Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meretricious'

English Word: meretricious

Key Russian Translations:

• Пошлый /ˈpoʂlɨj/ - [Informal, often used to describe something superficially attractive but vulgar]
• Кричащий /ˈkrʲitɕəʂɕɪj/ - [Informal, emphasizes showiness or gaudiness]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in literary and everyday contexts, but not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and cultural connotations, suitable for upper-intermediate learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Пошлый: /ˈpoʂlɨj/ (The "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, similar to the 'sh' in 'shesh', but more guttural.)

Note on Пошлый: Be careful with the stress on the first syllable; misplacing it can alter the perceived vulgarity in speech.

Audio: []

Кричащий: /ˈkrʲitɕəʂɕɪj/ (The "ч" is a palatal affricate, like 'ch' in 'church', followed by a soft 'ш' sound.)

Note on Кричащий: This word often varies in emphasis based on context; in fast speech, the 'й' at the end may soften.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Superficially attractive but lacking genuine value or taste (e.g., gaudy or tawdry)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Пошлый - Used in informal contexts to criticize something that is overly flashy or vulgar, often in cultural or artistic discussions.
• Кричащий - Applied in scenarios involving visual excess, like fashion or design, to denote something ostentatious.

Usage Examples:

• Её платье было пошлое, полное дешевых блесток и ярких цветов.

  Her dress was meretricious, full of cheap sequins and bright colors.

• Этот фильм кричащий, с переполненными спецэффектами, но без глубины сюжета.

  This film is meretricious, overloaded with special effects but lacking depth in the plot.

• Пошлые украшения на витрине привлекали внимание, но отпугивали ценителей настоящего искусства.

  The meretricious jewelry in the display window caught the eye but repelled true art connoisseurs.

• Кричащая реклама продукта обещала чудеса, но на деле оказалась пустой обещаниями.

  The meretricious advertising for the product promised wonders but turned out to be empty promises.

• В его речи было что-то пошлое, как будто он старался впечатлить, а не убедить.

  There was something meretricious in his speech, as if he was trying to impress rather than convince.

Secondary Meaning: Suggesting insincere allure, often with moral undertones (e.g., in literature or social critique)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Пошлый - In literary contexts, to describe characters or settings that are morally questionable and superficial.

Usage Examples:

• Героиня романа обладала пошлою красотой, которая скрывала её истинные мотивы.

  The heroine of the novel had a meretricious beauty that concealed her true motives.

• Пошлый стиль жизни героя подчеркивал контраст с его внутренними конфликтами.

  The meretricious lifestyle of the hero highlighted the contrast with his inner conflicts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Пошлый" and "Кричащий" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with nouns.

For "Пошлый" (irregular in some senses due to its root):

For "Кричащий" (more regular):

Note: These adjectives do not change in comparative forms without additional suffixes (e.g., "по́шлее" for comparative of Пошлый).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Вульгарный (vul'garnyy) - More neutral, often interchangeable in formal contexts.
  • Показной (pokaznoy) - Emphasizes artificial display, with subtle differences in connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • Искренний (iskrenniy) - Genuine and heartfelt.
  • Подлинный (podlinnыy) - Authentic and true.

Related Phrases:

• Пошлый стиль (poshlyy stil') - Meretricious style; a phrase used in art criticism to describe overly ornate designs.
• Кричащая мода (krichashchaya moda) - Flashy fashion; refers to trends that are attention-seeking but lack substance.
• Пошлая реклама (poshlaya reklama) - Tawdry advertising; common in discussions of consumer culture.

Usage Notes:

"Пошлый" and "Кричащий" are not direct one-to-one equivalents of "meretricious" but capture its essence in Russian. Use "Пошлый" for contexts involving moral or aesthetic vulgarity, as it often carries a negative cultural judgment. "Кричащий" is better for visual or sensory excess. Be mindful of formal vs. informal settings: these words are more common in spoken or literary Russian rather than business communication. When choosing between translations, consider the audience; "Пошлый" might offend in sensitive discussions due to its strong connotations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Пошлый" interchangeably with "Вульгарный" without nuance. Correct: "Вульгарный" is milder and doesn't always imply meretriciousness. Example of error: Saying "Это вульгарный дом" when meaning something showy (better: "Это по́шлый дом"). Explanation: This confuses levels of vulgarity, leading to miscommunication in cultural contexts.

• Error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., using "Пошлый" in the wrong case. Correct: Match the adjective to the noun's case, like "в по́шлом доме" (in the meretricious house). Example of error: "В по́шлый дом" (incorrect genitive). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree, so learners often forget this, altering sentence grammar.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "Пошлый" often evoke references to 19th-century literature (e.g., Chekhov or Gogol), where they critique superficiality in society. This reflects a broader Russian value of authenticity over ostentation, stemming from historical contexts like the Soviet era's rejection of "bourgeois" excess.

Related Concepts:

• Вульгарность (vul'garность) - Vulgarity
• Остentation (ostentation, though this is a loanword; related Russian: Показуха)
• Китч (kitsch) - A modern concept in Russian art criticism