Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shaky'

English Word: shaky

Key Russian Translations:

• неустойчивый [nʲɪʊˈstɐɪvɨj] - [Informal, Used for instability or unreliability]
• дрожащий [drɐˈʐaʂɨj] - [Informal, Used for physical shaking or trembling]
• ненадёжный [nʲɪnɐˈdjɔʐnɨj] - [Formal, Used in contexts of doubt or unreliability]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and literature, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual usage; for 'неустойчивый', it's B1; for 'дрожащий', it's A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неустойчивый: [nʲɪʊˈstɐɪvɨj]

Note on неустойчивый: Stress on the third syllable; the 'y' sound is a soft vowel, which can be tricky for English speakers used to harder consonants. Avoid overemphasizing the 's' sound.

дрожащий: [drɐˈʐaʂɨj]

Note on дрожащий: The 'ж' is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'; practice with rolling 'r' for natural flow.

ненадёжный: [nʲɪnɐˈdjɔʐnɨj]

Note on ненадёжный: Stress on the third syllable; the 'ё' sound is like a soft 'yo' in "yogurt".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physically unstable or trembling (e.g., shaking hands or an unsteady object)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дрожащий - Used in literal, physical contexts, such as describing a person's hands or an object vibrating.
• неустойчивый - Used metaphorically for something that wobbles or is not firmly placed.

Usage Examples:

• Его руки были дрожащими от холода. (His hands were shaky from the cold.)

  English: His hands were trembling from the cold.

• Стол стоял неустойчивым на неровном полу. (The table stood shaky on the uneven floor.)

  English: The table stood unsteadily on the uneven floor.

• После землетрясения здание выглядело дрожащим. (After the earthquake, the building looked shaky.)

  English: After the earthquake, the building looked trembling.

• Она почувствовала себя неустойчивой на высоких каблуках. (She felt shaky in her high heels.)

  English: She felt unsteady in her high heels.

Meaning 2: Unreliable or uncertain (e.g., shaky evidence or a shaky plan)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ненадёжный - Used in formal or professional contexts, such as doubting the reliability of information.
• неустойчивый - Used more casually for situations that are unstable or fluctuating, like finances.

Usage Examples:

• Его alibi было ненадёжным, и суд усомнился в нём. (His alibi was shaky, and the court doubted it.)

  English: His alibi was unreliable, and the court doubted it.

• Экономика страны остаётся неустойчивой из-за инфляции. (The country's economy remains shaky due to inflation.)

  English: The country's economy remains unstable due to inflation.

• План проекта оказался ненадёжным из-за отсутствия данных. (The project plan turned out to be shaky due to lack of data.)

  English: The project plan turned out to be unreliable due to lack of data.

• Дружба между ними была неустойчивой и часто рушилась. (Their friendship was shaky and often fell apart.)

  English: Their friendship was unstable and often fell apart.

• Ненадёжный свидетель может испортить весь процесс. (A shaky witness can ruin the entire process.)

  English: An unreliable witness can ruin the entire process.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which in Russian follow standard adjective declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. For example, 'неустойчивый' is a first-declension adjective and changes as follows:

For 'дрожащий' and 'ненадёжный', they follow similar patterns. These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • непрочный (neprochnyy) - Similar to 'неустойчивый', but emphasizes fragility.
  • трясущийся (tryasushchiysya) - A synonym for 'дрожащий', often used in poetic contexts.
  • сомнительный (somnitel'nyy) - Synonymous with 'ненадёжный' in contexts of doubt.
• Antonyms:
  • устойчивый (ustoichivyy)
  • надёжный (nadyozhnyy)
  • твердый (tverdyy)

Related Phrases:

• Неустойчивая погода - Unstable weather; refers to unpredictable weather patterns.
• Дрожащий голос - Shaky voice; used to describe someone nervous or emotional.
• Ненадёжный источник - Unreliable source; common in academic or journalistic contexts.
• Трясущиеся руки - Shaking hands; often in medical or emotional scenarios.

Usage Notes:

'Shaky' in English often implies both physical and metaphorical instability, which aligns closely with 'неустойчивый' or 'ненадёжный' in Russian. Choose 'дрожащий' for literal physical shaking, as it's more vivid in descriptive writing. In formal contexts, like business or law, 'ненадёжный' is preferred. Be mindful of adjective agreement: always match gender, number, and case with the noun. For example, use 'неустойчивая' with feminine nouns. This vocabulary is versatile but avoid overusing it in positive contexts, as Russian prefers more neutral or positive alternatives for emphasis.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'неустойчивый' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "неустойчивый дом" in genitive case as "неустойчивый дома" instead of "неустойчивого дома". Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "неустойчивого дома". Explanation: Russian adjectives must decline, unlike English adjectives, which can lead to confusion for learners.

• Error: Confusing 'дрожащий' with 'трясущийся' and using it in non-physical contexts, e.g., "дрожащий план" (meaning an unreliable plan). Correct: Use 'неустойчивый' or 'ненадёжный' for abstract unreliability. Explanation: 'Дрожащий' is primarily for physical trembling, so misuse can make the sentence sound literal when it's not intended.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'неустойчивый' often appear in discussions of historical events, such as the economic instability post-Soviet era, reflecting themes of uncertainty and resilience. This can add emotional depth in literature, evoking the precariousness of life in Russia.

Related Concepts:

• устойчивость (ustoichivost')
• дрожь (drozh')
• надёжность (nadyozhnost')