Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'uncooperative'

English Word: uncooperative

Key Russian Translations:

• несговорчивый /nʲɪsɡəˈvɔrtɕɪvɨj/ - [Informal, often used in everyday contexts to describe stubborn behavior]
• неуступчивый /nʲɪʊsˈtʊptɕɪvɨj/ - [Formal, typically in professional or legal settings]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its variants appear regularly in conversations and literature but are not among the most common everyday adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of adjective inflections, though "несговорчивый" is straightforward for learners familiar with basic Russian grammar. "Неуступчивый" may be slightly harder due to formal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

несговорчивый: /nʲɪsɡəˈvɔrtɕɪvɨj/

Note on несговорчивый: The stress falls on the third syllable ("vɔrt"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 's' sound. Practice with native speakers to master the soft consonants.

неуступчивый: /nʲɪʊsˈtʊptɕɪvɨj/

Note on неуступчивый: Pronunciation is relatively regular, but the 'ʊ' sound is a mid-back rounded vowel; common variations in regional accents may soften the 'tɕ' cluster.

Audio: [Audio player placeholder for несговорчивый] | [Audio player placeholder for неуступчивый]

Meanings and Usage:

Not willing to cooperate or work together in various contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• несговорчивый - Used in informal settings, such as family disputes or casual negotiations, to imply stubbornness without full hostility.
• неуступчивый - Applied in formal contexts like business meetings or legal discussions, emphasizing inflexibility and resistance to compromise.

Usage Examples:

• Он был несговорчивым во время обсуждения, отказываясь уступить в мелочах.

  He was uncooperative during the discussion, refusing to give in on minor points.

• Делегация оказалась неуступчивой, настаивая на своих условиях.

  The delegation was uncooperative, insisting on their own terms.

• Несговорчивый сосед не позволил нам использовать общий сад.

  The uncooperative neighbor wouldn't let us use the shared garden.

• В переговорах она проявила себя как неуступчивую, но в конце концов согласилась.

  In the negotiations, she was uncooperative at first but eventually agreed.

• Несговорчивый ребенок отказывался есть овощи, несмотря на уговоры.

  The uncooperative child refused to eat vegetables despite persuasion.

Another meaning: Reluctant to assist or participate, often implying passive resistance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• несговорчивый - In social or interpersonal contexts, highlighting a lack of willingness to help.
• неуступчивый - In structured environments like workplaces, indicating resistance to team efforts.

Usage Examples:

• Несговорчивый коллега не поделился информацией, что замедлило проект.

  The uncooperative colleague didn't share information, which slowed down the project.

• Она была неуступчивой на собрании, игнорируя предложения других.

  She was uncooperative at the meeting, ignoring others' suggestions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "несговорчивый" and "неуступчивый" are adjectives, which in Russian inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most words, agreeing with the nouns they modify. These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular forms.

Note: These forms change based on the case of the noun they describe (e.g., in accusative or dative). For unchanging forms in certain contexts, such as short-form adjectives, these are not applicable here as they are long-form adjectives.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: упрямый (upryamyy) - more intense, implying outright stubbornness; твердый (tvordyy) - emphasizes firmness and resolve.
• Antonyms: сговорчивый (sgovorchivyy) - directly opposite, meaning cooperative and willing to compromise.

Related Phrases:

• Быть несговорчивым - To be uncooperative; often used in phrases about negotiations or conflicts.
• Неуступчивый подход - An uncooperative approach; common in business or diplomatic contexts to describe rigid strategies.
• Несговорчивый характер - An uncooperative nature; refers to personality traits in psychological or everyday discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Несговорчивый" is a more casual equivalent to "uncooperative" and is best used in spoken language or informal writing, while "неуступчивый" aligns with formal English contexts like legal or professional settings. Be mindful of gender and case agreements when using these adjectives in sentences. For instance, choose "несговорчивый" for everyday refusals and "неуступчивый" for structured resistance. In Russian culture, these words often carry a negative connotation, implying social discord, so use them judiciously to avoid escalating conflicts.

• Grammar tip: Always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun's gender, number, and case (e.g., "несговорчивый человек" for a male, "несговорчивая женщина" for a female).
• Selection guide: If the situation involves negotiation, "несговорчивый" might be preferable; for legal matters, opt for "неуступчивый".

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "несговорчивый" with "упрямый" (stubborn), using them interchangeably, but "несговорчивый" specifically implies a lack of cooperation rather than general obstinacy. For example:

• Error: Saying "Он упрямый в переговорах" when meaning uncooperative, which might undervalue the cooperative aspect.
• Correct: "Он несговорчивый в переговорах" – This accurately conveys reluctance to cooperate. Explanation: "Упрямый" focuses on personal stubbornness, while "несговорчивый" highlights interactional behavior.
• Another error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., using "несговорчивый" with a feminine noun without changing to "несговорчивая". Correct by always matching forms.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "несговорчивый" or "неуступчивый" can stem from historical values of resilience and individualism, especially in contexts like Soviet-era negotiations or modern business dealings. It may reflect a cultural emphasis on protecting one's interests, as seen in literature like Chekhov's works, where uncooperative characters symbolize resistance to authority.

Related Concepts:

• упрямство (upryamstvo) - Stubbornness
• твердость (tvordost') - Firmness
• сопротивление (soproтивление) - Resistance