Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'obdurate'

English Word: obdurate

Key Russian Translations:

• упрямый [ʊˈpramɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday conversations]
• непреклонный [nʲɪprʲɪˈklonːɨj] - [Formal, often in legal or serious contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear in literature, discussions, and media, but not in casual daily speech.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and their declensions, varying by translation.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

упрямый: [ʊˈpramɨj]

Note on упрямый: The stress falls on the second syllable ("pra"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronounce it with a soft "r" sound.

Audio: []

непреклонный: [nʲɪprʲɪˈklonːɨj]

Note on непреклонный: Pay attention to the palatalized "n" at the beginning and the long "n" sound; this word has a more emphatic pronunciation in formal settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Stubborn or unyielding in attitude (primary meaning of 'obdurate')

Translation(s) & Context:

• упрямый - Used in informal contexts to describe someone who is stubbornly resistant to change or advice, such as in family disputes or personal anecdotes.
• непреклонный - Applied in formal or professional settings, like negotiations or legal matters, to denote an inflexible stance.

Usage Examples:

• Он упрямый и не слушает ничьих советов. (He is obdurate and doesn't listen to anyone's advice.)

  He is obdurate and doesn't listen to anyone's advice. (Shows everyday informal usage with a personal subject.)

• Её непреклонный характер помешал заключению сделки. (Her obdurate nature prevented the deal from being closed.)

  Her obdurate nature prevented the deal from being closed. (Illustrates formal usage in a business context.)

• Ребёнок был упрямым, как его отец, и отказывался есть овощи. (The child was obdurate, just like his father, and refused to eat vegetables.)

  The child was obdurate, just like his father, and refused to eat vegetables. (Demonstrates familial or comparative usage.)

• Судья остался непреклонным в своём решении, несмотря на апелляции. (The judge remained obdurate in his decision, despite the appeals.)

  The judge remained obdurate in his decision, despite the appeals. (Highlights legal or authoritative context.)

• упрямый ветер не давал кораблю двигаться вперёд. (The obdurate wind wouldn't let the ship move forward.) (Metaphorical usage for inanimate objects.)

  The obdurate wind wouldn't let the ship move forward. (Shows extension to non-human subjects for emphasis.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'упрямый' and 'непреклонный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns, but 'упрямый' is more commonly used and has regular declensions, while 'непреклонный' is also regular but less flexible in informal speech.

Note: These are regular adjectival inflections. 'упрямый' does not have irregular forms, making it easier for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • упорный (upornyy) - More about persistence with a positive connotation.
  • настойчивый (nastoychivyy) - Emphasizes determination, often in goal-oriented contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • послушный (poslushnyy) - Compliant or obedient.
  • гибкий (gibkiy) - Flexible or adaptable.

Related Phrases:

• упрямый как осел - (Stubborn as a mule; a common idiom to emphasize extreme stubbornness.)
• непреклонный в своих убеждениях - (Obdurate in one's convictions; used for ideological steadfastness.)
• упрямство до конца - (Obduracy to the end; refers to unyielding persistence in a situation.)

Usage Notes:

'Obdurate' translates most directly to 'упрямый' in informal settings and 'непреклонный' in formal ones. Choose 'упрямый' for everyday conversations about personal traits, as it carries a neutral to negative tone, while 'непреклонный' is better for professional or ethical contexts. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement: always match gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For example, avoid using it with plural nouns without proper inflection. English learners often confuse this with similar words like 'stubborn', but in Russian, context dictates the exact translation to convey the right level of intensity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'упрямый' without proper declension, e.g., saying "упрямый женщина" instead of "упрямая женщина". Correct: Always decline based on the noun's gender (here, feminine). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with nouns, unlike English, which can lead to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing 'упрямый' and 'непреклонный' in context, e.g., using 'непреклонный' in a casual family discussion. Correct: Opt for 'упрямый' in informal scenarios. Explanation: This mismatch can make speech sound overly formal or unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'упрямый' often reflect a valued trait of resilience in the face of adversity, stemming from historical contexts like the Soviet era's emphasis on endurance. However, it can also carry negative connotations of inflexibility, as seen in literature by authors like Tolstoy, where obdurate characters face downfall due to their unyielding nature.

Related Concepts:

• терпеливый (terpelivyy) - Patient
• настойчивый (nastoychivyy) - Persistent
• жесткий (zhestkiy) - Rigid or strict