Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'slimsy'

English Word: slimsy

Key Russian Translations:

• хлипкий [xlʲɪpˈkʲij] - [Informal, often used for objects]
• тонкий [ˈtonʲkʲij] - [Formal, can imply fragility or slimness]
• слабый [ˈslabɨj] - [Neutral, emphasizing weakness]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday descriptions but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner level for basic forms; Intermediate for nuanced usage in context).

Pronunciation (Russian):

хлипкий: [xlʲɪpˈkʲij]

Note on хлипкий: The initial 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish "loch." Pay attention to the soft 'л' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

тонкий: [ˈtonʲkʲij]

Note on тонкий: Stress is on the first syllable; the 'й' at the end is a palatal approximant, making it sound softer.

слабый: [ˈslabɨj]

Note on слабый: The 'ы' vowel is central and unrounded, distinct from 'i' in English; it's a key feature in Russian phonology.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Describing something as flimsy or not sturdy (e.g., physical objects).

Translation(s) & Context:

• хлипкий - Used in informal contexts for everyday items that are weak or poorly made, such as cheap furniture.
• тонкий - Applied in formal or descriptive contexts to indicate slimness or delicacy, like thin fabric.

Usage Examples:

• Эта хлипкая конструкция может сломаться от ветра. (Eta khlipkaya konstruktsiya mozhet slomatsya ot vetra.)

  This flimsy structure might break in the wind.

• Тонкий материал легко рвётся. (Tonkiy material legko rvotsya.)

  The thin material tears easily.

• Не покупай этот слабый стол, он не выдержит веса. (Ne pokupay etot slabyy stol, on ne vydjerzhit vesa.)

  Don't buy this weak table; it won't hold the weight.

• Хлипкий забор не защитит от дождя. (Khlipkiy zabar ne zashchitit ot dozhdya.)

  The flimsy fence won't protect from the rain.

Meaning 2: Describing something as slim or delicate in a metaphorical sense (e.g., ideas or plans).

Translation(s) & Context:

• тонкий - Used in literary or abstract contexts to suggest subtlety or fragility, like a delicate argument.
• слабый - Informal for weak ideas or plans that lack strength.

Usage Examples:

• Его тонкий план провалился из-за мелких деталей. (Yego tonkiy plan provalsilsya iz-za melykh detaley.)

  His subtle plan failed due to minor details.

• Слабый аргумент не убедил аудиторию. (Slabyy argument ne ube dil auditoriyu.)

  The weak argument didn't convince the audience.

• Тонкий намёк был понят только специалистами. (Tonkiy namyok byl ponyat tolko spetsialistami.)

  The subtle hint was understood only by experts.

• Хлипкий замысел рухнул под давлением. (Khlipkiy zamysel rukh nul pod davleniem.)

  The flimsy idea collapsed under pressure.

• Слабый подход к проблеме не сработал. (Slabyy podkhod k probleme ne sработal.)

  The weak approach to the problem didn't work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These adjectives follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which vary by gender, number, and case. They are not irregular but require attention to agreement with nouns.

For feminine and neuter forms, add appropriate endings (e.g., хлипкая for feminine singular). These adjectives do not have invariant forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • непрочный (neprochnyy) - Similar to хлипкий, but more emphasis on lack of durability.
  • хрупкий (khrupkiy) - Fragile, often for breakable items; differs by implying ease of breaking.
• Antonyms:
  • прочный (prochnyy) - Sturdy or durable.
  • крепкий (krepkiy) - Strong or robust.

Related Phrases:

• Хлипкая постройка (Khlipkaya postroyka) - A flimsy building; used for structures that are not well-built.
• Тонкий лёд (Tonkiy lyod) - Thin ice; metaphorical for risky situations.
• Слабый сигнал (Slabyy signal) - Weak signal; common in tech contexts for poor connectivity.

Usage Notes:

"Slimsy" isn't a standard English word, but assuming it means flimsy or weak, its Russian equivalents like хлипкий are best for informal, everyday language. Choose тонкий for more elegant or precise descriptions. Be mindful of gender and case agreement in sentences. For example, use хлипкий with masculine nouns and хлипкая with feminine ones. In formal writing, prefer тонкий to avoid sounding colloquial.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using хлипкий interchangeably with тонкий without considering context. Correct: Хлипкий for physical weakness; тонкий for slimness. Example of error: *Тонкий стол сломался* (incorrect if emphasizing fragility). Correct usage: Хлипкий стол сломался.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying *хлипкий дом* for a feminine noun. Correct: Хлипкая дом (but дом is masculine, so it's correct; for feminine like *книга*, use хлипкая книга*).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like хлипкий often reflect a pragmatic view of material goods, especially in contexts like DIY or rural life, where durability is valued due to historical hardships. This can evoke a sense of resourcefulness or criticism of poor quality imports.

Related Concepts:

• прочность (prochnost')
• хрупкость (khrupkost')
• устойчивость (ustoychivost')