vnɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal]
• нервничающий /nʲɪr.vnʲɪˈtɕa.ju.ʂɨj/ - [Participial form, Informal, Used in dynamic contexts like describing ongoing anxiety]

Frequency: Medium - This word is commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B1 - Intermediate level per CEFR; requires understanding of adjective inflections. For "нервничающий," it may be B2 due to its participial nature.

Pronunciation (Russian):

нервный: /ˈnʲɛr.vnɨj/ - The stress is on the first syllable; note the palatalized 'н' sound, which can be challenging for beginners.

Note on нервный: The 'р' is rolled, and the ending changes based on gender and case. Common mispronunciation involves softening the 'в' sound.

нервничающий: /nʲɪr.vnʲɪˈtɕa.ju.ʂɨj/ - Stress on the third syllable; the 'ч' is a soft palatal fricative.

Note on нервничающий: This is a present active participle, so pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech. Pay attention to the 'й' glide.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Anxious or easily agitated (emotional state)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нервный - Used in everyday situations to describe someone feeling anxious, e.g., before an exam or in stressful environments.
• нервничающий - Applied in contexts involving ongoing or active nervousness, such as in narratives or descriptions of behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Он нервный перед важными встречами. (He is nervous before important meetings.)

  Translation: He gets nervous before important meetings. This example shows the adjective in a predicative position.

• Девушка нервничающая в толпе, пытается успокоиться. (The girl who is nervous in the crowd is trying to calm down.)

  Translation: The girl who is nervous in the crowd is trying to calm down. This illustrates the participial form in a relative clause.

• После неудачи он стал ещё более нервным. (After the failure, he became even more nervous.)

  Translation: After the failure, he became even more nervous. Here, it demonstrates adjective agreement with gender and context.

• Нервный смех разнёсся по комнате. (Nervous laughter spread through the room.)

  Translation: Nervous laughter spread through the room. This shows usage in describing involuntary reactions.

• Она нервничающая, но старается скрыть это. (She is nervous but trying to hide it.)

  Translation: She is nervous but trying to hide it. This example highlights the verb-derived form in modern spoken Russian.

Meaning 2: Related to nerves or the nervous system (physiological)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нервный - Used in medical or scientific contexts to refer to anything pertaining to nerves, e.g., in biology or psychology.

Usage Examples:

• Нервный импульс передаётся по синапсам. (The nervous impulse is transmitted through synapses.)

  Translation: The nervous impulse is transmitted through synapses. This shows technical usage in scientific discussions.

• У него проблемы с нервной системой. (He has problems with his nervous system.)

  Translation: He has problems with his nervous system. Here, it demonstrates the adjective in a possessive context.

• Нервные клетки отвечают за быстрые реакции. (Nervous cells are responsible for quick reactions.)

  Translation: Nervous cells are responsible for quick reactions. This example is from educational or medical language.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "нервный" (an adjective), it follows the standard first-declension adjective pattern in Russian, which means it changes based on gender, number, and case. It is a regular adjective and inflects predictably.

For "нервничающий" (a present active participle), it functions like an adjective and inflects similarly, but it is derived from the verb "нервничать" and may vary in short forms or with aspect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • тревожный - Similar to anxious, but often with a sense of worry.
  • возбуждённый - Implies excitement mixed with nervousness.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный - Calm, directly opposite in emotional state.
  • уверенный - Confident, especially in social contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Нервный срыв (nervous breakdown) - A phrase used to describe a severe mental health episode, often in psychological contexts.
• Быть на нервах (to be on edge) - Means to be extremely nervous or tense, common in everyday speech.
• Нервная система (nervous system) - Refers to the biological system, used in medical discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Нервный" directly corresponds to the emotional sense of "nervous" in English but is more commonly used in informal settings. In formal or medical contexts, prefer "нервный" for physiological meanings. Be cautious with gender agreement in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. When choosing between "нервный" and "нервничающий," opt for the latter if describing an ongoing action; otherwise, "нервный" is sufficient for static states.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "нервный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "нервный женщина" instead of "нервная женщина."
  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "нервная женщина." Explanation: Russian requires adjectives to inflect based on the noun's attributes, unlike English.
• Mistake: Confusing "нервный" with "нервный" in the wrong context, e.g., using it for physical nerves when "нервная система" is more precise.
  Correct: Use "нервный" for emotional states and specify phrases like "нервная система" for anatomy. Explanation: This avoids ambiguity in technical discussions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of nervousness are often linked to the historical context of stress from events like the Soviet era or modern urban life. For instance, "нервный" might evoke ideas of resilience in the face of adversity, as seen in literature by authors like Chekhov, who portrayed characters dealing with everyday anxieties.

Related Concepts:

• тревога
• стресс
• эмоциональный