Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'obsessive'

English Word: obsessive

Key Russian Translations:

• одержимый /ɐˈdʐrʲɪmɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal, often used in literary or psychological contexts]
• обсессивный /ɐbˈsʲesʲɪvnɨj/ - [Adjective, Technical, borrowed from English, primarily in medical or psychological discussions]
• навязчивый /nɐˈvʲazʲtɕɪvɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal, commonly used for persistent or intrusive thoughts or behaviors]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations appear in everyday conversations, literature, and psychological texts, but not as frequently as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level can grasp the concept with some exposure to Russian grammar and vocabulary; however, for 'обсессивный', it may be C1 (Advanced) due to its specialized usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

одержимый: /ɐˈdʐrʲɪmɨj/

обсессивный: /ɐbˈsʲesʲɪvnɨj/

навязчивый: /nɐˈvʲazʲtɕɪvɨj/

Note on одержимый: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'р' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

Note on обсессивный: Pronounced with a soft 'с' and 'сʲ', reflecting its borrowed status; it may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on навязчивый: The 'я' sound is palatalized, making it sound more fluid; common in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Psychological or Intense Fixation (e.g., obsessive thoughts or behaviors)

Translation(s) & Context:

• одержимый - Used in contexts describing deep, uncontrollable fixation, such as in literature or personal descriptions.
• обсессивный - Specifically for clinical psychology, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• навязчивый - For everyday intrusive thoughts or habits, often with a negative connotation in casual conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Он одержим работой и не замечает ничего вокруг. (He is obsessive about his work and notices nothing around him.)

  English Translation: He is obsessed with his work and doesn't notice anything around him.

• У неё обсессивные мысли, которые мешают сосредоточиться. (She has obsessive thoughts that prevent her from focusing.)

  English Translation: She has obsessive thoughts that prevent her from focusing.

• Эти навязчивые идеи не дают ему покоя по ночам. (These obsessive ideas don't let him rest at night.)

  English Translation: These obsessive ideas don't let him rest at night.

• Быть одержимым хобби – это нормально, пока оно не вредит здоровью. (Being obsessive about a hobby is fine as long as it doesn't harm your health.)

  English Translation: Being obsessive about a hobby is fine as long as it doesn't harm your health.

General Persistent Behavior (e.g., obsessive cleaning or collecting)

Translation(s) & Context:

• навязчивый - Common in daily life for habits that are repetitive and hard to stop.
• одержимый - For more intense, all-consuming behaviors.

Usage Examples:

• Её навязчивая привычка мыть руки несколько раз в день раздражает семью. (Her obsessive habit of washing her hands several times a day annoys the family.)

  English Translation: Her obsessive habit of washing her hands several times a day annoys the family.

• Он одержим коллекционированием книг и тратит все деньги на это. (He is obsessive about collecting books and spends all his money on it.)

  English Translation: He is obsessive about collecting books and spends all his money on it.

• Обсессивное поведение в спорте может привести к перетренировке. (Obsessive behavior in sports can lead to overtraining.)

  English Translation: Obsessive behavior in sports can lead to overtraining.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which decline based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard adjective declension patterns, with some irregularities due to their roots.

Note: These adjectives are regular in most cases but may not change in short form or predicative use (e.g., "он одержим" - he is obsessive).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • страстный (passionate, but with a more positive connotation)
  • маниакальный (maniacal, for extreme cases)
  • упорный (persistent, less intense than навязчивый)
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (calm)
  • равнодушный (indifferent)
  • сбалансированный (balanced)

Related Phrases:

• Одержимый идеей - Obsessed with an idea; used to describe someone fixated on a concept.
• Навязчивые мысли - Obsessive thoughts; common in psychological discussions.
• Обсессивное поведение - Obsessive behavior; refers to repetitive actions in a clinical sense.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'одержимый' for literary or emotional contexts where obsession is intense and all-consuming, as it carries a dramatic flair. 'Обсессивный' is best for technical or medical scenarios, directly mirroring English psychological terms. 'Навязчивый' suits everyday informal speech for annoying or persistent habits. Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian sentences, and note that these adjectives often require the genitive case when describing objects of obsession (e.g., "одержимый страхом" - obsessive about fear).

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'одержимый' with 'обсессивный': Learners might use 'обсессивный' in casual talk, but it's too formal; correct usage: Say "он одержим работой" instead of "он обсессивный работой" to avoid sounding overly clinical.
• Improper declension: Forgetting to change the adjective for gender, e.g., saying "она одержимый" (wrong) instead of "она одержимая"; explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun's gender, number, and case.
• Overusing in informal contexts: Using 'навязчивый' where 'одержимый' fits better, e.g., "его навязчивая страсть" (mild) vs. correct "его одержимая страсть" for intensity; this can dilute the meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'одержимый' often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's characters), reflecting themes of passion and madness. This can tie into historical contexts like the intensity of revolutionary ideals, where obsession was glorified in art but viewed warily in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• мания (mania)
• фиксация (fixation)
• компульсия (compulsion)