Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'indirect'

English Word: indirect

Key Russian Translations:

• косвенный [kɐsˈvʲenːɨj] - [Formal, commonly used in academic or legal contexts]
• непрямой [nʲɪˈpraməj] - [Informal, used in everyday conversation for roundabout methods]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in written Russian, such as in articles, books, and formal discussions, but less so in casual speech.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their declensions. For 'косвенный', it's B2; for 'непрямой', it's also B2 due to similar grammatical behavior.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

косвенный: [kɐsˈvʲenːɨj]

непрямой: [nʲɪˈpraməj]

Note on косвенный: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'в' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not direct; roundabout (e.g., in paths, methods, or communication)

Translation(s) & Context:

• косвенный - Used in formal contexts like business or science to describe indirect approaches or evidence.
• непрямой - Applied in informal settings, such as everyday descriptions of indirect routes or hints.

Usage Examples:

• Его ответ был косвенным, чтобы не обидеть собеседника.

  His answer was indirect, to avoid offending the interlocutor.

• Мы выбрали непрямой путь через лес, чтобы избежать пробок.

  We chose the indirect route through the forest to avoid traffic jams.

• Косвенное влияние политики на экономику трудно переоценить.

  The indirect influence of politics on the economy is hard to overestimate.

• В разговоре он использовал непрямые намеки, чтобы выразить недовольство.

  In the conversation, he used indirect hints to express his dissatisfaction.

• Эта косвенная критика была адресована руководству компании.

  This indirect criticism was aimed at the company's management.

Meaning 2: In grammar, not in the nominative case (e.g., indirect object)

Translation(s) & Context:

• косвенный - Specifically used in linguistic contexts to refer to indirect cases or objects in Russian grammar.

Usage Examples:

• В предложении "Я дал книгу другу" "другу" — косвенное дополнение.

  In the sentence "I gave the book to a friend," "to a friend" is the indirect object.

• Косвенные формы слов в русском языке часто зависят от предлога.

  Indirect forms of words in Russian often depend on the preposition.

• Объясните, как образуются косвенные падежи в русском.

  Explain how indirect cases are formed in Russian.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'косвенный' and 'непрямой' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns, but 'косвенный' has no irregularities. Below is a table for 'косвенный' in its singular forms (plural follows similar rules).

For 'непрямой', the inflections are identical in pattern. These adjectives do not change in invariable contexts like after certain prepositions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • окольный (okol'nyy) - More literary, implying a circuitous path.
  • непостоянный (nepostoyannyy) - Used when emphasizing inconsistency, with subtle differences in implying variability.
• Antonyms:
  • прямой (pryamoy)
  • непосредственный (neposredstvennyy)

Related Phrases:

• Косвенное доказательство - Indirect evidence; used in legal or scientific contexts to refer to circumstantial proof.
• Непрямой путь - Indirect route; common in navigation or metaphorical discussions about life choices.
• Косвенная речь - Indirect speech; a grammatical term for reported speech in language learning.

Usage Notes:

'Косвенный' is the more precise translation for formal or academic uses of 'indirect', aligning closely with English in contexts like grammar or evidence. 'Непрямой' is better for everyday, informal scenarios, such as describing paths or communication styles. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement: always match gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For example, choose 'косвенный' over 'непрямой' in professional writing for accuracy, but both can be interchangeable in casual speech depending on regional preferences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'косвенный' without proper declension, e.g., saying "в косвенный случае" instead of "в косвенном случае". Correct: The adjective must agree in case, so it should be "в косвенном случае" (in the indirect case). This mistake often stems from not understanding Russian case systems.

• Error: Confusing 'косвенный' with 'непрямой' in formal contexts, leading to less precise language. For instance, a learner might say "непрямой объект" when "косвенный объект" is the standard grammatical term. Explanation: Stick to 'косвенный' for linguistic accuracy to maintain formality.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of 'indirect' communication, as in 'косвенная речь' or subtle hints, reflects a historical emphasis on politeness and indirectness in social interactions, especially in literature like Chekhov's works, where characters often imply rather than state things directly to avoid confrontation.

Related Concepts:

• прямой
• непосредственный
• окольный