Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Colourless'

English Word: Colourless

Key Russian Translations:

• бесцветный [bʲɪsˈvʲetnɨj] - [Formal, Literal]
• неяркий [nʲɪˈjarkʲɪj] - [Informal, Figurative]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "бесцветный"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "неяркий" due to figurative usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

бесцветный: [bʲɪsˈvʲetnɨj]

Note on бесцветный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ы" sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced like a short, unrounded "i".

неяркий: [nʲɪˈjarkʲɪj]

Note on неяркий: Stress on the second syllable. The "я" is pronounced as "ya".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Literal Meaning (Lacking Color)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесцветный - Used to describe something physically without color, such as a liquid or object.

Usage Examples:

• Вода в стакане была бесцветной.

  The water in the glass was colourless.

• Это бесцветное вещество безопасно для использования.

  This colourless substance is safe to use.

• Её кожа стала почти бесцветной от холода.

  Her skin became almost colourless from the cold.

2. Figurative Meaning (Lacking Vibrancy or Interest)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесцветный - Used metaphorically for dull or uninspired things or people.
• неяркий - Often used for something not vivid or striking, like personality or performance.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь была бесцветной и скучной.

  His speech was colourless and boring.

• Этот фильм оказался довольно неярким.

  This movie turned out to be quite colourless.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

бесцветный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case as a typical Russian adjective.

неяркий (Adjective): Follows similar declension rules as "бесцветный".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for бесцветный (Literal):

• прозрачный
• бледный

Note: "прозрачный" implies transparency, while "бледный" suggests paleness.

Synonyms for бесцветный/неяркий (Figurative):

• скучный
• тусклый

Antonyms:

• яркий
• красочный

Related Phrases:

• бесцветный раствор - Colourless solution (used in chemistry or science contexts).
• бесцветная жизнь - Colourless life (a metaphorical expression for a dull existence).
• неяркое впечатление - Unremarkable impression (used to describe something forgettable).

Usage Notes:

• "бесцветный" is the most direct translation for "colourless" in literal contexts (e.g., describing liquids or objects). It can also be used figuratively for dullness.
• "неяркий" is more common in figurative contexts to describe something lacking vibrancy or impact, such as a performance or personality.
• Be mindful of gender and case agreement when using these adjectives in Russian sentences, as they must match the noun they describe.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "бесцветный" for figurative contexts where "неяркий" or "тусклый" would be more appropriate. For example, saying "бесцветный спектакль" (colourless performance) might sound odd; "неяркий спектакль" is better.
  Correct Usage: "Этот спектакль был неярким." (This performance was colourless/unremarkable.)
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, or case. For instance, "бесцветная вода" (feminine) is correct, while "бесцветный вода" is incorrect.
  Correct Usage: "Вода была бесцветной." (The water was colourless.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, describing something or someone as "бесцветный" or "неяркий" in a figurative sense can carry a stronger negative connotation than in English. It often implies a profound lack of personality or impact, so use these terms carefully in social contexts to avoid unintended offense.

Related Concepts:

• тусклый (dull)
• бледный (pale)
• скучный (boring)