Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'chinless'

English Word: chinless

Key Russian Translations:

• без подбородка [bʲɪz pɐdbɐˈrodka] - [Literal translation, Formal]
• слабовольный [slɐbɐˈvolʲnɨj] - [Idiomatic for weak-willed or lacking resolve, Informal]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation; more frequent in literary or descriptive contexts.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1 for literal use; B2 for idiomatic expressions, as it involves understanding metaphorical nuances in Russian.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

без подбородка: [bʲɪz pɐdbɐˈrodka]

Note on без подбородка: The stress falls on the third syllable ("rodka"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronounce the initial "bʲ" with a soft, palatalized 'b' sound.

слабовольный: [slɐbɐˈvolʲnɨj]

Note on слабовольный: The ending "-ый" is typically pronounced as [ɨj] in adjectives, and the word has a soft 'l' sound in "volʲ". Variations in informal speech may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Literal Meaning: Lacking a chin (physical description)

Translation(s) & Context:

• без подбородка - Used in formal or medical contexts to describe a physical feature, such as in anatomy or rare descriptive writing.

Usage Examples:

• У него лицо без подбородка, что делает его профиль необычным.

  He has a face without a chin, which makes his profile unusual.

• Врачи заметили, что у пациента врожденная аномалия: без подбородка.

  Doctors noticed that the patient had a congenital anomaly: without a chin.

• Художник изобразил персонажа с лицом без подбородка для усиления эффекта.

  The artist depicted the character with a face without a chin to enhance the effect.

• Это редкое генетическое состояние, когда ребенок рождается без подбородка.

  This is a rare genetic condition where a child is born without a chin.

Idiomatic Meaning: Weak-willed or lacking determination (metaphorical, as in "chinless wonder")

Translation(s) & Context:

• слабовольный - Used in informal or literary contexts to describe someone who is indecisive or lacks backbone, similar to the English idiom.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда был слабовольным в решениях, как типичный слабовольный человек.

  He was always weak-willed in his decisions, like a typical chinless wonder.

• В этой семье все считают его слабовольным, потому что он избегает конфликтов.

  In this family, everyone considers him chinless because he avoids conflicts.

• Слабовольный лидер не сможет справиться с кризисом.

  A chinless leader won't be able to handle the crisis.

• Ее слабовольный характер помешал ей добиться успеха в бизнесе.

  Her chinless character prevented her from succeeding in business.

• Не будь слабовольным; прими решение сейчас!

  Don't be chinless; make a decision now!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

без подбородка is a phrase where "без" is a preposition (invariable), and "подбородка" is the genitive singular form of the noun "подбородок" (chin), which is a masculine noun in the third declension.

слабовольный is an adjective that follows the standard pattern for adjectives ending in -ый. It agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For example:

• Masculine singular: слабовольный
• Feminine singular: слабовольная
• Neuter singular: слабовольное
• Plural: слабовольные

This adjective does not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: бесхарактерный (completely without character), вялый (listless) - бесхарактерный is more formal and emphasizes total lack of resolve.
• Антонимы: решительный (decisive), твердый (firm) - These are direct opposites, often used in motivational contexts.

Related Phrases:

• без спины - Literally "without a back," meaning lacking support or backbone; used idiomatically for someone unreliable.
• слабый характер - Weak character; a common phrase to describe personality flaws similar to "chinless."
• не иметь воли - To lack will; often paired with слабовольный in discussions of personal development.

Usage Notes:

The English word "chinless" doesn't have a direct one-to-one equivalent in Russian, so choose translations based on context: use "без подбородка" for literal physical descriptions and "слабовольный" for metaphorical uses. Be mindful of register— "слабовольный" is informal and may sound pejorative, so avoid it in formal writing. Grammatically, adjectives like "слабовольный" must agree with the noun they modify, which is a key difference from English. When translating idioms, provide cultural context to ensure accurate conveyance.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "без подбородка" in idiomatic contexts, e.g., saying "Он без подбородка в решениях" instead of "Он слабовольный в решениях." Correct: Он слабовольный в решениях. Explanation: This mixes literal and metaphorical meanings, confusing the intent; always match the translation to the context.
• Error: Failing to inflect adjectives, e.g., saying "Она слабовольный" for a feminine subject. Correct: Она слабовольная. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case, unlike English adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "слабовольный" often carry a negative connotation tied to historical emphasis on resilience and determination, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works. The idiomatic use may evoke stereotypes of weakness in Soviet-era narratives, where strong willpower was idealized.

Related Concepts:

• характер
• воля
• решительность