Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'frail'

English Word: frail

Key Russian Translations:

• слабый /ˈslabɨj/ - [Informal, used for people or health contexts]
• хрупкий /ˈxrupkʲij/ - [Formal, used for objects or delicate materials]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language, especially in health and descriptive contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic adjectives and their inflections, but can be challenging for beginners due to contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

слабый: /ˈslabɨj/

Note on слабый: The stress is on the first syllable; the "ы" sound is a back vowel, which may be difficult for English speakers accustomed to similar sounds in words like "bit." Pronounce it with a soft, unrounded quality.

Audio: []

хрупкий: /ˈxrupkʲij/

Note on хрупкий: The initial "х" is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch"; the palatalized "кʲ" adds a soft quality, common in Russian adjectives.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physically weak or delicate (referring to people or health)

Translation(s) & Context:

• слабый - Often used in informal contexts to describe physical frailty, such as after illness or in old age; common in everyday conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал слабым после долгой болезни.

  He became frail after a long illness.

• Её бабушка выглядит слабой и нуждается в помощи.

  Her grandmother looks frail and needs assistance.

• В старости человек может стать слабым физически.

  In old age, a person can become frail physically.

• Слабый ребенок не должен играть в активные игры.

  A frail child should not play active games.

• После операции он чувствовал себя слабым и уставшим.

  After the surgery, he felt frail and tired.

Meaning 2: Delicate or easily breakable (referring to objects or materials)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хрупкий - Typically used in formal or descriptive contexts for inanimate objects, emphasizing fragility; common in scientific or everyday object descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Эта ваза очень хрупкая, будь осторожен.

  This vase is very frail, be careful.

• Хрупкие кости животных требуют бережного обращения.

  The frail bones of animals require careful handling.

• Ветер может сломать хрупкие ветки дерева.

  The wind can break the frail branches of the tree.

• Хрупкий фарфор легко повреждается при транспортировке.

  Frail porcelain is easily damaged during transportation.

• Её хрупкое здоровье делает её уязвимой к инфекциям.

  Her frail health makes her vulnerable to infections.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "слабый" and "хрупкий" are Russian adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

For слабый (slabiy):

For хрупкий (khrupkiy): It follows the same inflection pattern as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • слабый: хилый (khilyi) - slightly weaker connotation, often for underdevelopment
  • хрупкий: ломкий (lomkiy) - breakable, with a focus on ease of breaking
• Antonyms:
  • сильный (sil'nyi) - strong
  • прочный (prochnyi) - durable, sturdy

Related Phrases:

• слабый характер - a weak character (refers to personality traits)
• хрупкий мир - a frail peace (often used in diplomatic contexts)
• быть слабым на руку - to be frail-handed (idiomatic for being physically weak)

Usage Notes:

"Frail" corresponds closely to "слабый" when describing human frailty and to "хрупкий" for objects. Use "слабый" in informal settings like health discussions, but opt for "хрупкий" in formal or material contexts. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. When choosing between translations, consider the context: "слабый" implies a lack of strength, while "хрупкий" suggests vulnerability to breaking.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "слабый" for objects instead of people. For example, saying "слабый стол" (a frail table) when "хрупкий стол" is more accurate.

  Correct: хрупкий стол - Explanation: "Слабый" typically applies to living things or abstract qualities, while "хрупкий" is for physical fragility.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "слабый женщина" instead of "слабая женщина".

  Correct: слабая женщина - Explanation: Adjectives in Russian must agree with the noun's gender; here, "женщина" is feminine.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "слабый" can carry subtle connotations of vulnerability, often linked to themes in literature (e.g., in Tolstoy's works, frailty symbolizes human mortality). "Хрупкий" might evoke ideas of fragility in art or nature, reflecting Russia's vast landscapes where delicate ecosystems are contrasted with harsh environments.

Related Concepts:

• уязвимый (vulnerable)
• непрочный (unstable)
• слабость (weakness, as a noun)