Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impurity'

English Word: impurity

Key Russian Translations:

• примесь (/prʲiˈmʲesʲ/) - [Formal, Scientific context]
• нечистота (/nʲɪˈʧʲɪstətə/) - [Informal, General or moral context]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in scientific, technical, and everyday contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage; for "примесь", it's B1 due to scientific connotations, while "нечистота" may be A2 for basic forms).

Pronunciation (Russian):

примесь: /prʲiˈmʲesʲ/

нечистота: /nʲɪˈʧʲɪstətə/

Note on примесь: The soft sign (ʲ) indicates palatalization, which can be challenging for English speakers; pronounce the 'r' softly and the 'm' with a slight glide.

Note on нечистота: Stress on the second syllable; the 'ch' sound is like in "loch" in Scottish English. Be aware of vowel reductions in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Meaning: A substance that contaminates or makes something impure (e.g., in chemistry or materials).

Translation(s) & Context:

• примесь - Used in formal, scientific contexts to describe additives or contaminants in substances, such as in chemistry or manufacturing.

Usage Examples:

• В воде обнаружена примесь тяжелых металлов.

  In the water, an impurity of heavy metals was detected.

• Эта примесь в сплаве снижает его прочность.

  This impurity in the alloy reduces its strength.

• Ученые изучают, как удалить примеси из нефти.

  Scientists are studying how to remove impurities from oil.

• Примесь пыли в воздухе вызывает аллергию.

  The impurity of dust in the air causes allergies.

2. Meaning: Moral or ethical uncleanliness, or something dirty/tainted (e.g., in everyday or metaphorical use).

Translation(s) & Context:

• нечистота - Used in informal or metaphorical contexts to imply moral impurity, dirt, or contamination, often in literature or casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь полна нечистот, что отталкивает слушателей.

  His speech is full of impurities, which repels listeners.

• Нечистота в душе не позволяет ему жить спокойно.

  The impurity in his soul doesn't allow him to live peacefully.

• В старом доме накопились нечистоты от долгого забвения.

  Impurities have accumulated in the old house from years of neglect.

• Нечистота в воде делает ее непригодной для питья.

  The impurity in the water makes it unfit for drinking.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are feminine nouns in Russian, which undergo declension based on case, number, and gender. "Примесь" is a third-declension noun with regular patterns, while "нечистота" follows standard first-declension rules.

Note: These nouns do not change in gender but follow standard Russian inflection rules without irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Загрязнение (zagryazneniye) - More specific to pollution or contamination.
  • Домешка (domeshka) - Informal variant for a minor impurity.
  • Примесный элемент (primessnyy element) - For scientific contexts, implying a mixed element.
• Antonyms:
  • Чистота (chistota) - Cleanliness or purity.
  • Идеальность (idealnost') - Perfection or flawlessness.

Related Phrases:

• Удалить примесь - To remove an impurity; used in cleaning or purification processes.
• Нечистота души - Impurity of the soul; a metaphorical phrase in literature or psychology.
• Примесь в продукте - Impurity in a product; common in quality control discussions.

Usage Notes:

Choose "примесь" for precise, scientific contexts where "impurity" refers to physical contaminants, as it aligns closely with English technical usage. "Нечистота" is better for broader or metaphorical applications, like moral impurity, and is more informal. Be mindful of Russian's case system when using these nouns in sentences; for example, in genitive case, say "примеси в воде" to mean "impurity in water." In formal writing, prefer "примесь" to maintain a professional tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "примесь" in moral contexts, e.g., saying "примесь в характере" instead of "нечистота в характере".

  Correct: "Нечистота в характере" means "impurity in character". Explanation: "Примесь" is too literal and scientific, leading to confusion; opt for "нечистота" for abstract uses.

• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., using "примесь" in dative case as "примесь" instead of "примеси".

  Correct: "Дать примеси" should be "Дать примеси" (wait, correct is already "примеси" for dative). Explanation: Always check the case based on sentence structure to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "нечистота" often carries a deeper connotation in literature and folklore, such as in references to spiritual uncleanliness in works by authors like Dostoevsky. This reflects historical influences from Orthodox Christianity, where purity of the soul is a central theme, making the word more than just a physical description.

Related Concepts:

• Загрязнение
• Очистка
• Идеал