Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'banal'

English Word: banal

Key Russian Translations:

• банальный [bɐˈnalʲnɨj] - [Formal/Informal, Adjective]
• тривиальный [trʲɪvʲɪˈalʲnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• заурядный [zɐʊˈrʲadnɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

банальный: [bɐˈnalʲnɨj]

Note on банальный: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'л' is palatalized, pronounced with a soft 'l' sound.

тривиальный: [trʲɪvʲɪˈalʲnɨj]

Note on тривиальный: Stress on the third syllable; often used in more academic or formal contexts.

заурядный: [zɐʊˈrʲadnɨj]

Note on заурядный: Stress on the second syllable; carries a slightly more colloquial tone.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Lacking originality, overused (General sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• банальный - Commonly used for ideas, remarks, or situations that are predictable or clichéd.
• тривиальный - Often used in intellectual or formal discussions to describe something overly simplistic or obvious.

Usage Examples:

• Это банальный сюжет для фильма.

  This is a banal plot for a movie.

• Его аргументы были тривиальными и неубедительными.

  His arguments were trivial and unconvincing.

• Банальная фраза, но она всё ещё трогает.

  A banal phrase, but it still touches me.

2. Ordinary, unremarkable (Referring to people or things)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заурядный - Used to describe something or someone as average or unexceptional, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он был заурядным человеком без особых талантов.

  He was a banal (ordinary) person without any special talents.

• Это заурядная книга, ничего нового.

  This is a banal (unremarkable) book, nothing new.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

банальный (Adjective): Follows standard Russian adjective declension rules based on gender, number, and case.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	банальный	банальная	банальное	банальные
Genitive	банального	банальной	банального	банальных

Note: Similar declension patterns apply to тривиальный and заурядный.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• обыденный (everyday, mundane)
• пошлый (vulgar, trite - in some contexts)

Note: "пошлый" may carry a stronger negative tone than "банальный".

Antonyms:

• оригинальный (original)
• необычный (unusual)

Related Phrases:

• банальная истина - A banal truth (a commonly accepted, overused truth).
• тривиальное решение - A trivial solution (an overly simple or obvious solution).
• заурядная внешность - A banal appearance (an ordinary, unremarkable look).

Usage Notes:

• "банальный" is the most direct and widely used translation for "banal", suitable for most contexts involving clichéd or overused ideas.
• "тривиальный" is more formal and often used in academic or intellectual discussions to imply something is overly simplistic.
• "заурядный" is best used when describing something or someone as ordinary or unremarkable, often with a slightly negative connotation.

Common Errors:

1. Mixing up "банальный" and "заурядный": English learners often use "заурядный" when describing clichéd ideas, but it is more appropriate for describing unremarkable people or things.禁止: Incorrect: Это заурядная идея. (This is a banal idea.) Correct: Это банальная идея.

2. Overusing "тривиальный": Learners may overuse "тривиальный" in informal contexts, sounding overly formal or pretentious. Reserve it for academic or technical discussions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, originality in thought and expression is often highly valued, especially in literature and intellectual discussions. Describing something as "банальный" or "тривиальный" can be a strong criticism, implying a lack of creativity or depth.

Related Concepts:

• клише (cliché)
• стереотип (stereotype)
• шаблон (template, pattern)