Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impure'

English Word: impure

Key Russian Translations:

• нечистый /nʲɪˈtʂɪstɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective; Used in contexts of moral, physical, or spiritual impurity]
• грязный /ˈɡrʲaznɨj/ - [Informal; Often for physical dirtiness or contamination, less formal than "нечистый"]
• загрязненный /zəɡrʲazˈnʲenːɨj/ - [Formal, Participle; Specifically for environmental or chemical impurity]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, literature, and scientific discussions, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and nuances in formality. For "нечистый," it's straightforward; for "загрязненный," it may involve participle forms, adding slight complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нечистый: /nʲɪˈtʂɪstɨj/ (The "ч" is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to "ch" in "loch"; stress on the second syllable.)

грязный: /ˈɡrʲaznɨj/ (The initial "г" is a voiced velar fricative; stress on the first syllable, with a soft "р".)

загрязненный: /zəɡrʲazˈnʲenːɨj/ (Note on загрязненный: This word has a long "н" sound; pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech, potentially softening the consonants.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Morally or spiritually impure (e.g., tainted by sin or unethical behavior)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нечистый - Used in formal or literary contexts, such as religious or ethical discussions; avoids casual connotations.
• грязный - Informal alternative, but less common for moral impurity; better for physical dirt.

Usage Examples:

• В этом деле замешан нечистый элемент. (In this matter, an impure element is involved.)

  Translation: In this matter, an impure element is involved. (This example shows "нечистый" in a formal, investigative context.)

• Его нечистые намерения были очевидны всем. (His impure intentions were obvious to everyone.)

  Translation: His impure intentions were obvious to everyone. (Illustrates use in describing unethical motives, with adjective agreement in gender and number.)

• Нечистый дух овладел им. (An impure spirit possessed him.)

  Translation: An impure spirit possessed him. (Religious context, highlighting metaphorical usage.)

• Из-за нечистых мыслей он не мог сосредоточиться. (Due to impure thoughts, he couldn't concentrate.)

  Translation: Due to impure thoughts, he couldn't concentrate. (Demonstrates in psychological or everyday scenarios.)

Meaning 2: Physically contaminated or polluted (e.g., not clean or pure in a material sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• грязный - Common in informal speech; ideal for everyday dirt or grime.
• загрязненный - Formal, especially in scientific or environmental contexts; implies pollution from external sources.

Usage Examples:

• Вода в реке грязная из-за промышленных отходов. (The water in the river is impure due to industrial waste.)

  Translation: The water in the river is impure due to industrial waste. (Shows "грязный" in an environmental context.)

• Загрязненный воздух вызывает проблемы со здоровьем. (Impure air causes health problems.)

  Translation: Impure air causes health problems. (Illustrates "загрязненный" in a health-related scenario, with participle form.)

• Нечистый металл нужно очистить перед использованием. (The impure metal needs to be cleaned before use.)

  Translation: The impure metal needs to be cleaned before use. (Combines with "нечистый" for material impurity.)

• Грязные фрукты нельзя есть без мытья. (Impure fruits shouldn't be eaten without washing.)

  Translation: Impure fruits shouldn't be eaten without washing. (Informal usage in daily life.)

• Загрязненная почва угрожает сельскому хозяйству. (Impure soil threatens agriculture.)

  Translation: Impure soil threatens agriculture. (Advanced context, showing agreement in gender.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For adjectives like "нечистый" and "грязный," Russian requires declension based on gender, number, and case. "Загрязненный" is a past passive participle and follows verbal adjective patterns with some irregularities.

Note: These words do not change in short form (e.g., "нечист" as a predicate), but full declension is required in attributive positions. "Загрязненный" can be irregular in some dialects due to its verbal origin.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • загрязненный (Similar to "impure" in pollution contexts, but more specific to contamination)
  • испорченный (Implies spoilage or corruption, with a nuance of irreversibility)
• Antonyms:
  • чистый (Pure, clean; direct opposite in most contexts)
  • свежий (Fresh; used for physical purity, especially in food or air)

Related Phrases:

• нечистый на руку (Impure in dealings; literally "impure on the hand" – a phrase for corruption or dishonesty; English explanation: Used idiomatically to describe someone involved in bribery or unethical business.)
• грязная работа (Dirty work; English explanation: Refers to unpleasant or menial tasks, often with a connotation of moral impurity.)
• загрязненная среда (Impure environment; English explanation: Common in ecological discussions, meaning polluted surroundings.)

Usage Notes:

"Impure" translates variably in Russian based on context: "нечистый" is best for moral or spiritual senses, while "грязный" suits physical dirtiness. Always consider formality—use "загрязненный" in scientific or official writing. Grammatically, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key difference from English. For example, choose "нечистый" over "грязный" when emphasizing ethical impurity to avoid unintended casualness.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "нечистый" interchangeably with "грязный" in all contexts. Correct: "грязный" is for physical dirt, not moral issues (e.g., Incorrect: "грязный дух" for "impure spirit"; Correct: "нечистый дух"). Explanation: This confuses formality and nuance, making speech sound awkward.

• Error: Forgetting adjective declension (e.g., saying "нечистый вода" instead of "нечистая вода"). Correct: Always decline based on the noun's gender (feminine here). Explanation: Russian requires agreement, unlike English, so learners must check case endings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "нечистый" often carry historical and religious connotations, stemming from Orthodox Christianity where impurity relates to sin or demonic influences. For instance, in folklore, "нечистая сила" (unclean forces) refers to evil spirits, reflecting a deep cultural emphasis on purity in spiritual life, which can influence modern expressions of morality.

Related Concepts:

• чистота (Purity)
• загрязнение (Pollution)
• испорченность (Corruption)