Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'puerile'

English Word: puerile

Key Russian Translations:

• инфантильный /ɪnfənˈtɪlʲnɨj/ - [Formal]
• детский /ˈdʲɛtskʲɪj/ - [Informal, may imply positive connotation; use with caution for 'puerile']

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, psychology, and formal discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and nuanced vocabulary; for 'инфантильный', B2; for 'детский', A2 if basic)

Pronunciation (Russian):

инфантильный: /ɪnfənˈtɪlʲnɨj/

детский: /ˈdʲɛtskʲɪj/

Note on инфантильный: The stress is on the third syllable ('TIL'), and the 'лʲ' sound is a palatalized 'l', which can be challenging for English speakers—similar to the 'l' in "million" but softer. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Childish or silly behavior, especially in adults, often implying immaturity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• инфантильный - Used in formal or psychological contexts to describe immature actions, e.g., in professional settings or critiques.
• детский - Used in informal contexts, but it can sometimes carry a neutral or positive tone, so it's less precise for 'puerile' unless emphasizing negativity.

Usage Examples:

• Его инфантильное поведение на встрече шокировало коллег. (His puerile behavior at the meeting shocked his colleagues.)

  English Translation: His puerile behavior at the meeting shocked his colleagues. (This example shows the word in a professional context, highlighting immaturity.)

• Инфантильные шутки неуместны в серьёзном разговоре. (Puerile jokes are out of place in a serious conversation.)

  English Translation: Puerile jokes are out of place in a serious conversation. (Demonstrates use in social interactions, emphasizing inappropriateness.)

• Её детский подход к проблеме разочаровал команду. (Her puerile approach to the problem disappointed the team.)

  English Translation: Her puerile approach to the problem disappointed the team. (Here, 'детский' is used informally to convey a similar meaning, but with a lighter tone.)

• Инфантильность в его решениях часто приводит к ошибкам. (Puerility in his decisions often leads to mistakes.)

  English Translation: Puerility in his decisions often leads to mistakes. (Illustrates the word in a reflective or analytical context.)

• Не будь таким детским; это не подходит для взрослого. (Don't be so puerile; it's not suitable for an adult.)

  English Translation: Don't be so puerile; it's not suitable for an adult. (Shows informal admonition, varying grammar structure.)

Meaning 2: Pertaining to or characteristic of a child, but in a derogatory sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• инфантильный - Applied in contexts criticizing adult behavior, such as in psychology or literature.

Usage Examples:

• Инфантильные фантазии не помогут в реальной жизни. (Puerile fantasies won't help in real life.)

  English Translation: Puerile fantasies won't help in real life. (Example in a philosophical or advisory context.)

• Его инфантильное мировоззрение ограничивает его успех. (His puerile worldview limits his success.)

  English Translation: His puerile worldview limits his success. (Demonstrates use with abstract nouns.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'инфантильный' and 'детский' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect for gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

For 'инфантильный' (an adjective):

For 'детский', it follows the same pattern but is more common and regular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: незрелый (nezrelyy; implies immaturity, often in decision-making), ребяческий (rebyachskiy; more playful but negative connotation)
• Antonyms: зрелый (zrelyy; mature), взрослый (vzoslyy; adult-like)

Related Phrases:

• Инфантильное поведение (infantile behavior) - Refers to childish actions in adults, often in psychological contexts.
• Детский каприз (childish whim) - Describes a puerile outburst or demand, commonly used in everyday language.
• Инфантильная реакция (puerile reaction) - Indicates an immature response to situations, such as in conflicts.

Usage Notes:

'Инфантильный' is a more precise translation for 'puerile' in formal or psychological contexts, as it directly conveys immaturity without positive undertones, unlike 'детский' which can mean 'childlike' in a neutral or affectionate way. Use 'инфантильный' in written or professional English-Russian translations to avoid ambiguity. Be cautious of gender and case agreements in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun they describe. When choosing between translations, opt for 'инфантильный' for derogatory senses and 'детский' for lighter, informal criticisms.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'детский' interchangeably with 'инфантильный' without context, e.g., saying "Он детский" to mean "He is puerile," which might imply something positive. Correct: Use "Он инфантильный" for a negative connotation. Explanation: 'Детский' can be endearing, so it dilutes the intended criticism.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "инфантильный женщина" instead of "инфантильная женщина." Correct: Always adjust for gender and case. Explanation: This is a common error for English speakers due to the lack of similar rules in English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'инфантильный' are often used in literature and psychology to critique societal immaturity, influenced by historical figures like Freud. It reflects a cultural emphasis on maturity and collectivism, where childish behavior in adults is seen as a barrier to personal and social progress.

Related Concepts:

• незрелый
• зрелый
• ребяческий