Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'phlegmatic'

English Word: phlegmatic

Key Russian Translations:

• флегматичный [fʲlʲɪɡˈmatʲɪtɕɪn] - [Formal, often used in psychological or literary contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word is not everyday vocabulary but appears in discussions of personality traits, literature, or psychology.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1/B2, as it involves understanding loanwords from English/Greek and applying them in descriptive contexts; suitable for learners with basic adjective usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

флегматичный: [fʲlʲɪɡˈmatʲɪtɕɪn]

Note on флегматичный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ma'), and the initial 'ф' is a voiceless labiodental fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'л' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Calm, unemotional, and not easily excited in temperament, often implying a steady but unresponsive personality.

Translation(s) & Context:

• флегматичный - Used in formal, literary, or psychological contexts to describe someone with a phlegmatic disposition, such as in character analysis or medical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он флегматичный человек, который редко показывает эмоции.

  He is a phlegmatic person who rarely shows emotions.

• В её характере есть что-то флегматичное, что делает её идеальной для стрессовых ситуаций.

  There is something phlegmatic in her character, which makes her ideal for stressful situations.

• Флегматичный подход к работе помогает избежать импульсивных ошибок.

  A phlegmatic approach to work helps avoid impulsive mistakes.

• Этот флегматичный герой романа контрастирует с более эмоциональными персонажами.

  This phlegmatic hero of the novel contrasts with the more emotional characters.

• Его флегматичная реакция на новости удивила всех вокруг.

  His phlegmatic reaction to the news surprised everyone around.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

флегматичный is an adjective in Russian, which means it inflects for gender, number, and case. It follows the standard pattern for adjectives ending in -ый/-ий. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective is regular, so it doesn't have irregular forms, making it straightforward for learners once the pattern is memorized.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: спокойный (spokoynyy - calm, more general); невозмутимый (nevozmutimyy - imperturbable, emphasizing lack of disturbance)
• Antonyms: импульсивный (impulsivnyy - impulsive); эмоциональный (emotsional'nyy - emotional)

Related Phrases:

• флегматичный temperament - A phlegmatic temperament (refers to the ancient humorism concept, often in psychological discussions).
• быть флегматичным в кризисах - To be phlegmatic in crises (used to describe steady behavior under pressure).
• флегматичная натура - A phlegmatic nature (common in literary descriptions of characters).

Usage Notes:

флегматичный is a direct loanword from English/Greek origins, often used in formal or intellectual contexts rather than everyday conversation. It precisely corresponds to the English "phlegmatic" in describing personality types based on the ancient four temperaments theory. Be mindful of its formal tone; in casual speech, Russians might prefer synonyms like спокойный. When choosing between translations, use флегматичный for contexts involving psychology or literature, but avoid it in basic descriptions to prevent sounding overly academic. Grammatically, it agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using флегматичный as an invariant word without inflecting it (e.g., saying "Он флегматичный женщина" instead of "Она флегматичная женщина"). Correct: Always inflect for gender and case, as in "Она флегматичная женщина." Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with their nouns, which is a common pitfall for English speakers used to uninflected adjectives.

• Error: Confusing it with similar words like эмоциональный and using it interchangeably (e.g., translating "He is phlegmatic" as "Он эмоциональный"). Correct: Use "Он флегматичный" for the opposite of emotional. Explanation: флегматичный specifically denotes calmness, not just any personality trait, so precision is key to avoid semantic errors.

Cultural Notes:

The term флегматичный stems from the ancient Greek concept of the four humors in medicine, where "phlegmatic" referred to an excess of phlegm leading to a calm disposition. In Russian culture, this idea persists in literature and psychology, often symbolizing reliability in characters like those in Dostoevsky's works, but it can carry a subtle connotation of passivity or lack of passion in modern contexts.

Related Concepts:

• сангвинический (sanguine temperament)
• холерический (choleric temperament)
• меланхолический (melancholic temperament)