Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cliche'

English Word: Cliche

Key Russian Translations:

• клише [klʲɪˈʂe] - [Neutral, Commonly Used in Writing and Speech]
• штамп [ʂtamp] - [Neutral, Often Used in Criticism of Overused Ideas]

Frequency: Medium (often used in discussions of language, literature, or media)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

клише: [klʲɪˈʂe]

Note on клише: The stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

штамп: [ʂtamp]

Note on штамп: The initial 'ш' is pronounced as a retroflex fricative, and the stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Overused Expression or Idea

Translation(s) & Context:

• клише - Often refers to overused phrases or ideas in writing or speech.
• штамп - Used similarly, but often carries a more negative connotation, implying something unoriginal or formulaic.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм полон клише о любви и приключениях.

  This movie is full of cliches about love and adventure.

• Его речь была переполнена штампами, лишенными оригинальности.

  His speech was overloaded with cliches, lacking originality.

• Журналисты часто используют клише, чтобы быстро описать события.

  Journalists often use cliches to quickly describe events.

• Избегайте штампов в своих эссе, чтобы текст выглядел свежим.

  Avoid cliches in your essays to make the text look fresh.

• Клише может быть полезным, если вы хотите донести знакомую идею.

  A cliche can be useful if you want to convey a familiar idea.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

клише (Noun, Neuter): This word is indeclinable in Russian, meaning it does not change form based on case or number. It remains "клише" in singular and plural across all grammatical cases.

штамп (Noun, Masculine): This word follows the standard masculine declension pattern for nouns ending in a consonant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for клише/штамп:

• банальность (banality, often used for trite ideas)
• стереотип (stereotype, more specific to fixed ideas or images)

Antonyms for клише/штамп:

• оригинальность (originality)
• новизна (novelty)

Related Phrases:

• заезженное клише - "worn-out cliche" (refers to an extremely overused expression)
• ставить штампы - "to stamp" (can mean to label or categorize something in a clichéd way)
• думать штампами - "to think in cliches" (to think in a predictable, unoriginal way)

Usage Notes:

• Both "клише" and "штамп" are used to describe overused expressions or ideas, but "штамп" often has a stronger negative connotation, implying something formulaic or lacking creativity.
• Use "клише" when discussing language or artistic works in a neutral or descriptive way. Use "штамп" when critiquing or emphasizing unoriginality.
• Be aware that "клише" is a borrowed word from French and is indeclinable, which might feel unusual to learners accustomed to Russian noun declensions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Attempting to decline "клише" as a regular noun (e.g., *клиша instead of клише in genitive). Correction: Remember that "клише" does not change form in any case or number. Example of incorrect usage: *У меня нет клиша (wrong); Correct: У меня нет клише.
• Error: Using "штамп" in contexts where a physical stamp is meant rather than a metaphorical cliche. Correction: "Штамп" can mean a literal stamp (like in a passport), so context is key. Use "клише" for purely linguistic or conceptual cliches if ambiguity arises.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "штамп" is often associated with Soviet-era bureaucracy, where "stamping" documents or ideas metaphorically extended to rigid, formulaic thinking. This historical context adds a layer of criticism when using "штамп" to describe cliched ideas or behaviors.

Related Concepts:

• банальность (banality)
• стереотип (stereotype)
• трафарет (template, stencil)