Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shallow'

English Word: shallow

Key Russian Translations:

• мелкий [ˈmʲɛlkʲɪj] - [Informal, often used for everyday contexts like water depth]
• неглубокий [nʲɪˈɡlubəkʲɪj] - [Formal, preferred in scientific or descriptive writing]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in daily language, literature, and descriptions of physical spaces)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic adjective forms and contexts, but accessible to learners with some Russian exposure)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мелкий: [ˈmʲɛlkʲɪj]

Note on мелкий: The stress falls on the first syllable; the "й" sound is a soft palatal approximant, which can be challenging for English speakers. Avoid overemphasizing the final vowel.

Audio: []

неглубокий: [nʲɪˈɡlubəkʲɪj]

Note on неглубокий: The prefix "не-" negates the root; pronounce the "г" as a voiced velar fricative, similar to the "g" in "go," but ensure the word flows smoothly without pauses.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not deep, especially referring to physical depth (e.g., water, containers)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мелкий - Used in informal settings, such as describing a shallow river or puddle; common in spoken language.
• неглубокий - Applied in more formal or technical contexts, like geography or engineering reports.

Usage Examples:

• Река здесь очень мелкая, поэтому дети могут играть в воде без риска.

  The river is very shallow here, so children can play in the water without risk.

• Этот пруд неглубокий, но он полон рыбы.

  This pond is shallow, but it's full of fish.

• В мелкой луже отразилось небо.

  The sky was reflected in the shallow puddle.

• Неглубокий бассейн идеален для начинающих пловцов.

  The shallow pool is ideal for beginner swimmers.

• Мелкая вода в озере позволяет легко перейти на другой берег.

  The shallow water in the lake makes it easy to cross to the other side.

Meaning 2: Superficial or lacking depth (e.g., metaphorical, as in ideas or emotions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мелкий - Informal, often in everyday conversations about people or thoughts, e.g., "shallow thinking."
• неглубокий - Formal, used in literary or philosophical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Его аргументы были слишком мелкими, чтобы убедить аудиторию.

  His arguments were too shallow to convince the audience.

• Эта книга предлагает неглубокий анализ проблемы, но не углубляется в детали.

  This book provides a shallow analysis of the issue but doesn't delve into details.

• Мелкие интересы не позволяют ему развиваться как личности.

  Shallow interests prevent him from developing as a person.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

Note: These adjectives follow regular patterns, so they inflect predictably. There are no irregular forms for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мелководный (melkovodnyy) - Specifically for water-related contexts; implies shallow in terms of water depth.
  • поверхностный (poverkhnostnyy) - For metaphorical uses, like shallow ideas; differs slightly by emphasizing surface-level.
• Antonyms:
  • глубокий (glubokiy) - Direct opposite, meaning deep in both literal and figurative senses.
  • проfondный (profondnyy) - Less common, used in formal or literary contexts for profound depth.

Related Phrases:

• мелкая вода - Shallow water; used to describe areas where swimming is safe for children.
• неглубокий анализ - Shallow analysis; refers to a superficial examination in academic or professional settings.
• мелкие проблемы - Shallow problems; implies minor or insignificant issues in everyday life.

Usage Notes:

"Мелкий" is more versatile and informal, often aligning with everyday English uses of "shallow," while "неглубокий" is better for precise, formal contexts. Choose based on the situation: use "мелкий" in spoken language or casual writing, and "неглубокий" in essays or technical descriptions. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. For metaphorical meanings, Russian speakers might prefer synonyms like "поверхностный" to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "мелкий" in formal writing without proper inflection. For example, saying "мелкий река" instead of "мелкая река" (feminine noun).

  Correct: "Мелкая река" – Explanation: Adjectives must agree with the noun's gender; "река" is feminine, so use the feminine form.

• Error: Confusing "мелкий" with "мелкий" in the sense of "small" (e.g., mixing it with particle size), leading to misuse like translating "shallow thought" as "мелкий мысль" without context.

  Correct: "Мелкая мысль" or better, "поверхностная мысль" – Explanation: Provide context to distinguish depth from size; otherwise, it might imply something tiny rather than lacking depth.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "мелкий" can carry connotations of simplicity or lack of sophistication, often linked to rural or everyday experiences, such as shallow rivers in folklore. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on depth in philosophy and literature, where "глубокий" (deep) is praised, making "shallow" concepts sometimes viewed negatively in intellectual discussions.

Related Concepts:

• глубина (depth)
• поверхность (surface)
• мелководье (浅水区)