Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'puerility'

English Word: puerility

Key Russian Translations:

• детскость [dʲɪtˈskəstʲ] - [Formal; used in literary or psychological contexts]
• незрелость [nʲɪzˈrʲeləstʲ] - [Formal; often in educational or developmental discussions]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in formal writing, literature, or psychological analyses.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2 level per CEFR; requires understanding of abstract concepts and nuanced vocabulary. For 'детскость', it's B2; for 'незрелость', it's also B2 due to similar complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

детскость: [dʲɪtˈskəstʲ]

Note on детскость: The stress falls on the second syllable ('skəstʲ'). Be mindful of the palatalized 't' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

незрелость: [nʲɪzˈrʲeləstʲ]

Note on незрелость: Stress is on the second syllable ('rʲeləstʲ'), with a soft 'r' sound; practice the palatalization for accurate pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Immaturity or childishness in behavior, often implying a lack of emotional or intellectual maturity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• детскость - Used in contexts discussing personal development or criticism of adult behavior, such as in psychology or literature.
• незрелость - Applied in educational or professional settings to describe insufficient growth, like in decision-making.

Usage Examples:

• Его детскость проявляется в постоянных глупых шутках, которые раздражают коллег.

  His puerility shows in his constant silly jokes that annoy his colleagues.

• В этом романе автор подчеркивает незрелость главного героя через его импульсивные действия.

  In this novel, the author highlights the protagonist's puerility through his impulsive actions.

• Детскость в его поведении стала причиной неудачи в переговорах.

  Puerility in his behavior was the reason for the failure in negotiations.

• Незрелость молодого лидера привела к конфликтам в команде.

  The puerility of the young leader led to conflicts within the team.

• Её детскость в отношениях делает их непредсказуемыми и эмоциональными.

  Her puerility in relationships makes them unpredictable and emotional.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'детскость' and 'незрелость' are feminine nouns in Russian, belonging to the first declension. They follow regular patterns for adjectives turned into abstract nouns. 'Детскость' and 'незрелость' do not change in form as much as verbs but inflect by case and number.

Note: These forms are regular and follow standard Russian noun declension rules. No irregular changes occur.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • наивность (naivnost' – implies innocence or lack of experience, often less negative than детскость)
  • глупость (glupost' – emphasizes foolishness, used in more casual contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • зрелость (zrelost' – maturity, contrasting with emotional growth)
  • мудрость (mudrost' – wisdom, highlighting intellectual depth)

Related Phrases:

• проявление детскости – Manifestation of puerility (used to describe visible signs of immature behavior in adults).
• избыток незрелости – Excess of puerility (refers to an overwhelming lack of maturity in situations like leadership).
• детская наивность – Childish naivety (a phrase that overlaps with puerility in romantic or idealistic contexts).

Usage Notes:

'Детскость' is the most direct translation for 'puerility' when emphasizing childish traits in adults, and it's preferred in formal or literary English-Russian contexts. 'Незрелость' is better for scenarios involving developmental psychology or professional settings. Be cautious with register: both are formal, so avoid in casual speech. Grammatically, these nouns require appropriate case agreement with prepositions (e.g., 'в детскости' for 'in puerility'). When choosing between translations, opt for 'детскость' if the focus is emotional, and 'незрелость' if it's intellectual.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'детскость' with 'детство' (childhood): Learners might say 'Его детство проявляется' (incorrect, as it means 'His childhood shows'), instead of 'Его детскость проявляется' (correct). Explanation: 'Детство' refers to the state of being a child, not behavioral traits.

• Overusing in informal contexts: English speakers might incorrectly apply 'незрелость' in casual talk, e.g., saying 'Твоя незрелость' in a joke, which sounds overly formal. Correct usage: Reserve for written or serious discussions to maintain natural flow.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'puerility' or its translations like 'детскость' often carry a negative connotation, reflecting the value placed on emotional and intellectual maturity from a young age. For instance, in literature such as Dostoevsky's works, characters exhibiting puerility are critiqued for hindering personal or societal progress, emphasizing Russia's historical emphasis on resilience and depth in human interactions.

Related Concepts:

• зрелость
• наивность
• глупость
• мудрость