Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'suspicious'

English Word: suspicious

Key Russian Translations:

• подозрительный [pədɐzʲrʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal, Informal; Used to describe people, objects, or situations that arouse distrust]
• сомнительный [sɐmnʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal; Often implies doubt about validity or reliability]

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

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of adjective inflections and contextual nuances, which can vary by gender and number in Russian sentences.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

подозрительный: [pədɐzʲrʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; Note that the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh', which may be challenging for English speakers.)

сомнительный: [sɐmnʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; Pay attention to the soft 'н' which affects the preceding vowel.)

Note on подозрительный: This word has a rolling 'р' in some regional accents, but standard pronunciation uses a soft trill. Variations exist in fast speech.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Suspicious (adj.): Arousing suspicion, distrust, or doubt about someone's intentions or the authenticity of something.

Translation(s) & Context:

• подозрительный - Used in both formal and informal contexts, such as describing a person's behavior in detective stories or everyday suspicions; Common in narratives involving mistrust.
• сомнительный - Typically formal, often in legal, academic, or professional settings; Implies intellectual doubt rather than emotional suspicion.

Usage Examples:

• Его поведение кажется подозрительным в этом тихом квартале. (His behavior seems suspicious in this quiet neighborhood.)

  His behavior seems suspicious in this quiet neighborhood. (Demonstrates use in a descriptive, everyday context.)

• Подозрительный пакет был найден на вокзале, и полиция вмешалась. (A suspicious package was found at the station, and the police intervened.)

  A suspicious package was found at the station, and the police intervened. (Shows application in a security or emergency scenario.)

• Эта сделка выглядит сомнительной из-за отсутствия документов. (This deal looks suspicious due to the lack of documents.)

  This deal looks suspicious due to the lack of documents. (Illustrates formal usage in business or legal contexts.)

• Она бросила на него подозрительный взгляд, не веря его словам. (She gave him a suspicious look, not believing his words.)

  She gave him a suspicious look, not believing his words. (Highlights interpersonal dynamics in informal dialogue.)

• Сомнительные аргументы в статье заставили читателей усомниться в авторе. (The suspicious arguments in the article made readers doubt the author.)

  The suspicious arguments in the article made readers doubt the author. (Emphasizes intellectual or analytical use.)

Suspicious (adj.): Wary or cautious due to potential danger.

Translation(s) & Context:

• подозрительный - Applied when someone is on guard, e.g., in thrillers or real-life cautionary situations.

Usage Examples:

• Жители стали подозрительными после серии краж в районе. (Residents became suspicious after a series of thefts in the area.)

  Residents became suspicious after a series of thefts in the area. (Shows a community context with emotional undertones.)

• Подозрительный шум ночью разбудил всю семью. (The suspicious noise at night woke up the whole family.)

  The suspicious noise at night woke up the whole family. (Demonstrates use in a sensory or immediate reaction scenario.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives like these follow standard patterns for most Russian words, with variations in endings.

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregular forms. Always agree with the noun's gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: сомнительный (similar but more intellectual), подозрительный (direct equivalent), не внушающий доверия (not inspiring trust; more descriptive)
• Antonyms: надежный (reliable; implies trustworthiness), правдоподобный (plausible; suggests credibility)

Related Phrases:

• подозрительное поведение - Suspicious behavior; Used in contexts like investigations or psychology.
• сомнительные обстоятельства - Suspicious circumstances; Common in legal or narrative descriptions.
• вызывать подозрения - To arouse suspicion; A phrase for expressing that something is making people wary.

Usage Notes:

подозрительный is the most direct translation for "suspicious" in everyday contexts, while сомнительный is better for formal or intellectual doubts. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in Russian sentences—e.g., use the feminine form if the noun is feminine. In informal speech, подозрительный can carry a stronger emotional connotation than in English. When choosing between translations, opt for подозрительный for personal or immediate suspicions, and сомнительный for abstract or evaluative ones.

• Grammar tip: Always inflect based on the noun's case; for example, in prepositional phrases, use the prepositional case form.
• Contextual advice: In Russian culture, these words might appear in discussions of trust, which is highly valued, so they often imply social judgment.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse gender forms, e.g., saying "подозрительный женщина" instead of "подозрительная женщина" (suspicious woman). Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's gender. Another error is overusing подозрительный in formal writing; instead, use сомнительный for a more precise, less emotional tone. Example of error: "Он имеет подозрительный план" (wrong if implying intellectual doubt); Correct: "Он имеет сомнительный план" to avoid intensity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like подозрительный often relate to themes of distrust stemming from historical contexts, such as the Soviet era's surveillance culture. This can add a layer of social paranoia in literature or media, making the word not just descriptive but evocative of interpersonal caution in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• достоверность (authenticity or reliability)
• доверие (trust)
• подозрение (suspicion as a noun)