Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nugatory'

English Word: nugatory

Key Russian Translations:

• Ничтожный [nʲɪt͡ɕɪˈʐojnɨj] - [Formal, often used in legal or academic contexts]
• Бесполезный [bʲɪspɐˈlʲeznɨj] - [Informal, everyday conversations]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian; more prevalent in formal writing or specialized discussions.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and their inflections, though basic forms are accessible to learners at this level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Ничтожный: [nʲɪt͡ɕɪˈʐojnɨj]

Note on Ничтожный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ʐojnɨj"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'n' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Бесполезный: [bʲɪspɐˈlʲeznɨj]

Note on Бесполезный: The initial 'bʲ' is softly palatalized; common in casual speech, but ensure the 'e' sound is short and unstressed.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Of little or no importance; trivial or insignificant.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ничтожный - Used in formal contexts, such as legal documents or philosophical discussions, to denote something legally invalid or negligible.
• Бесполезный - Applied in informal settings to describe something useless in practical terms, like an ineffective tool.

Usage Examples:

• Этот договор оказался ничтожным из-за отсутствия подписей. (This contract turned out to be nugatory due to the lack of signatures.)

  English Translation: This contract turned out to be nugatory due to the lack of signatures.

• Его аргументы были бесполезными в этой дискуссии. (His arguments were nugatory in this discussion.)

  English Translation: His arguments were nugatory in this discussion.

• В глазах закона такие мелкие нарушения считаются ничтожными. (In the eyes of the law, such minor violations are considered nugatory.)

  English Translation: In the eyes of the law, such minor violations are considered nugatory.

• Эта старая машина бесполезна для дальних поездок. (This old car is nugatory for long trips.)

  English Translation: This old car is nugatory for long trips.

• Ничтожные детали не повлияют на общий результат. (Nugatory details will not affect the overall outcome.)

  English Translation: Nugatory details will not affect the overall outcome.

Meaning 2: Legally invalid or void.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ничтожный - Specifically used in legal jargon to indicate something that has no legal force.

Usage Examples:

• Суд признал этот акт ничтожным. (The court declared this act nugatory.)

  English Translation: The court declared this act nugatory.

• Без надлежащих документов сделка будет считаться ничтожной. (Without proper documents, the deal will be considered nugatory.)

  English Translation: Without proper documents, the deal will be considered nugatory.

• Ничтожный контракт не имеет юридической силы. (A nugatory contract holds no legal power.)

  English Translation: A nugatory contract holds no legal power.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Ничтожный" and "Бесполезный" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect for gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

These adjectives follow regular patterns and do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward once the basic rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Мелкий (mildly trivial; [mʲɪlʲˈkʲiɪ] - often used for petty matters)
  • Несущественный (insignificant; [nʲɪsʊˈɕɛstvennɨj] - emphasizes lack of substance)
• Antonyms:
  • Важный (important; [ˈvaʐnɨj])
  • Полезный (useful; [pɐˈlʲeznɨj])

Related Phrases:

• Ничтожный факт - A nugatory fact; used to dismiss irrelevant details in arguments.
• Бесполезная трата времени - A waste of time that is nugatory; common in everyday expressions of frustration.
• Считать что-то ничтожным - To consider something nugatory; implies a judgment of worthlessness.

Usage Notes:

"Nugatory" directly corresponds to "Ничтожный" in formal contexts like law, where it implies legal invalidity, but "Бесполезный" is better for everyday situations emphasizing practicality. English learners should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which has no direct equivalent in English. Choose "Ничтожный" for abstract or legal scenarios and "Бесполезный" for tangible, informal ones to ensure natural usage.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "Ничтожный" in casual conversation as a direct synonym for "useless," which sounds overly formal. Correct: Opt for "Бесполезный" instead. Example of error: *Этот телефон ничтожный* (incorrect for informal use). Correct: Этот телефон бесполезный.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "ничтожный идея" instead of "ничтожная идея" for a feminine noun. Explanation: Always check the noun's gender to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "Ничтожный" often carry a philosophical undertone, influenced by literary traditions (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works), where they critique societal trivialities. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on depth and meaning, helping English speakers understand why such terms are prevalent in intellectual discourse rather than daily chit-chat.

Related Concepts:

• Тщетный (futile)
• Мнимый (illusory)
• Неэффективный (ineffective)