Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Adhesive'

English Word: adhesive

Key Russian Translations:

• клей [klʲej] - [Common, Neutral]
• клеящее вещество [klʲeˈjaʂːeje vʲeˈʂːestvo] - [Formal, Technical]
• липкий [ˈlʲipkʲij] - [Adjective, Informal, Describes stickiness]

Frequency: Medium (especially "клей")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "клей"), B2 (Intermediate for "клеящее вещество" and "липкий")

Pronunciation (Russian):

клей: [klʲej]

Note on клей: The stress is on the single syllable. The 'к' is pronounced with a slight aspiration, typical in Russian.

клеящее вещество: [klʲeˈjaʂːeje vʲeˈʂːestvo]

Note on клеящее вещество: Stress falls on the second syllable of "клеящее" and the second syllable of "вещество".

липкий: [ˈlʲipkʲij]

Note on липкий: Stress on the first syllable; the 'п' is soft due to the following 'и'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A substance used for sticking objects together (noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• клей - General term for glue or adhesive substance, used in everyday contexts.
• клеящее вещество - More formal or technical term, often used in scientific or industrial contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил клей для ремонта обуви.

  I bought glue to repair shoes.

• Этот клей очень сильный, он склеит даже металл.

  This glue is very strong; it can even bond metal.

• В лаборатории используют специальное клеящее вещество.

  A special adhesive substance is used in the laboratory.

2. Something sticky or having adhesive properties (adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• липкий - Describes something sticky or adhesive in texture, often used informally.

Usage Examples:

• Эта лента очень липкая, она хорошо держится.

  This tape is very sticky; it holds well.

• Мои руки стали липкими после работы с клеем.

  My hands became sticky after working with glue.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

клей (noun, masculine): Declines according to the second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	клей	клеи
Genitive	клея	клеев
Dative	клею	клеям
Accusative	клей	клеи
Instrumental	клеем	клеями
Prepositional	о клее	о клеях

липкий (adjective): Declines as a regular adjective, with forms for masculine, feminine, neuter, and plural.

клеящее вещество (compound noun phrase): Both words decline; "клеящее" as a participle and "вещество" as a neuter noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for клей:

• адгезив (technical)
• скрепляющее средство (formal)

Note: "адгезив" is rarely used outside specialized contexts, while "скрепляющее средство" is very formal.

Antonyms for липкий:

• скользкий (slippery)
• гладкий (smooth)

Related Phrases:

• клей ПВА - PVA glue, a common type of glue used in schools and crafts.
• липкая лента - Adhesive tape, often referring to Scotch tape or similar products.
• моментальный клей - Instant glue or superglue, used for quick bonding.

Usage Notes:

• "клей" is the most common and versatile term for "adhesive" as a noun and should be your default choice in everyday contexts.
• Use "клеящее вещество" only in formal or technical writing, such as scientific reports or manuals.
• "липкий" is an adjective and should not be confused with the noun forms. It describes the property of stickiness rather than the substance itself.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "липкий" as a noun to mean "glue".
  Incorrect: Я купил липкий для проекта.
  Correct: Я купил клей для проекта.
  Explanation: "липкий" is an adjective meaning "sticky", not a noun for glue.
• Error: Misusing cases with "клей".
  Incorrect: Я работаю с клей (nominative instead of instrumental).
  Correct: Я работаю с клеем.
  Explanation: After prepositions like "с" (with), use the instrumental case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "клей" often evokes childhood memories of school crafts, especially with "клей ПВА", a staple in Soviet-era classrooms. Additionally, "липкий" can carry a negative connotation in informal speech, implying something unpleasantly sticky or clingy, such as in personal interactions.

Related Concepts:

• склеивать (to glue, to bond)
• приклеивать (to stick, to attach)
• адгезия (adhesion, technical term)