Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stubbornness'

English Word: stubbornness

Key Russian Translations:

• упрямство /ʊˈprʲamstvə/ - [Formal, Noun]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of personality traits but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding abstract nouns and basic declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

упрямство: /ʊˈprʲamstvə/

Note on упрямство: The stress falls on the second syllable ("prʲam"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'r' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The quality of being determined to do or have something despite obstacles or opposition.

Translation(s) & Context:

• упрямство - Used in formal or psychological contexts to describe persistent, obstinate behavior, often with a neutral or negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Его упрямство не позволило ему принять совет друзей.

  His stubbornness didn't allow him to accept his friends' advice.

• Упрямство ребенка проявилось в отказе есть овощи.

  The child's stubbornness showed in their refusal to eat vegetables.

• В политике упрямство лидера может привести к конфликтам.

  In politics, a leader's stubbornness can lead to conflicts.

• Её упрямство в работе помогло достичь успеха, несмотря на трудности.

  Her stubbornness at work helped her achieve success despite the difficulties.

• Упрямство часто путают с настойчивостью, но оно подразумевает упорство без гибкости.

  Stubbornness is often confused with persistence, but it implies determination without flexibility.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Упрямство" is a neuter noun of the third declension in Russian. It follows standard patterns for neuter nouns ending in -ство, which are relatively regular but require attention to case changes. It does not change in the plural form as it is typically used in singular.

Note: This noun is invariant in gender and does not inflect for number in most contexts, making it straightforward once the cases are memorized.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: настойчивость (more positive, implying persistence), твердость (firmness, with a sense of resolve)
• Antonyms: гибкость (flexibility, adaptability in a positive context), послушность (obedience, often implying submission)

Note: "Настойчивость" is similar but carries less negative connotation than "упрямство", which can imply irrational obstinacy.

Related Phrases:

• проявлять упрямство - To show stubbornness; used in contexts describing behavior in arguments or decisions.
• упрямство характера - Stubbornness of character; a common phrase in psychological or literary descriptions.
• бороться с упрямством - To fight against stubbornness; often in educational or self-improvement contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Упрямство" directly corresponds to "stubbornness" in English but is often perceived as more negative in Russian culture, emphasizing inflexibility over determination. It is typically used in formal writing, psychology, or discussions of personality. When choosing between translations, opt for "упрямство" in contexts involving personal traits, but be cautious of its negative undertones. Grammatically, it must agree with adjectives and follow standard neuter noun rules in sentences.

• In informal speech, Russians might use it sparingly to avoid sounding judgmental.
• Compare with "настойчивость" for a more neutral or positive equivalent when describing persistence.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "упрямство" with "настойчивость", using the former in positive contexts where the latter is more appropriate. For example:

• Error: Saying "Его упрямство помогло выиграть соревнование" (His stubbornness helped him win the competition) when implying positive persistence.
• Correct: Use "Его настойчивость помогла выиграть соревнование" (His persistence helped him win the competition). Explanation: "Упрямство" suggests blind obstinacy, which can sound negative, while "настойчивость" is neutral or positive.
• Another common mistake is incorrect declension, such as using "упрямству" in nominative cases, which disrupts sentence flow.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "упрямство" is often linked to historical narratives of resilience, such as in literature by authors like Tolstoy, where it represents a character's unyielding nature. However, it can also carry connotations of stubborn resistance against authority, reflecting Russia's complex history of individualism versus collectivism. This makes it a word with subtle emotional depth in everyday discourse.

Related Concepts:

• настойчивость
• твердость
• гибкость
• послушность