Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'feeble'

English Word: feeble

Key Russian Translations:

• слабый (slabyy) - [IPA: ˈslabɨj] - [Informal/Formal, Adjective]
• хилый (khilyy) - [IPA: ˈxʲilɨj] - [Informal, Adjective, Often used for physical frailty]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language, especially in descriptions of health or strength, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and nuances in context, with "слабый" being straightforward for learners at this level, while "хилый" may vary slightly in connotation).

Pronunciation (Russian):

слабый: [IPA: ˈslabɨj]

хилый: [IPA: ˈxʲilɨj]

Note on слабый: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the soft "л" sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. A common variant in rapid speech might soften the vowels.

Note on хилый: Pronounce the initial "х" as a guttural sound, similar to the Scottish "loch"; this is a common point of difficulty for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physically weak or lacking strength

Translation(s) & Context:

• слабый - Used in contexts describing physical frailty, such as illness or old age (e.g., in medical or everyday conversations).
• хилый - Applied to people or objects that are inherently frail or underdeveloped, often with a slightly pejorative tone in informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он чувствует себя слабым после болезни. (On chuvstvuyet sebya slabym posle bolezni.)

  He feels feeble after the illness. (This example shows the adjective in a health-related context, demonstrating agreement with the subject.)

• Эта старая собака стала хилой и не может бегать. (Eta staraya sobaka stala khiloy i ne mozhet begat'.)

  This old dog has become feeble and can't run. (Illustrates use in describing animals or objects, with agreement in gender and number.)

• Из-за недоедания дети выглядят слабыми. (Iz-za nedoedeniya deti vyglyadut slabymi.)

  Due to malnutrition, the children look feeble. (Shows plural form in a social or humanitarian context.)

• Хилый забор не выдержит сильного ветра. (Khilyy zabora ne vydzherzhit sil'nogo vetra.)

  The feeble fence won't withstand a strong wind. (Demonstrates metaphorical use for inanimate objects.)

Meaning 2: Mentally weak or lacking resolve

Translation(s) & Context:

• слабый - In psychological or emotional contexts, implying a lack of mental fortitude (e.g., in discussions about character or decisions).

Usage Examples:

• Его слабый характер не позволяет ему принимать решения. (Yego slabyy kharakter ne pozvolyaet yemu prinimat' resheniya.)

  His feeble character doesn't allow him to make decisions. (This highlights the adjective in a personality context, with proper case agreement.)

• Слабый аргумент не убедит аудиторию. (Slabyy argument ne ubeedit auditoriyu.)

  A feeble argument won't convince the audience. (Shows use in intellectual or debate scenarios.)

• Она показала слабость воли в критический момент. (Ona pokazala slabost' voli v kriticheskiy moment.)

  She showed a feeble will at a critical moment. (Illustrates a derived noun form from the adjective root.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "слабый" and "хилый" are adjectives, which in Russian must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They follow the standard first-declension adjective pattern, which is regular but requires attention to endings.

These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners, but always ensure agreement with the governing noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • слабосильный (slabosil'nyy) - Similar to слабый but emphasizes physical weakness more.
  • несильный (nesil'nyy) - A milder synonym, used in less intense contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • сильный (sil'nyy) - Directly opposite, meaning strong or powerful.
  • крепкий (krepkiy) - Meaning sturdy or robust, often in physical contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Слабый как котенок (Slabyy kak kotenok) - Meaning "as feeble as a kitten"; used to describe extreme physical weakness in a light-hearted way. (This idiom highlights fragility in informal speech.)
• Хилый телосложение (Khilyy teloslozheniye) - Meaning "feeble build"; a phrase for describing someone's physical structure in medical or fitness contexts.
• Потерять слабость (Poteryat' slabost') - Meaning "to lose feebleness"; implies gaining strength, often metaphorically.

Usage Notes:

"Feeble" translates most accurately to "слабый" in general contexts, but "хилый" is better for connotations of inherent frailty. In Russian, these adjectives must always agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe, which differs from English's invariable adjectives. For formal writing, "слабый" is preferred, while "хилый" might sound too casual or derogatory. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use "слабый" for temporary states and "хилый" for permanent ones. Learners should practice with sentences to master declensions.

Common Errors:

• Using the wrong case or gender: English speakers often forget to decline adjectives, e.g., saying "слабый дом" instead of "слабый дом" (correct), but in genitive: "слабого дома" – Error: "слабый дома" (incorrect because it doesn't agree). Correct: Always check the noun's case.
• Mispronouncing the stress: Saying "slaBYJ" instead of "SLAbyj" for слабый, which can change the word's perceived meaning or make it sound unnatural. Explanation: Russian stress patterns are fixed, so listen to native audio for accuracy.
• Confusing with similar words: Mixing up "слабый" with "свободный" (free), leading to sentences like "Он слабый" meaning "He is weak" but accidentally saying something unrelated. Correct by double-checking vocabulary lists.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "слабый" can carry subtle implications of vulnerability, often linked to historical contexts such as wartime hardships or rural life, where physical strength was highly valued. This might evoke empathy or criticism, depending on the setting, reflecting Russia's emphasis on resilience in literature and folklore.

Related Concepts:

• усталый (ustaly) - Meaning tired or weary.
• болезненный (boleznennyy) - Meaning sickly or ailing.
• несчастный (neschastnyy) - Meaning unfortunate or miserable.