Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shy'

English Word: shy

Key Russian Translations:

• застенчивый [zəsˈtʲenʲt͡ɕɪvɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]
• робкий [ˈrobkʲij] - [Formal, often in literary or descriptive settings]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in conversational Russian but are not among the most common everyday terms.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires basic understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections. For 'застенчивый', it's straightforward; for 'робкий', similar level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

застенчивый: [zəsˈtʲenʲt͡ɕɪvɨj]

Note on застенчивый: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ten'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 't' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

робкий: [ˈrobkʲij]

Note on робкий: The initial 'r' is rolled, and the 'kʲ' is palatalized; this is a common feature in Russian adjectives.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Timid or bashful (Referring to a person who is hesitant or easily embarrassed in social situations)

Translation(s) & Context:

• застенчивый - Used in informal conversations to describe someone shy in social interactions, such as at parties or meetings.
• робкий - Applied in more formal or narrative contexts, like literature, to convey deeper timidity or caution.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда был застенчивым в компании новых людей. (On vsegda byl zastenchivym v kompani novykh lyudey.)

  He was always shy around new people.

• Её робкий характер не позволял ей высказываться на собраниях. (Yeyo robkiy kharakter ne pozvolyal yey vysikazhivatsya na sobraniyakh.)

  Her shy nature didn't allow her to speak up at meetings.

• Застенчивый ребёнок спрятался за мамой. (Zastenchivyy rebyonok spryatalas' za mamoy.)

  The shy child hid behind his mother.

• Робкий взгляд выдал его неуверенность. (Robkiy vzglyad vydal yego neuvyernnost'.)

  His shy glance revealed his uncertainty.

• В школе она была застенчивой, но со временем стала bolder. (V shkole ona byla zastenchivoy, no so vremenem stala bolder.)

  She was shy in school, but over time she became bolder.

Alternative meaning: To startle or draw back suddenly (e.g., as a verb, like shying away from something)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уклоняться - Used in contexts involving avoidance or hesitation, such as in physical or emotional responses.

Usage Examples:

• Лошадь уклонилась от громкого шума. (Loshad' uklonilas' ot gromkogo shuma.)

  The horse shied away from the loud noise.

• Он уклоняется от ответственности в разговорах. (On uklonitsya ot otvetstvennosti v razgovorakh.)

  He shies away from responsibility in conversations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'застенчивый' and 'робкий', both are adjectives and follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular but vary by gender, number, and case. They agree with the nouns they modify.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively easy to learn, but always ensure agreement with the noun's gender and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: робкий (similar to застенчивый but more formal), стеснительный (emphasizes embarrassment in social settings)
• Antonyms: смелый (bold, directly opposite in meaning), уверенный (confident, often used in professional contexts)

Related Phrases:

• застенчивый человек - A shy person; commonly used to describe personality traits in casual discussions.
• робкий взгляд - A shy glance; implies subtle emotional expression in literature or psychology.
• уклоняться от взгляда - To shy away from eye contact; used in contexts of avoidance or discomfort.

Usage Notes:

'Shy' as an adjective most closely aligns with 'застенчивый' in informal English-Russian correspondence, but 'робкий' may be preferred for more nuanced or formal translations to capture deeper timidity. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words often imply not just shyness but also vulnerability, which isn't always present in English usage. For verb forms like 'to shy away', use 'уклоняться' with appropriate verb conjugations (e.g., present tense: уклоняюсь). Grammatically, ensure adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify to avoid errors.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'застенчивый' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "застенчивый женщина" instead of "застенчивая женщина". Correct: Always inflect for gender (here, feminine). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with nouns, unlike in English.
• Mistake: Confusing 'робкий' with 'робот' (robot), leading to mispronunciation or misuse. Correct: 'Робкий' means shy; pronounce as [ˈrobkʲij]. Explanation: The similarity in spelling can cause confusion for beginners, so focus on context.
• Mistake: Overusing 'застенчивый' in formal writing; instead, opt for 'робкий'. Correct: In essays or official texts, 'робкий' fits better. Explanation: This ensures the tone matches the setting, as 'застенчивый' sounds too casual.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'застенчивый' often carry a positive or neutral connotation, reflecting modesty as a valued trait in social interactions, such as in traditional settings or literature by authors like Tolstoy. However, in modern urban contexts, it might imply social awkwardness, highlighting the influence of Western individualism on perceptions of shyness.

Related Concepts:

• Смелый
• Уверенный
• Стеснительность