Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sensitive'

English Word: sensitive

Key Russian Translations:

• чувствительный [t͡ɕʊvstvʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• чувствительна [t͡ɕʊvstvʲɪtʲɪlʲnə] - [Informal, Feminine form]
• чувствительны [t͡ɕʊvstvʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨ] - [Plural, Neutral or Masculine Plural]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations, literature, and technical contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like "big").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and nuances in emotional or sensory contexts; for feminine and plural forms, difficulty may vary to B2 if not familiar with Russian gender agreements).

Pronunciation (Russian):

чувствительный: [t͡ɕʊvstvʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj]

чувствительна: [t͡ɕʊvstvʲɪtʲɪlʲnə]

чувствительны: [t͡ɕʊvstvʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨ]

Note on чувствительный: The initial "ч" sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to "ch" in "church," but softer. Stress falls on the third syllable ("тви"), which can be a common point of difficulty for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Easily affected by external stimuli or emotions (e.g., emotional sensitivity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• чувствительный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as discussing personality traits or technology (e.g., a sensitive device).
• чувствительна - Applied to feminine nouns, in informal or narrative settings (e.g., describing a woman's emotional state).

Usage Examples:

• Он очень чувствительный человек, и критика ранит его. (He is a very sensitive person, and criticism hurts him.)

  Translation: He is a very sensitive person, and criticism hurts him. (This example shows the adjective in a personal, emotional context.)

• Эта кожа чувствительна к солнечным лучам. (This skin is sensitive to sunlight.)

  Translation: This skin is sensitive to sunlight. (Illustrates physical sensitivity in a medical or everyday scenario.)

• Чувствительные данные должны быть защищены от хакеров. (Sensitive data must be protected from hackers.)

  Translation: Sensitive data must be protected from hackers. (Demonstrates usage in a technological or security context.)

• Она чувствительна к изменениям погоды. (She is sensitive to weather changes.)

  Translation: She is sensitive to weather changes. (Shows feminine agreement and environmental sensitivity.)

Meaning 2: Receptive or responsive to subtle changes (e.g., in sensors or instruments)

Translation(s) & Context:

• чувствительны - Used for plural or neutral contexts, such as in scientific discussions (e.g., sensitive instruments).

Usage Examples:

• Эти датчики очень чувствительны к малейшим колебаниям. (These sensors are very sensitive to the slightest fluctuations.)

  Translation: These sensors are very sensitive to the slightest fluctuations. (Example in a technical, plural context.)

• В эксперименте использовались чувствительны инструменты. (Sensitive instruments were used in the experiment.)

  Translation: Sensitive instruments were used in the experiment. (Highlights scientific application.)

• Чувствительны микрофоны улавливают даже шепот. (Sensitive microphones pick up even a whisper.)

  Translation: Sensitive microphones pick up even a whisper. (Shows plural form in audio technology.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Чувствительный" is an adjective, which inflects based on gender, number, and case in Russian. It follows the standard first-declension pattern for adjectives. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward once basic declension rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • чувствительный – эмоциональный (emotsional'nyy; more focused on emotions, often in psychological contexts)
  • чувствительный – восприимчивый (vospriimchivyy; emphasizes receptivity to influences)
• Antonyms:
  • нечувствительный (nechuvstvitel'nyy; insensitive, lacking sensitivity)
  • стойкий (stoykiy; resilient or tough, in emotional contexts)

Related Phrases:

• Чувствительная тема (chuvstvitel'naya tema) - A sensitive topic (refers to subjects that are emotionally charged or controversial).
• Быть чувствительным к критике (byt' chuvstvitel'nym k kritike) - To be sensitive to criticism (common in interpersonal communication).
• Чувствительный баланс (chuvstvitel'nyy balans) - A sensitive balance (used in scientific or metaphorical contexts for delicate equilibria).

Usage Notes:

The Russian translations of "sensitive" like "чувствительный" directly correspond to its English meaning but must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. For English speakers, remember that Russian adjectives are more flexible in declension than English ones. Use "чувствительный" in formal writing or when describing masculine nouns, and opt for feminine or plural forms based on context. In everyday speech, it's often paired with emotional or sensory descriptions, but avoid overusing it in casual talk to prevent sounding overly dramatic.

• When choosing between translations, "чувствительный" is the most versatile, while "восприимчивый" might be better for intellectual sensitivity.
• Grammar note: Always ensure adjective-noun agreement to maintain sentence fluency.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "чувствительный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я имею чувствительный реакция" instead of "Я имею чувствительную реакцию" (for a feminine noun like "реакция").

Correct: Я имею чувствительную реакцию. (Explanation: "Реакция" is feminine, so the adjective must end in "-ую" in accusative case.)

• Error: Confusing it with "эмоциональный," leading to misuse in non-emotional contexts, e.g., "Этот датчик эмоциональный" instead of "Этот датчик чувствительный."

Correct: Этот датчик чувствительный. (Explanation: "Эмоциональный" implies emotional aspects, which doesn't fit technical descriptions.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "чувствительный" often carry a connotation of emotional depth, influenced by literary traditions (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky). It can imply vulnerability, which is sometimes romanticized in art, but in modern contexts, it might be seen as a sign of weakness in professional settings, reflecting cultural attitudes toward stoicism.

Related Concepts:

• эмоциональный (emotsional'nyy)
• восприимчивый (vospriimchivyy)
• уязвимый (uyazvimyy)