Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sinewy'

English Word: sinewy

Key Russian Translations:

• жилистый [ʐɨˈlʲistɨj] - [Informal, Descriptive of physical strength and toughness]
• сильный [ˈsʲilʲnɨj] - [Formal, General strength, but less specific to muscularity]
• крепкий [ˈkrʲepkʲij] - [Informal, Emphasizing sturdiness or resilience]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary or descriptive contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding adjective inflections; for 'сильный', it's A2 for basic use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жилистый: [ʐɨˈlʲistɨj]

сильный: [ˈsʲilʲnɨj]

крепкий: [ˈkrʲepkʲij]

Note on жилистый: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in "measure". Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Strong and muscular, often with tough sinews, implying physical toughness or leanness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жилистый - Used in informal or descriptive contexts, such as describing athletes or animals, to emphasize muscular build without bulk.
• сильный - Applied in formal or general contexts, like health discussions, but may not capture the 'sinewy' nuance.
• крепкий - Common in everyday language for robust or enduring qualities, e.g., in physical labor scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Его жилистые руки помогли ему перелезть через забор. (Yego zhilistye ruki pomogli yemu perelezti cherez zabora.)

  His sinewy arms helped him climb over the fence.

• Спортсмен обладал сильным и жилистым телосложением, что делало его идеальным для марафона. (Sportсмен obladal sil'nym i zhilistym teloslozheniyem, chto delalo yego ideal'nym dlya marafona.)

  The athlete had a strong and sinewy build, making him ideal for a marathon.

• Крепкий и жилистый конь выдержал долгий путь через горы. (Krepyy i zhilistyy kon' vydzherzhal dolgiy put' cherez gory.)

  The sturdy and sinewy horse endured the long journey through the mountains.

• В старости он сохранил своё сильное и жилистое тело благодаря регулярным тренировкам. (V starosti on sokhranil svoyo sil'noye i zhilistoye telo blagodarya regulvarnym trenirovkam.)

  In his old age, he maintained his strong and sinewy body through regular workouts.

• Её крепкие и жилистые ноги позволили ей выиграть забег. (Yeyo krepyye i zhilistyye nogi pozvolili yey vyigrat' zabeg.)

  Her sturdy and sinewy legs allowed her to win the race.

Meaning: Figuratively tough or resilient, as in character or material.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жилистый - Less common figuratively, but can describe resilient materials or personalities in creative writing.
• сильный - Often used for mental or emotional strength in formal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его жилистый характер помог преодолеть все трудности. (Yego zhilistyy kharakter pomogl preodolat' vse trudnosti.)

  His sinewy character helped him overcome all difficulties.

• Сильный и жилистый материал ткани устоял против ветра. (Sil'nyy i zhilistyy material tkani ustoyal protiv vetra.)

  The strong and sinewy fabric material withstood the wind.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'жилистый' follows a standard pattern for adjectives ending in -ый.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow standard Russian inflection rules. No irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мускулистый [Used for more pronounced muscles, often in athletic contexts]
  • атлетичный [Implies athletic build, with a focus on fitness]
• Antonyms:
  • слабый [Weak, lacking strength]
  • хилый [Feeble or frail]

Related Phrases:

• жилистые мышцы (zhilistye myshtsy) - Sinewy muscles; used in fitness or anatomy discussions.
• сильный и жилистый боец (sil'nyy i zhilistyy boyets) - A strong and sinewy fighter; common in sports or military contexts.
• крепкий жилистый корень (krepyy zhilistyy koren') - Sturdy sinewy root; refers to plant structures with resilience.

Usage Notes:

'жилистый' is the most precise translation for 'sinewy' in physical descriptions, capturing the idea of tough, lean muscles, while 'сильный' is better for general strength and 'крепкий' for endurance. Choose based on context: use 'жилистый' in informal or vivid descriptions, but avoid it in formal writing where 'сильный' might be more appropriate. Grammatically, always inflect adjectives to match the noun's gender, number, and case. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives often precede the noun, e.g., "жилистый мужчина" (sinewy man).

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'сильный' interchangeably with 'жилистый' without considering nuance. Incorrect: "Сильный руки" (which is grammatically wrong; should be "сильные руки"). Correct: "Жилистые руки" for sinewy arms. Explanation: 'Сильный' emphasizes power, not the specific muscular texture.
• Mistake: Forgetting to inflect the adjective. Incorrect: "Жилистый тело" (should be "жилистое тело" for neuter noun). Correct: Match the noun's gender. Explanation: This is a common error for beginners due to English's lack of inflection.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'жилистый' often appear in literature or folk tales to describe heroes with enduring physicality, such as in stories by Tolstoy, symbolizing resilience in harsh environments like the Russian wilderness. This reflects a cultural appreciation for toughness in the face of adversity.

Related Concepts:

• мускулистый
• атлетичный
• выносливый