Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lank'

English Word: lank

Key Russian Translations:

• худой [ˈxudɐj] - [Informal, often used for people or objects that are thin and lacking vitality]
• тощий [ˈtoʂʲɪj] - [Formal, typically for describing emaciated or gaunt appearances]

Frequency: Low (The word 'lank' is uncommon in everyday English, and its Russian equivalents are also not frequently used outside specific contexts like descriptions of physical appearance.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary. For 'худой': B1; for 'тощий': B2 due to its more formal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

худой: [ˈxudɐj]

Note on худой: The initial 'x' sound is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'. It can be challenging for English speakers due to the guttural quality.

тощий: [ˈtoʂʲɪj]

Note on тощий: The 'щ' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, softer than 'sh' in English 'she', and often varies slightly by regional dialect.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Thin, straight, and lacking vitality (e.g., hair or body)

Translation(s) & Context:

• худой - Used in informal contexts to describe something limp or lifeless, such as hair or a person's build; common in everyday conversation.
• тощий - Applied in more formal or literary contexts for gaunt or emaciated appearances, often implying poor health.

Usage Examples:

• Его волосы были худыми и безжизненными после долгого дня на солнце.

  His hair was lank and lifeless after a long day in the sun.

• Она выглядела тощей и уставшей после болезни, но быстро выздоровела.

  She looked lank and exhausted after her illness, but recovered quickly.

• Ветер сделал его худые волосы еще более спутанными.

  The wind made his lank hair even more tangled.

• Тот тощий кот бродил по улицам, ища еду.

  That lank cat wandered the streets, looking for food.

• Ее худые локоны не держали форму из-за высокой влажности.

  Her lank locks wouldn't hold their shape due to the high humidity.

Meaning 2: Generally slim or elongated (less common, metaphorical use)

Translation(s) & Context:

• худой - In metaphorical contexts, such as describing elongated objects; informal and vivid language.
• тощий - Rarely used metaphorically, but can imply sparsity in formal writing.

Usage Examples:

• Дерево имело худые ветви, раскачивающиеся на ветру.

  The tree had lank branches swaying in the wind.

• Его тощие пальцы ловко перебирали струны гитары.

  His lank fingers deftly plucked the guitar strings.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'худой' and 'тощий' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with nouns. 'Худой' is a regular adjective, while 'тощий' also follows regular rules but can vary slightly in poetic or archaic use.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form (e.g., for predicates), but always agree with the noun they modify. They are invariable in comparative forms (e.g., худее for 'thinner').

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: тощий (very similar, but more formal);瘦ой (slang variant, implying extreme thinness); вялый (emphasizing limpness in hair or objects)
• Antonyms: полный (full, plump); пышный (lush, voluminous, especially for hair)

Related Phrases:

• худой как щепка - Means "as thin as a rake"; used to describe someone extremely skinny in informal contexts.
• тощий и бледный - "Lank and pale"; a phrase often in literary descriptions to evoke weakness or illness.
• худые волосы - "Lank hair"; common in beauty or health discussions, implying poor condition.

Usage Notes:

'Lank' in English often connotes a negative or neutral description of something straight, thin, and lifeless, which aligns closely with 'худой' in Russian for everyday use. However, 'тощий' is preferred in formal or medical contexts due to its connotations of emaciation. Be mindful of gender agreement when using these adjectives in sentences. For example, choose 'худой' for informal speech and 'тощий' for written narratives. In translations, 'lank' might not always have a direct one-to-one match, so context is key—e.g., for hair, 'худой' works best, while for body, 'тощий' might be more appropriate.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'худой' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "худой женщина" instead of "худая женщина". Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian requires strict agreement, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for beginners.

• Error: Confusing 'худой' with 'хороший' (good), as they sound similar. Correct: 'Худой' means thin, not good; use context to differentiate. Explanation: Pronunciation overlaps can cause mix-ups, especially for English speakers new to Russian phonetics.

• Error: Overusing 'тощий' in casual speech. Correct: Reserve it for formal contexts; in everyday talk, 'худой' is more natural. Explanation: This can make speech sound overly dramatic or outdated.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'худой' and 'тощий' often carry subtle implications of health or beauty standards. For instance, in literature such as Tolstoy's works, 'тощий' might describe characters facing hardship, reflecting historical themes of poverty and resilience in Russian society. This can help English users appreciate the emotional depth in Russian descriptions.

Related Concepts:

• вялый
• элегантный
• истощенный