Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impermeable'

English Word: impermeable

Key Russian Translations:

• непроницаемый [nʲɪ.prɐˈnʲi.t͡sə.mɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in scientific or technical contexts]
• водонепроницаемый [vɐ.dɐ.nʲɪ.prɐˈnʲi.t͡sə.mɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Specifically for water resistance, e.g., in everyday products]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical, scientific, and engineering fields, but less frequent in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, suitable for learners with basic vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

непроницаемый: [nʲɪ.prɐˈnʲi.t͡sə.mɨj]

Note on непроницаемый: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("ni"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'н' sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

водонепроницаемый: [vɐ.dɐ.nʲɪ.prɐˈnʲi.t͡sə.mɨj]

Note on водонепроницаемый: The prefix 'вода-' adds emphasis on water, and the word maintains a similar stress pattern to непроницаемый. Be mindful of the soft consonants for accurate pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Literal Meaning: Not allowing passage of fluids or substances (e.g., in materials science)

Translation(s) & Context:

• непроницаемый - Used in contexts describing materials or barriers that block penetration, such as in physics or engineering (e.g., impermeable membranes).
• водонепроницаемый - Specifically for water-proof items, like clothing or containers, in everyday or practical scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Эта мембрана непроницаема для газов и жидкостей.

  This membrane is impermeable to gases and liquids.

• Водонепроницаемая одежда идеально подходит для дождливой погоды.

  Waterproof clothing is ideal for rainy weather.

• Непроницаемый слой защищает почву от загрязнений.

  The impermeable layer protects the soil from contaminants.

• Этот материал водонепроницаем, но пропускает воздух.

  This material is impermeable to water but allows air to pass through.

• В геологии непроницаемые породы препятствуют потоку подземных вод.

  In geology, impermeable rocks hinder the flow of groundwater.

Metaphorical Meaning: Not penetrable in a figurative sense (e.g., in social or emotional contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• непроницаемый - Applied metaphorically, such as for emotions or barriers that are unyielding (e.g., an impermeable defense in psychology).

Usage Examples:

• Его непроницаемое выражение лица не выдавало эмоций.

  His impermeable facial expression did not reveal any emotions.

• В переговорах непроницаемая позиция может привести к тупику.

  In negotiations, an impermeable stance can lead to a deadlock.

• Эта группа имеет непроницаемый барьер для новых членов.

  This group has an impermeable barrier for new members.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "непроницаемый" and "водонепроницаемый" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives. Below is a table for "непроницаемый" (as an example; "водонепроницаемый" follows the same rules).

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form usage, but in modern Russian, the full form is more common. They are regular adjectives, so no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • импермеабельный (less common, directly borrowed term, used in technical contexts)
  • непористый (specifically for non-porous materials, with a slight nuance toward surface texture)
• Antonyms:
  • проницаемый (permeable, general opposite)
  • пористый (porous, often used in material science)

Related Phrases:

• непроницаемая оболочка - An impermeable shell or coating (used in biology or engineering to describe protective layers).
• водонепроницаемый материал - Waterproof material (common in manufacturing and outdoor gear contexts).
• непроницаемый барьер - An impermeable barrier (figuratively, for social or emotional blocks).

Usage Notes:

"Непроницаемый" directly corresponds to the English "impermeable" in physical contexts, while "водонепроницаемый" is more specific to water resistance. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. Use "непроницаемый" in formal or scientific writing, and opt for "водонепроницаемый" when emphasizing water-proofing in everyday scenarios. Be cautious with metaphorical uses, as they may require additional context to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget to inflect the adjective correctly, e.g., using "непроницаемый" with a feminine noun without changing it to "непроницаемая". Correct: "непроницаемая ткань" instead of "непроницаемый ткань".
• Confusing "непроницаемый" with "непрозрачный" (opaque), which relates to light rather than fluids. Error example: Saying "непроницаемый стекло" for "impermeable glass" when it might mean "non-transparent glass". Correct: Use "непроницаемый" only for penetration of substances, not visibility.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and language, terms like "непроницаемый" are frequently used in scientific and industrial contexts due to Russia's emphasis on engineering and space technology (e.g., in references to Soviet-era materials). However, they don't carry strong cultural connotations beyond their literal meanings, unlike some idiomatic expressions.

Related Concepts:

• пористый (porous)
• герметичный (hermetic or sealed)
• изоляционный (insulating)