Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hulking'

English Word: hulking

Key Russian Translations:

• громоздкий /ɡrɐˈmozdkʲɪj/ - [Informal, often used for describing something large and awkwardly bulky]

Frequency: Medium (The word is not among the most common in everyday Russian, but appears in descriptive contexts like literature or casual descriptions.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp its usage with practice, as it involves basic adjective forms and contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

громоздкий: /ɡrɐˈmozdkʲɪj/

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Large and bulky in an awkward or cumbersome way

Translation(s) & Context:

• громоздкий - Used in informal contexts to describe objects or people that are oversized and difficult to handle, such as furniture or a person's build.

Usage Examples:

• Он был громоздким мужчиной, который едва проходил через дверь.

  He was a hulking man who could barely fit through the door.

• Эта громоздкая мебель занимает слишком много места в маленькой квартире.

  This hulking furniture takes up too much space in the small apartment.

• Громоздкий рюкзак мешал ему бежать быстро по улице.

  The hulking backpack hindered him from running quickly down the street.

• В фильме злодей изображён как громоздкий гигант, внушающий страх.

  In the movie, the villain is depicted as a hulking giant, inspiring fear.

• Её громоздкий стиль одежды делал её заметной на вечеринке.

  Her hulking style of clothing made her stand out at the party.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translation "громоздкий" is an adjective, which in Russian changes based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for most cases, making it relatively regular. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, so it follows the standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • массивный (massivnyy) - Emphasizes sheer size and weight, often in formal contexts.
  • огромный (ogromnyy) - More general for "enormous," but less focused on awkwardness.
• Antonyms:
  • маленький (malen'kiy) - Small or tiny.
  • компактный (kompaktnyy) - Compact and space-efficient.

Related Phrases:

• громоздкий багаж (gromozdkiy bagazh) - Bulky luggage; often used when complaining about travel inconveniences.
• громоздкий дизайн (gromozdkiy dizayn) - Hulking design; refers to overly large and impractical product designs.
• громоздкий шкаф (gromozdkiy shkaf) - Hulking wardrobe; a common phrase in home decor discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Громоздкий" directly corresponds to the English "hulking" when emphasizing awkward bulkiness, but it's more commonly used for inanimate objects in Russian. In formal writing, opt for "массивный" if you want to avoid a casual tone. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun they describe. For example, when choosing between translations, use "громоздкий" for everyday informal scenarios and "огромный" for broader emphasis.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "громоздкий" interchangeably with "большой" (big), which is more neutral.
  Correct: "большой" is safer for general size, while "громоздкий" implies awkwardness. Example of error: *Он большой мужчина* (incorrect if emphasizing bulk) vs. Correct: Он громоздкий мужчина (He is a hulking man).
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "громоздкий женщина" instead of "громоздкая женщина".
  Correct: Always adjust for gender, as in "громоздкая мебель" for feminine nouns.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "громоздкий" often appear in contexts related to the harsh Russian climate or historical living conditions, where bulky items (e.g., winter clothing or furniture) were practical but cumbersome. This reflects a broader cultural appreciation for resilience in the face of size and space challenges, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works.

Related Concepts:

• массивный
• огромный
• тяжёлый (tyazhelyy)