Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tasteless'

English Word: tasteless

Key Russian Translations:

• безвкусный [bɪzˈvʊksnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal or Informal, often used for sensory contexts like food]
• вульгарный [vʊlˈɡarnɨj] - [Adjective, Informal, used for social or aesthetic contexts implying vulgarity]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR standards; requires understanding of adjective declensions and contextual nuances; for вульгарный, it may lean towards B2 due to cultural connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

безвкусный: [bɪzˈvʊksnɨj]

Note on безвкусный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("vʊksnɨj"). Pronounce with a soft "s" sound, common in Russian adjectives. Variations may occur in dialects.

вульгарный: [vʊlˈɡarnɨj]

Note on вульгарный: Stress on the second syllable ("ɡarnɨj"); the "g" is pronounced as a hard guttural sound. Be cautious with regional accents that might soften it.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

First Meaning: Lacking flavor or taste (e.g., in food or sensory contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• безвкусный - Used in everyday contexts for describing food, drinks, or experiences that are bland or insipid, often in neutral or formal settings like cooking or reviews.

Usage Examples:

• Эта суп безвкусный, как будто в него не добавили соли.

  This soup is tasteless, as if no salt was added to it.

• Безвкусный чай можно улучшить, добавив лимон и мед.

  Tasteless tea can be improved by adding lemon and honey.

• В ресторане подали безвкусное блюдо, которое никто не доел.

  The restaurant served a tasteless dish that no one finished.

• Безвкусные фрукты часто бывают незрелыми.

  Tasteless fruits are often unripe.

Second Meaning: Lacking good taste, aesthetic sensibility, or being vulgar (e.g., in behavior, art, or style)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вульгарный - Applied in informal or critical contexts to describe something crude, ostentatious, or socially inappropriate, such as fashion or manners.

Usage Examples:

• Его вульгарный юмор не понравился гостям на вечеринке.

  His tasteless humor didn't appeal to the guests at the party.

• Вульгарный дизайн интерьера испортил всю атмосферу дома.

  The tasteless interior design ruined the entire atmosphere of the house.

• Она одевается в вульгарном стиле, что привлекает ненужное внимание.

  She dresses in a tasteless style, drawing unwanted attention.

• Вульгарные комментарии в интернете часто вызывают споры.

  Tasteless comments on the internet often spark controversies.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "безвкусный" and "вульгарный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns of agreement with nouns. Below are tables for each:

For "безвкусный" (declensions):

*Accusative varies based on animacy.

For "вульгарный" (declensions):

*Accusative varies based on animacy. These adjectives do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пресный (insipid, especially for food; less emphatic than безвкусный)
  • грубый (crude, for вульгарный; implies rudeness in social contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • вкусный (tasty, flavorful)
  • элегантный (elegant, refined, opposite of вульгарный)

Related Phrases:

• безвкусная еда - Tasteless food (used to describe bland meals in culinary contexts).
• вульгарный стиль - Tasteless style (refers to overly flashy or inappropriate fashion choices).
• безвкусный дизайн - Tasteless design (common in art or interior discussions, implying lack of aesthetic appeal).

Usage Notes:

"Безвкусный" directly corresponds to the sensory meaning of "tasteless" and is versatile in formal and informal settings, but avoid it in poetic or high-culture contexts where more nuanced words might be preferred. "Вульгарный" aligns with the social or aesthetic sense and is often informal; use it cautiously as it can be pejorative. When choosing between translations, opt for "безвкусный" for literal taste and "вульгарный" for moral or artistic judgments. Grammatically, always ensure adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "безвкусный" with "безвредный" (harmless) – Error: Saying "Эта еда безвредная" when meaning tasteless. Correct: "Эта еда безвкусная." Explanation: "Безвредный" means safe, not flavorless, leading to misunderstandings in food descriptions.
• Overusing "вульгарный" in formal writing – Error: Using it in professional contexts like business emails. Correct: Opt for "неэлегантный" in formal settings. Explanation: "Вульгарный" is too casual and can offend, whereas "tasteless" in English might be milder.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "вульгарный" often tie into historical emphasis on refinement and modesty, influenced by traditions from the Soviet era and Orthodox values. For instance, what might be seen as "tasteless" in Western contexts could be viewed as outright vulgar in Russia, especially in social etiquette or art, reflecting a deeper cultural appreciation for subtlety and restraint.

Related Concepts:

• вкус (taste)
• стиль (style)
• элегантность (elegance)