Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stubborn'

English Word: stubborn

Key Russian Translations:

• упрямый [ʊˈpramɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday conversations]
• упорный [ʊˈpornɨj] - [Formal, often implies persistence with a positive connotation]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in general Russian texts, literature, and conversations, but not as frequently as basic adjectives like "big" or "small".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections, which can be challenging for learners due to Russian's complex case system. For "упрямый", it's straightforward; for "упорный", similar level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

упрямый: [ʊˈpramɨj]

упорный: [ʊˈpornɨj]

Note on упрямый: The stress is on the second syllable, and the "ы" sound (like a high back unrounded vowel) can be tricky for English speakers—practice it as similar to the "i" in "bit" but more centralized.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Refusing to change one's mind or behavior, often implying obstinacy or determination.

Translation(s) & Context:

• упрямый - Used in informal contexts to describe someone who is stubbornly resistant, such as in family or casual discussions.
• упорный - Applied in more formal or positive contexts, like describing persistent effort in work or sports.

Usage Examples:

• Он упрямый и не слушает советы. (He is stubborn and doesn't listen to advice.)

  He is stubborn and doesn't listen to advice. (This example shows the adjective in a nominative case, describing a person in everyday conversation.)

• Упрямый ребенок отказывается есть овощи. (The stubborn child refuses to eat vegetables.)

  The stubborn child refuses to eat vegetables. (Illustrates the adjective modifying a noun in a simple sentence, highlighting resistance in a familial context.)

• Она упорная в достижении целей. (She is stubborn in achieving her goals.)

  She is stubborn in achieving her goals. (Here, "упорная" shows a feminine form in an instrumental context, emphasizing positive persistence.)

• Упрямый осел не сдвинется с места. (The stubborn donkey won't budge from its spot.)

  The stubborn donkey won't budge from its spot. (This uses the adjective metaphorically, common in idiomatic expressions.)

• В этой ситуации упорный подход необходим. (In this situation, a stubborn approach is necessary.)

  In this situation, a stubborn approach is necessary. (Demonstrates "упорный" in a nominative context for formal advice.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "упрямый" and "упорный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

For "упрямый" (stubborn):

For "упорный", the inflections follow the same pattern:

These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • настойчивый (naistoychivyy) - More neutral, implying steady persistence without negative connotation.
  • твердый (tverdyy) - Often used for firmness in decisions, with less emotional intensity.
• Antonyms:
  • послушный (poslushnyy)
  • гибкий (gibkiy) - Implies flexibility or adaptability.

Related Phrases:

• упрямый как осел (upryamyy kak osel) - Meaning: Stubborn as a mule; used idiomatically to emphasize extreme obstinacy in informal speech.
• упорный труд (upornyy trud) - Meaning: Persistent effort; a common phrase in motivational or work-related contexts.
• не упрямься (ne upryamsya) - Meaning: Don't be stubborn; often used in advice or warnings.

Usage Notes:

"Упрямый" directly corresponds to the negative aspects of "stubborn" in English, such as irrational persistence, and is best used in informal settings. "Упорный" aligns more with positive determination, similar to "persistent" in English, and is suitable for formal writing. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use "упрямый" for personal traits and "упорный" for goal-oriented scenarios. Always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, as Russian grammar requires this for grammatical accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "упрямый" in a positive context, e.g., saying "Он упрямый в работе" to mean "He is persistently dedicated at work." Correct: Use "упорный" instead, as in "Он упорный в работе." Explanation: "Упрямый" often carries a negative tone, implying unreasonableness, while "упорный" is neutral or positive.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "упрямый дом" instead of "упрямый ребенок" in the correct case. Correct: Ensure agreement, like "в упрямом ребенке" for prepositional case. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's case, which English learners often overlook due to the lack of similar rules in English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "упрямый" (stubborn) can sometimes be viewed as a double-edged trait—admired in folklore heroes who defy odds, like in fairy tales, but criticized in everyday life as uncooperative. This reflects a cultural emphasis on collectivism, where individual stubbornness might clash with group harmony.

Related Concepts:

• терпеливый (terpelivyy)
• настойчивый (nastoychivyy)
• гибкий (gibkiy)