Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'indefinable'

English Word: indefinable

Key Russian Translations:

• Неопределимый /nʲɪɐprʲɪˈdʲelʲɪmɨj/ - [Formal; Adjective used in abstract or philosophical contexts]
• Неуловимый /nʲɪʊˈɫovʲɪmɨj/ - [Informal; Sometimes used metaphorically for concepts that are indefinable in a practical sense]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; more prevalent in academic or philosophical texts.)

Difficulty: C1 (Advanced; Requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and abstract vocabulary. For 'Неопределимый', it's C1; for 'Неуловимый', it's B2 due to its more metaphorical usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Неопределимый: /nʲɪɐprʲɪˈdʲelʲɪmɨj/

Неуловимый: /nʲɪʊˈɫovʲɪmɨj/

Note on Неопределимый: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ('dʲelʲ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on Неуловимый: The 'ɫ' sound is a dark 'l', similar to English 'l' in 'call', but ensure it's not confused with a standard 'l'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Something that cannot be precisely defined or described, often in abstract or philosophical contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неопределимый - Used in formal settings, such as philosophy or science, to describe concepts that evade clear definition (e.g., in discussions of metaphysics).
• Неуловимый - Applied in more everyday or literary contexts to imply something elusive or hard to pin down (e.g., emotions or ideas).

Usage Examples:

• В философии многие понятия, такие как "душа", остаются неопределимыми.

  In philosophy, many concepts, such as "the soul," remain indefinable.

• Эта идея слишком неуловимая, чтобы выразить её в простых словах.

  This idea is too indefinable to express in simple words.

• Неопределимый характер любви делает её вечной загадкой для учёных.

  The indefinable nature of love makes it an eternal mystery for scientists.

• В повседневной жизни неуловимые моменты счастья часто ускользают от нас.

  In everyday life, indefinable moments of happiness often slip away from us.

• Неопределимый феномен квантовой физики поражает умы исследователей.

  The indefinable phenomenon of quantum physics astonishes researchers' minds.

Meaning 2: Incapable of being measured or quantified accurately.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неопределимый - Common in scientific or mathematical contexts to describe variables or entities that lack precise boundaries.

Usage Examples:

• В математике неопределимый интеграл требует специальных методов для решения.

  In mathematics, an indefinable integral requires special methods for solving.

• Неопределимый фактор погоды может повлиять на исход эксперимента.

  The indefinable factor of weather can affect the outcome of the experiment.

• Этот параметр остаётся неопределимым из-за нехватки данных.

  This parameter remains indefinable due to a lack of data.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. 'Неопределимый' and 'Неуловимый' follow standard first-declension adjective patterns, but they are not irregular.

Note: These adjectives do not change in predicative position and remain invariant in some fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Неясный (Neyasnyy) - More general, meaning "vague" or "unclear".
  • Амбигуальный (Ambiguarnyy) - Used for concepts with multiple interpretations.
• Antonyms:
  • Определённый (Opredelennyy) - Meaning "defined" or "precise".
  • Ясный (Yasnyy) - Meaning "clear" or "evident".

Related Phrases:

• Неопределимый объект - An indefinable object; often used in philosophical discussions to refer to entities beyond human comprehension.
• Неуловимая красота - Indefinable beauty; a poetic phrase describing aesthetic qualities that can't be fully captured.
• В неопределимом состоянии - In an indefinable state; refers to uncertainty or ambiguity in personal or situational contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'Неопределимый' directly corresponds to the English 'indefinable' in formal contexts, while 'Неуловимый' is better for metaphorical or everyday uses. Always consider the gender and case of the noun it modifies—e.g., use the feminine form 'Неопределимая' with feminine nouns. This word is rarely used in casual speech; opt for simpler synonyms in informal settings. When choosing between translations, select 'Неопределимый' for precise, academic accuracy and 'Неуловимый' for emotional or narrative purposes.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'Неопределимый' as an invariant word without declension. Incorrect: "Это неопределимый." (missing case agreement) Correct: "Это неопределимый концепт." (with proper adjective form) Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in case, number, and gender with the noun.

• Error: Confusing it with 'Неопределенный' (meaning "undefined" in a mathematical sense). Incorrect: Using 'Неопределенный' for philosophical concepts. Correct: Use 'Неопределимый' for what cannot be defined at all. Explanation: 'Неопределенный' implies a lack of definition that could be resolved, while 'Неопределимый' suggests inherent impossibility.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and literature, words like 'Неуловимый' often appear in works by authors such as Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, reflecting the Russian philosophical tradition of exploring the human soul's indefinable aspects. This ties into broader themes in Russian existentialism, where the indefinable nature of life is a common motif, emphasizing introspection over empirical definition.

Related Concepts:

• Абстрактный (Abstraktnyy)
• Мистический (Mistichieskiy)
• Эфемерный (Efiemernyy)