Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'jejune'

English Word: jejune

Key Russian Translations:

• Банальный [bəˈnalʲnɨj] - [Formal; used in literary or academic contexts to describe something lacking depth or originality]
• Пустой [ˈpustəj] - [Informal; commonly used in everyday speech to indicate something shallow or devoid of substance]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in Russian literature, discussions, and media, but not as common in casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp the nuances, though distinguishing between formal and informal uses may require practice. For 'Банальный', it's B2; for 'Пустой', it's B1 due to its simpler structure.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Банальный: [bəˈnalʲnɨj]

Note on Банальный: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'лʲ' sound is a palatalized 'l', which can be challenging for English speakers—similar to the 'l' in 'million'. Pronounce it with a soft, flowing ending.

Пустой: [ˈpustəj]

Note on Пустой: Stress on the first syllable; the 'oy' ending is like the 'oy' in 'boy', but ensure a clear 't' sound before it.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Lacking depth, originality, or intellectual substance (e.g., dull or simplistic)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Банальный - Used in formal writing or critiques to describe ideas that are clichéd or unoriginal, often in intellectual or artistic contexts.
• Пустой - Applied in informal settings to criticize something as shallow or meaningless, such as in everyday conversations about entertainment.

Usage Examples:

• Его идеи были слишком банальными для такой серьёзной дискуссии.

  His ideas were too jejune for such a serious discussion. (This example shows 'Банальный' in a formal context, highlighting intellectual shallowness.)

• Этот фильм оказался пустым и не оставил никаких впечатлений.

  This film turned out to be jejune and left no impressions. (Here, 'Пустой' is used informally to describe a lack of substance in entertainment.)

• Банальный подход к проблеме не поможет в её решении.

  A jejune approach to the problem won't help in solving it. (Demonstrates 'Банальный' in a problem-solving context, emphasizing lack of innovation.)

• Её речь звучала пусто, без эмоциональной глубины.

  Her speech sounded jejune, without emotional depth. (Illustrates 'Пустой' in a conversational setting, focusing on emotional emptiness.)

• В этой книге слишком много банальных фраз, которые не добавляют ценности.

  This book has too many jejune phrases that don't add value. (Shows 'Банальный' in literary analysis, varying sentence structure.)

Meaning 2: Immature, naive, or simplistic in thought (e.g., childlike or unsophisticated)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Пустой - Often used informally to describe naive or immature behavior, especially in personal interactions.
• Банальный - Less common for this meaning, but applicable in formal critiques of immature ideas.

Usage Examples:

• Его юмор был пустым и неуместным на деловой встрече.

  His humor was jejune and out of place at the business meeting. (This uses 'Пустой' to convey immaturity in a professional context.)

• Банальный взгляд на мир не позволяет увидеть настоящие проблемы.

  A jejune view of the world doesn't allow one to see real problems. (Here, 'Банальный' highlights simplistic thinking in a broader philosophical context.)

• Пустые обещания политиков разочаровывают людей.

  The jejune promises of politicians disappoint people. (Demonstrates 'Пустой' in a socio-political scenario, showing naive expectations.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Банальный' and 'Пустой' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow regular patterns for most cases, but they can be irregular in certain forms. Below is a table outlining the key inflections for each:

Note: These adjectives are regular in most cases, but 'Пустой' has a stress change in feminine forms, which is a common irregularity in Russian adjectives. If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not inflect as much.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Тривиальный (trivially; similar to 'Банальный', but more neutral)
  • Поверхностный (poverkhnostnyy; emphasizes shallowness, often interchangeable with 'Пустой')
  • Несерьёзный (neseryoznyy; conveys immaturity, with a slight informal tone)
• Antonyms:
  • Глубокий (glubokiy; deep or profound)
  • Оригинальный (original'nyy; original or innovative)
  • Серьёзный (seryoznyy; serious or mature)

Related Phrases:

• Банальная фраза - A jejune phrase (a clichéd expression; used in literary contexts to criticize overused language).
• Пустые разговоры - Jejune talks (empty conversations; common in informal settings to describe meaningless chatter).
• Банальный сюжет - A jejune plot (a simplistic story; often in film or book reviews).

Usage Notes:

'Jejune' corresponds closely to 'Банальный' in formal English-Russian translations, especially for intellectual or artistic contexts, while 'Пустой' is better for everyday, informal uses. Be mindful of the context: in Russian, adjectives like these must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. For example, choose 'Банальный' for written essays but 'Пустой' in casual dialogue. If the nuance is more about immaturity, 'Пустой' might be preferable over 'Банальный' to avoid sounding overly academic.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'Банальный' in informal speech where 'Пустой' is more natural. For instance, saying "Это банально" in a casual chat might sound pretentious. Correct: Use "Это пусто" for better fit. Explanation: Russian speakers prefer simpler words in everyday contexts to maintain authenticity.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "Банальный идея" instead of "Банальная идея" (for a feminine noun). Correct: Always match the adjective's ending to the noun's gender and case. Explanation: This is a common pitfall for English learners due to English's lack of inflection.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'Банальный' often appear in critiques of Soviet-era literature or modern media, reflecting a historical emphasis on depth and originality in art. For example, Russian intellectuals might use it to decry superficial Western influences, highlighting a cultural value for profound, soulful expression over jejune commercialism.

Related Concepts:

• Тривиальный
• Поверхностный
• Несерьёзный