Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'restive'

English Word: restive

Key Russian Translations:

• непослушный /nʲɪ.pɐˈsluʂ.nɨj/ - [Informal, often used for animals or children]
• беспокойный /bʲɪ.spɐˈkoj.nɨj/ - [Formal, applicable to general situations involving anxiety or restlessness]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in literature and conversations about behavior)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and contextual usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

непослушный: /nʲɪ.pɐˈsluʂ.nɨj/ (Note the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to palatalization.)

беспокойный: /bʲɪ.spɐˈkoj.nɨj/ (Emphasize the stress on the third syllable; common variation in fast speech.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Unable to keep still or silent because of impatience, anxiety, or restlessness (e.g., like a horse that won't stay calm).

Translation(s) & Context:

• непослушный - Used in informal contexts, such as describing unruly behavior in children or animals.
• беспокойный - Applied in more formal or general contexts, like describing a person's anxious state in professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Лошадь была непослушной и не хотела стоять на месте во время грозы.

  The horse was restive and wouldn't stay still during the storm.

• Дети в классе стали беспокойными, ожидая конца урока.

  The children in the class became restive, waiting for the end of the lesson.

• Он чувствовал себя непослушным на собрании, потому что не мог сосредоточиться.

  He felt restive at the meeting because he couldn't concentrate.

• Беспокойная толпа протестующих не поддавалась контролю полиции.

  The restive crowd of protesters wouldn't yield to police control.

• Её беспокойное поведение в очереди указывало на скрытое раздражение.

  Her restive behavior in the queue indicated hidden irritation.

Meaning 2: Resistant to control or authority (e.g., in a figurative sense for people or groups).

Translation(s) & Context:

• беспокойный - Often used in contexts involving social or political unrest.
• непослушный - More casual, for everyday defiance.

Usage Examples:

• Непослушные студенты отказались выполнять задание учителя.

  The restive students refused to complete the teacher's assignment.

• Беспокойная общественность выразила недовольство новыми законами.

  The restive public expressed dissatisfaction with the new laws.

• Войска были непослушными и не следовали приказам командира.

  The troops were restive and didn't follow the commander's orders.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "непослушный" and "беспокойный" are adjectives and follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which vary by gender, number, and case. They are regular adjectives, so they inflect according to the noun they modify.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms, but always agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неусидчивый (restless, especially for inability to sit still)
  • возбужденный (excited or agitated, with a connotation of energy)
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (calm, opposite in the sense of tranquility)
  • послушный (obedient, directly opposing restiveness in behavior)

Related Phrases:

• непослушный ребенок - A naughty or unruly child; used in parenting contexts to describe behavioral issues.
• беспокойная ночь - A restless night; often refers to sleeplessness due to anxiety or external factors.
• беспокойный дух - A restless spirit; implies someone who is always seeking change or adventure.

Usage Notes:

"Restive" in English often implies a mix of impatience and resistance, which aligns closely with "непослушный" in informal Russian contexts (e.g., for children or animals) and "беспокойный" in more formal ones (e.g., crowds or emotional states). Choose "непослушный" for everyday, colloquial speech to emphasize disobedience, while "беспокойный" is better for broader emotional unrest. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in Russian sentences, as this can affect meaning in complex structures. In formal writing, "беспокойный" might be preferred to convey a sense of societal or psychological tension.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "непослушный" in formal contexts where "беспокойный" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "непослушная толпа" instead of "беспокойная толпа" for a crowd.
  Correct: "Беспокойная толпа" means a restive crowd in a protest; explanation: "непослушный" sounds too childish for adults.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., using "непослушный" with a feminine noun without changing to "непослушная".
  Correct: "Непослушная лошадь" (restive horse, feminine); explanation: Russian requires gender agreement to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "беспокойный" often appear in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy) to describe the human condition of inner turmoil, reflecting historical themes of social unrest. "Непослушный" might evoke folklore tales of mischievous characters, highlighting a cultural appreciation for individualism amidst collectivist norms.

Related Concepts:

• терпеливый (patient)
• возмущенный (indignant)
• нервный (nervous)