Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'temperamental'

English Word: temperamental

Key Russian Translations:

• капризный [kɐˈprʲiznɨj] - [Informal, often used for people or behavior]
• неустойчивый [nʲɪʊˈstuʲɪvɨj] - [Formal, commonly applied to objects or systems]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in everyday Russian conversations and literature, but not as commonly as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and contextual nuances, suitable for learners with basic Russian grammar knowledge. For 'капризный', it's B1; for 'неустойчивый', it's also B1 due to similar inflection patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

капризный: [kɐˈprʲiznɨj]

Note on капризный: The stress is on the second syllable, and the 'рʲ' sound is a palatalized 'r', which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, rolling 'r'.

неустойчивый: [nʲɪʊˈstuʲɪvɨj]

Note on неустойчивый: The initial 'нʲ' is palatalized, making it sound softer; focus on the vowel shifts for accurate pronunciation. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Prone to sudden changes in mood or behavior (e.g., for people)

Translation(s) & Context:

• капризный - Used in informal settings to describe someone who is moody or unpredictable, such as in personal relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Его капризный характер часто создаёт проблемы в команде.

  His temperamental nature often creates problems in the team.

• Дети в этом возрасте бывают капризными из-за усталости.

  Children at this age can be temperamental due to fatigue.

• Она капризная актриса, но её талант неоспорим.

  She is a temperamental actress, but her talent is undeniable.

Meaning 2: Prone to malfunctions or instability (e.g., for machines or systems)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неустойчивый - Applied in formal or technical contexts, such as describing unreliable equipment.

Usage Examples:

• Этот старый компьютер неустойчивый и часто зависает.

  This old computer is temperamental and often freezes.

• Ветер сделал полёт неустойчивым, но пилот справился.

  The wind made the flight temperamental, but the pilot handled it.

• Неустойчивая экономика привела к капризным изменениям на рынке.

  The temperamental economy led to unpredictable changes in the market.

• Её неустойчивое здоровье требует постоянного мониторинга.

  Her temperamental health requires constant monitoring.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'капризный' and 'неустойчивый' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives, with variations for hard and soft stems. 'Капризный' has a soft stem due to the final 'й', while 'неустойчивый' follows a similar pattern.

These adjectives do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. For example, in a sentence like "temperamental car," it would be "капризная машина" (feminine singular).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • капризный: импульсивный (impulʹsivnyj) – More about sudden impulses.
  • неустойчивый: переменчивый (peremenchivyj) – Emphasizes changeability in conditions.
• Antonyms:
  • For капризный: спокойный (spokojnyj) – Calm and stable.
  • For неустойчивый: стабильный (stabilʹnyj) – Reliable and consistent.

Related Phrases:

• Капризная погода – Refers to unpredictable weather, often used in casual conversation to describe temperamental climate changes.
• Неустойчивая связь – Means an unreliable connection, commonly in technical contexts like internet or phone signals.
• Капризный ребенок – Describes a moody child, highlighting behavioral instability in parenting discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Капризный' is the more idiomatic choice for describing human temperaments, aligning closely with the emotional connotation of 'temperamental' in English, while 'неустойчивый' is better for inanimate objects or systems. Be mindful of context: in formal writing, prefer 'неустойчивый' for technical accuracy. Adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case, which is a key grammatical rule in Russian. When choosing between translations, select based on the subject—people vs. objects—to ensure natural expression.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'капризный' for machines, e.g., saying "капризный компьютер" instead of "неустойчивый компьютер".
  Correct: "Неустойчивый компьютер" because it better conveys mechanical instability.
  Explanation: This confuses emotional and technical contexts, leading to unnatural language; always match the translation to the domain.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "капризный машина" (incorrect feminine form).
  Correct: "Капризная машина".
  Explanation: Russian requires adjectives to inflect, so learners must check the noun's gender and case to avoid basic grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'капризный' often carry a subtle nuance of endearment or frustration in interpersonal relationships, reflecting the value placed on emotional expressiveness in literature and daily life. For instance, classic Russian novels by authors like Tolstoy frequently depict 'капризные' characters as complex and human, emphasizing the cultural appreciation for depth in personality over stability.

Related Concepts:

• импульсивный
• переменчивый
• стабильный