Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impropriety'

English Word: impropriety

Key Russian Translations:

• неприличие [nʲɪprʲɪˈlʲit͡ɕɪje] - [Formal, Noun]
• непристойность [nʲɪprʲɪˈstojnəsʲtʲ] - [Informal, Noun, Used in everyday conversations about social norms]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, literature, and discussions about ethics, but less frequent in casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for learners, as it involves understanding nuanced social contexts; for 'неприличие', it's B2, while 'непристойность' may be B1 due to simpler usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неприличие: [nʲɪprʲɪˈlʲit͡ɕɪje]

непристойность: [nʲɪprʲɪˈstojnəsʲtʲ]

Note on неприличие: The stress falls on the third syllable ('li-'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'л' sound. Pay attention to the soft consonants.

Note on непристойность: This word has a rolling 'р' in some dialects, but standard pronunciation is as above. Variations may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Inappropriate or improper behavior, often in a social or ethical context

Translation(s) & Context:

• неприличие - Used in formal settings, such as legal or academic discussions, to denote behavior that violates social norms.
• непристойность - Applied in informal contexts, like everyday conversations, to describe rude or indecent actions.

Usage Examples:

• Его неприличие на вечере шокировало всех гостей.

  His impropriety at the party shocked all the guests.

• В обществе такое неприличие не терпится.

  Such impropriety is not tolerated in society.

• Её непристойность в разговоре вызвала неловкость.

  Her impropriety in the conversation caused awkwardness.

• Обвиняя в неприличии, он забыл о своих собственных ошибках.

  By accusing of impropriety, he forgot about his own mistakes.

• Это непристойность, которую не стоит повторять в приличном обществе.

  This is an impropriety that shouldn't be repeated in polite society.

Meaning 2: Something that is not suitable or proper, such as an action or remark

Translation(s) & Context:

• неприличие - In written or formal contexts, emphasizing ethical or moral unsuitability.
• непристойность - In spoken language, often for lighter, everyday situations involving decorum.

Usage Examples:

• Такое неприличие в деловой переписке недопустимо.

  Such impropriety in business correspondence is unacceptable.

• Его шутка была чистой непристойностью на официальном мероприятии.

  His joke was pure impropriety at the official event.

• Неприличие его действий повлекло за собой последствия.

  The impropriety of his actions led to consequences.

• В этой культуре непристойность в одежде считается нормой.

  In this culture, impropriety in clothing is considered normal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'неприличие' and 'непристойность' are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow the standard neuter declension patterns. They are invariable in terms of gender but change according to case and number.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward for intermediate learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неподобающее поведение (nepodobayushchee povedenie) - More descriptive, used for broader inappropriate actions.
  • неприятность (nepriyatnost') - Slight overlap, but focuses on unpleasantness rather than impropriety.
• Antonyms:
  • приличие (prilichie) - Directly opposite, meaning propriety or decorum.
  • пристойность (pristoiność) - Antonym of 'непристойность', meaning decency.

Related Phrases:

• Нарушение приличий (Naрушение prilichiy) - Breach of propriety; used in formal complaints or ethical discussions.
• Непристойное поведение (Nepristoinoe povedenie) - Indecent behavior; common in legal or social contexts.
• Совершить неприличие (Sover shit' neprilichie) - To commit an impropriety; implies a deliberate act.

Usage Notes:

'Неприличие' is a more formal equivalent to 'impropriety' and is often used in written Russian, such as in literature or official reports, to convey a sense of moral or social violation. In contrast, 'непристойность' is suitable for informal speech and carries a connotation of vulgarity. English speakers should note that Russian culture emphasizes collective decorum, so these words often appear in contexts involving social harmony. When choosing between translations, opt for 'неприличие' in professional settings and 'непристойность' for everyday conversations. Grammatically, both nouns require agreement in case and number with accompanying words.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'неприличие' with 'неприятность': Learners might misuse 'неприятность' (unpleasantness) when meaning 'impropriety'. Incorrect: "Его неприятность была очевидной." (Wrong, as it implies discomfort rather than impropriety.) Correct: "Его неприличие было очевидным." Explanation: 'Неприятность' refers to general annoyance, not ethical breaches.

• Overusing in informal contexts: English learners often apply 'неприличие' too formally. Incorrect: Using it in casual chat; instead, use 'непристойность'. Correct: "Это непристойность!" Explanation: This ensures the word fits the register and avoids sounding overly stiff.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'неприличие' are deeply tied to historical traditions of collectivism and social etiquette, influenced by Orthodox Christian values. For instance, public displays of impropriety can lead to social ostracism, reflecting the importance of 'культурный этикет' (cultural etiquette) in daily life, especially in urban settings like Moscow.

Related Concepts:

• этика (etika)
• социальные нормы (sotsial'nye normy)
• нравственность (nravstvennost')