Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sketchy'

English Word: sketchy

Key Russian Translations:

• сомнительный /sɐˈmʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Informal, commonly used in everyday suspicious contexts]
• неблагонадёжный /nʲɪblɐɡɐˈnadʲɵʐnɨj/ - [Formal, used in official or legal descriptions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in conversational Russian, especially in urban or informal settings)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding nuanced adjectives; for сомнительный: B1, for неблагонадёжный: B2 due to more formal vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сомнительный: /sɐˈmʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/

Note on сомнительный: Stress falls on the third syllable ("mi"), and the "ы" sound is a subtle, back vowel that may be challenging for English speakers; avoid pronouncing it like English "y".

Audio: []

неблагонадёжный: /nʲɪblɐɡɐˈnadʲɵʐnɨj/

Note on неблагонадёжный: The "ж" is a voiced fricative, similar to "zh" in "measure", and the word has a rolling rhythm; practice in formal contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Suspicious, unreliable, or of questionable quality (most common usage)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сомнительный - Used in informal conversations to describe people, places, or situations that seem untrustworthy, e.g., in casual warnings.
• неблагонадёжный - Applied in formal or official contexts, such as legal documents, to indicate unreliability with a more serious connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Это место выглядит сомнительным, лучше не ходить туда ночью.

  This place looks sketchy; it's better not to go there at night.

• Его предложения всегда сомнительные, не стоит им доверять.

  His proposals are always sketchy; it's not worth trusting them.

• В этом районе много неблагонадёжных персонажей, будь осторожен.

  There are many sketchy characters in this area; be careful.

• Сомнительный план может привести к проблемам.

  A sketchy plan could lead to problems.

• Неблагонадёжный продавец обманул покупателей.

  The sketchy seller deceived the buyers.

Meaning 2: Rough or incomplete (less common, e.g., like a sketch or outline)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сомнительный - Rarely used for this meaning; more often implies incompleteness with a hint of unreliability.
• неблагонадёжный - Not typically used; opt for other words like "грубый" in formal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его рисунок был сомнительным, но имел потенциал.

  His drawing was sketchy but had potential.

• Сомнительные наброски проекта нуждаются в доработке.

  The sketchy outlines of the project need refinement.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns for most cases, with some irregularities in certain forms.

Note: These are regular adjective inflections. If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not change form as much.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: подозрительный (more neutral, often used for suspicion), ненадёжный (emphasizes unreliability, with subtle difference in implying potential danger)
• Antonyms: надёжный (reliable, trustworthy; used in everyday contexts), благонадёжный (formally reliable, especially in legal or official settings)

Related Phrases:

• сомнительная личность - A sketchy person (refers to someone with questionable character or motives)
• неблагонадёжные связи - Sketchy connections (used in formal contexts for unreliable networks or associations)
• сомнительный бизнес - Sketchy business (implies dubious or fraudulent activities)

Usage Notes:

"Сомнительный" is the most direct translation for the informal, everyday sense of "sketchy" in English, making it suitable for casual conversations, while "неблагонадёжный" is better for formal or professional contexts. Always consider the context: in Russian, these words can carry a stronger implication of moral unreliability than the English "sketchy." For example, use "сомнительный" in spoken language but switch to "неблагонадёжный" in written reports. Grammatically, ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, as per standard Russian rules.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "сомнительный" with "скетч" (which means "sketch" as in drawing). English learners might misuse it in artistic contexts.

  Correct: Use "сомнительный" for suspicious meanings, not for incomplete drawings (use "грубоватый" instead). Example of error: "Это скетч" (wrong for "sketchy person"); Correct: "Это сомнительный человек."

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "сомнительный женщина" instead of "сомнительная женщина."

  Correct: Always match gender and case, as in "сомнительная идея" for a feminine noun.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "сомнительный" often reflect a cautious societal attitude toward strangers or unfamiliar situations, stemming from historical contexts like the Soviet era where trust was limited. This can add a layer of wariness in everyday interactions, especially in urban areas like Moscow, where "sketchy" neighborhoods might be discussed in media or casual talk.

Related Concepts:

• подозрительный
• рискованный
• ненадёжный