Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ostentatious'

English Word: ostentatious

Key Russian Translations:

• показной [pɐˈkaznoj] - [Adjective, Formal; used to describe something showy or intended to impress]
• демонстративный [dʲɪmənstraˈtʲivnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal; often implies deliberate display, especially in social or emotional contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word is commonly encountered in literary, formal, or descriptive contexts but not in everyday casual speech.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced connotations, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic Russian grammar.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

показной: [pɐˈkaznoj] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'о' is pronounced as a mid-back vowel.)

демонстративный: [dʲɪmənstraˈtʲivnɨj] (Stress on the fourth syllable; note the palatalized 'тʲ' which can be challenging for non-native speakers.)

Note on показной: The pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, where the initial 'п' can soften; practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Note on демонстративный: This word has a more emphatic tone due to its length; be mindful of the soft sign 'ь' affecting the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Showy or intended to attract notice, often in a way that seems excessive or insincere.

Translation(s) & Context:

• показной - Used in formal descriptions of objects, behavior, or appearances that are overly elaborate to impress others, such as in literature or critiques.
• демонстративный - Applied in contexts involving emotional or social displays, like in psychology or interpersonal relationships, to highlight deliberate exaggeration.

Usage Examples:

• Его показной стиль одежды всегда привлекает внимание на вечеринках.

  His ostentatious style of clothing always draws attention at parties.

• Демонстративный жест богатства, такой как покупка роскошной машины, не всегда впечатляет друзей.

  An ostentatious gesture of wealth, such as buying a luxury car, doesn't always impress friends.

• В этом фильме показной интерьер дома главного героя символизирует его внутреннюю пустоту.

  In this film, the ostentatious interior of the main character's house symbolizes his inner emptiness.

• Её демонстративный смех во время встречи был попыткой скрыть нервозность.

  Her ostentatious laughter during the meeting was an attempt to hide her nervousness.

• Показной юмор комика иногда кажется наигранным, но он всё равно завоёвывает аудиторию.

  The ostentatious humor of the comedian sometimes seems forced, but it still wins over the audience.

Meaning 2: Excessively ornate or decorative, often without practical value.

Translation(s) & Context:

• показной - Common in artistic or architectural contexts to critique superficial beauty.
• демонстративный - Less common here, but used when the ornateness is performative.

Usage Examples:

• Показной дизайн здания не сочетается с его функциональностью.

  The ostentatious design of the building doesn't match its functionality.

• Демонстративный декор в комнате делает её похожей на музей, а не на жилое пространство.

  The ostentatious decor in the room makes it resemble a museum rather than a living space.

• В русской литературе показной стиль часто используется для сатиры на буржуазию.

  In Russian literature, ostentatious style is often used to satirize the bourgeoisie.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "показной" and "демонстративный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns with some irregularities in spelling due to soft signs and vowel shifts.

For "показной" (irregular in its base form but follows general adjective rules):

For "демонстративный" (more regular):

These adjectives do not change in comparative forms without additional suffixes, e.g., "более показной" for "more ostentatious".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эффектный (effektnyy) - More neutral, implying visual impact without negative connotation.
  • роскошный (roskoshnyy) - Focuses on luxury, often positive in contexts like fashion.
• Antonyms:
  • скромный (skromnyy) - Suggests modesty or simplicity.
  • простой (prostoy) - Implies straightforwardness, without extravagance.

Related Phrases:

• показная роскошь - (Ostentatious luxury; refers to extravagant displays that may seem insincere.)
• демонстративное поведение - (Ostentatious behavior; used in psychological contexts to describe exaggerated actions.)
• показной жест - (Ostentatious gesture; a dramatic action meant to draw attention.)

Usage Notes:

"показной" is the most direct equivalent to "ostentatious" in formal Russian, especially for describing objects or appearances, while "демонстративный" is better for behavioral contexts. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which can affect word choice. Use "показной" in literary or critical writing, but avoid it in casual speech to prevent sounding overly formal. When multiple translations exist, choose based on context: opt for "демонстративный" if the emphasis is on intention rather than appearance.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "показной" as an invariant word without inflection, e.g., saying "показной дом" in all cases. Correct: Adjust for case, like "в показном доме" (in the ostentatious house). Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike English; this mistake can make sentences grammatically incorrect.

• Error: Confusing "показной" with "показательный" (demonstrative as in exemplary). Correct: Use "показной" for ostentatiousness; e.g., wrong: "Это показательный дом" (meaning exemplary), right: "Это показной дом" for ostentatious. Explanation: The roots are similar, but meanings differ, leading to semantic errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "показной" often carry connotations of Soviet-era criticism of bourgeois excess, as seen in literature by authors like Chekhov. It reflects a cultural value of modesty over ostentation, where displaying wealth can be viewed as vulgar or insincere, especially in post-Soviet contexts.

Related Concepts:

• хвастовство (boasting)
• роскошь (luxury)
• скромность (modesty)