Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mawkish'

English Word: mawkish

Key Russian Translations:

• Приторный [prʲɪˈtornɨj] - [Informal; used in everyday criticism of excessive sentimentality]
• Сентиментальный в чрезмерной степени [sʲɛntʲɪmʲɛnˈtalʲnɨj v t͡ɕrʲɛzʲmʲɛˈrʲɛnnoj stʲɪpʲɛnʲi] - [Formal; more descriptive in literary or academic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are encountered in literature, film reviews, and casual discussions, but not in everyday conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and cultural contexts in Russian, though basic forms are accessible to upper-intermediate learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Приторный: [prʲɪˈtornɨj]

Сентиментальный в чрезмерной степени: [sʲɛntʲɪmʲɛnˈtalʲnɨj v t͡ɕrʲɛzʲmʲɛˈrʲɛnnoj stʲɪpʲɛnʲi]

Note on Приторный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("tor"), and the "р" is rolled, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Overly sentimental or emotional in a way that is insincere or cloying.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Приторный - Used in informal contexts to describe something excessively sweet or sentimental, often with a negative connotation, such as in film or book reviews.
• Сентиментальный в чрезмерной степени - Applied in formal writing or discussions to emphasize insincerity in emotional expression.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм слишком приторный; он вызывает искусственные слёзы у зрителей.

  This film is too mawkish; it elicits artificial tears from viewers.

• Её речь была приторной, полная ненужных эмоций, которые никто не воспринял всерьёз.

  Her speech was mawkish, full of unnecessary emotions that no one took seriously.

• В русской литературе часто критикуют сентиментальный в чрезмерной степени стиль как признак слабости.

  In Russian literature, an excessively sentimental style is often criticized as a sign of weakness.

• Приторный юмор в этой комедии отпугивает аудиторию, ищущую более тонкий подход.

  The mawkish humor in this comedy repels audiences seeking a more subtle approach.

• Он написал приторное письмо, полное клише, чтобы произвести впечатление на начальство.

  He wrote a mawkish letter full of clichés to impress his superiors.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Приторный" is an adjective, which follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns. It changes based on gender, number, and case. Below is a table outlining its inflections:

For "Сентиментальный в чрезмерной степени," this is a phrase rather than a single word, so it does not inflect as a unit. "Сентиментальный" follows the same adjective patterns as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Слюнявый (more vulgar, implying excessive and sloppy sentimentality)
  • Мелодраматичный (emphasizing dramatic overstatement)
• Antonyms:
  • Сдержанный (restrained, the opposite of overly emotional)
  • Объективный (objective, lacking emotional excess)

Related Phrases:

• Приторная сентиментальность - Refers to cloying sentimentality in art or literature, often used to critique emotional manipulation.
• Приторный вкус - Literally "mawkish taste," metaphorically for something overly sweet or insincere in flavor or style.
• Сентиментальный в чрезмерной степени роман - A novel that is excessively sentimental, common in discussions of 19th-century Russian literature.

Usage Notes:

"Mawkish" corresponds most closely to "приторный" in informal Russian, where it conveys a sense of artificiality in emotions, similar to how English uses it for overly saccharine content. Be cautious with register: "приторный" is informal and may sound harsh in formal settings, so opt for "сентиментальный в чрезмерной степени" in academic or professional contexts. Grammatically, as an adjective, it must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. When choosing between translations, consider the audience—younger speakers might prefer "приторный" for its directness.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "приторный" interchangeably with "сентиментальный" without nuance, leading to phrases like "сентиментальный фильм" when "приторный фильм" is needed for the mawkish connotation.

  Correct: Приторный фильм (mawkish film) vs. Incorrect: Сентиментальный фильм (which might just mean sentimentally touching, not overly so).

  Explanation: English learners often overlook the intensity; "приторный" implies criticism, so it's not neutral like "сентиментальный."

• Error: Failing to decline the adjective properly, e.g., saying "приторный женщина" instead of "приторная женщина."

  Correct: Приторная женщина (for feminine noun).

  Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, which is a common pitfall for beginners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "приторный" often appear in critiques of literature and film, reflecting a historical distrust of excessive emotion stemming from 19th-century realism (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Chekhov). This reflects a broader cultural value of restraint and authenticity in emotional expression, contrasting with more sentimental Western traditions.

Related Concepts:

• Сентиментальность
• Мелодрама
• Эмоциональность