Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dainty'

English Word: dainty

Key Russian Translations:

• изящный [ɪˈzʲaʂnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• утончённый [ʊtɐnˈtʂʲɵnnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• нежный [ˈnʲeʐnɨj] - [Neutral, Adjective, Often for delicate appearance or taste]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts, not everyday speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "изящный" and "нежный"; C1 (Advanced) for "утончённый" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

изящный: [ɪˈzʲaʂnɨj]

Note on изящный: Stress falls on the second syllable; the "щ" sound is a soft, hissing consonant unique to Russian.

утончённый: [ʊtɐnˈtʂʲɵnnɨj]

Note on утончённый: Stress on the third syllable; the "ё" is always stressed and pronounced as "yo".

нежный: [ˈnʲeʐnɨj]

Note on нежный: Stress on the first syllable; the "ж" is a voiced fricative, similar to the "s" in "measure".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Delicate or elegantly small (e.g., appearance, manner)

Translation(s) & Context:

• изящный - Used for describing elegant or refined objects, movements, or appearances (e.g., jewelry, gestures).
• утончённый - Often implies sophistication or refinement, used for people or tastes.

Usage Examples:

• Её изящные движения привлекли внимание всех в зале.

  Her dainty movements attracted everyone's attention in the hall.

• У неё утончённый вкус в одежде.

  She has a dainty (refined) taste in clothing.

• Этот изящный браслет идеально дополняет её образ.

  This dainty bracelet perfectly complements her look.

2. Delicate in taste or texture (e.g., food)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нежный - Used for describing delicate flavors or textures, often for food or feelings.

Usage Examples:

• Этот торт имеет очень нежный вкус.

  This cake has a very dainty (delicate) taste.

• Нежная текстура крема делает его идеальным для десертов.

  The dainty (delicate) texture of the cream makes it perfect for desserts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	изящный	изящная	изящное	изящные
Genitive	изящного	изящной	изящного	изящных

утончённый (Adjective): Similar declension pattern to "изящный".

нежный (Adjective): Follows standard soft-stem adjective declension (note the soft sign in some forms).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for изящный/утончённый (elegant, refined):

• грациозный (graceful)
• элегантный (elegant)
• тонкий (subtle, refined)

Note: "элегантный" is often used for style, while "грациозный" emphasizes physical grace.

Antonyms for изящный/утончённый:

• грубый (coarse, rough)
• неуклюжий (clumsy)

Related Phrases:

• изящное искусство - "dainty art" (refined or delicate art forms)
• утончённый стиль - "dainty style" (sophisticated or refined style)
• нежный аромат - "dainty aroma" (delicate fragrance)

Usage Notes:

• "изящный" is best used for physical elegance or small, delicate objects. It might not fit when describing personality or taste, where "утончённый" is more appropriate.
• "нежный" is versatile but often implies softness or tenderness, so it is commonly used for food or emotions rather than sophisticated elegance.
• Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, unlike English where "dainty" remains unchanged.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "нежный" for elegance in formal contexts (e.g., "нежный стиль" for "dainty style"). Correction: Use "утончённый стиль" instead, as "нежный" implies tenderness, not refinement.
• Error: Incorrect adjective agreement (e.g., "изящный женщина" instead of "изящная женщина"). Explanation: Adjectives must match the gender of the noun; "женщина" (woman) is feminine, so the correct form is "изящная".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, describing something as "изящный" or "утончённый" often carries a connotation of high social status or artistic value, reflecting a historical appreciation for refined aesthetics in art, literature, and behavior, especially in pre-revolutionary aristocratic contexts.

Related Concepts:

• красота (beauty)
• эстетика (aesthetics)
• грация (grace)