Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'transient'

English Word: transient

Key Russian Translations:

• временный /vʲɪˈrʲemʲnɨj/ - [Formal, commonly used in legal or scientific contexts]
• проходящий /prɐˈxodʲəʂɨj/ - [Informal, often in everyday speech for temporary states]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its variants appear regularly in written and spoken Russian, especially in modern contexts.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp basic adjective forms, though declensions may require practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

временный: /vʲɪˈrʲemʲnɨj/

проходящий: /prɐˈxodʲəʂɨj/

Note on временный: The stress falls on the second syllable; be cautious with the palatalized 'r' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Temporary or passing, as in something not permanent (adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• временный - Used in formal contexts like contracts or descriptions of short-term employment.
• проходящий - Applied in informal settings, such as describing fleeting emotions or events.

Usage Examples:

• Временный контракт позволяет компании нанимать сотрудников на короткий период.

  A transient contract allows the company to hire employees for a short period.

• Проходящий дождь быстро закончился, и выглянуло солнце.

  The transient rain ended quickly, and the sun came out.

• Временные жители города часто селятся в хостелах.

  Transient residents of the city often stay in hostels.

• Её проходящее увлечение музыкой не продержалось долго.

  Her transient interest in music didn't last long.

• Временный ремонт дороги вызвал пробки на шоссе.

  The transient road repair caused traffic jams on the highway.

Meaning 2: A person who is passing through or wandering (noun form, less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бродяга - Informal, often with a connotation of homelessness or itinerant lifestyle.

Usage Examples:

• Бродяга бродил по улицам, ища временное пристанище.

  The transient wandered the streets, seeking temporary shelter.

• В больших городах много бродяг, ищущих работу.

  In big cities, there are many transients looking for work.

• Проходящий гость в отеле обычно не задерживается больше чем на ночь.

  A transient guest in the hotel usually doesn't stay more than one night.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

временный is an adjective and follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns. It changes based on gender, number, and case. проходящий also declines as an adjective.

For бродяга (noun), it is a masculine noun that declines irregularly in some cases but follows standard patterns for most: Nominative - бродяга, Genitive - бродяги, etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • временный (similar to the original, no major differences)
  • мимолётный (fleeting, often used for very short durations)
  • преходящий (passing, with a philosophical connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • постоянный (permanent)
  • вечный (eternal)

Related Phrases:

• Временный договор - A temporary contract; used in employment contexts to denote short-term agreements.
• Проходящий эффект - A transient effect; refers to something with short-lived impact, like in medicine or psychology.
• Бродяга жизни - Wanderer of life; a poetic phrase implying a nomadic or unsettled existence.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "transient" as an adjective like "временный" directly corresponds to English in formal contexts but may imply more instability than in English. Choose "проходящий" for everyday speech to sound more natural. Be mindful of declensions based on sentence structure; for example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "без" (without). If multiple translations exist, select based on register: formal for business, informal for casual conversation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "временный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "временный дом" in genitive contexts instead of "временного дома".
  Correct: Ensure agreement with case, e.g., "временного дома". Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's case, which English speakers often overlook.
• Error: Confusing with similar words like "вечный", leading to misuse in contexts of permanence.
  Correct: Use "временный" for temporary states only. Explanation: This can alter the sentence meaning entirely, so context is key.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "бродяга" (transient as a wanderer) often evoke literary references from authors like Tolstoy, symbolizing the human condition of restlessness. This reflects Russia's vast geography and historical nomadic traditions, adding a layer of depth beyond the literal meaning.

Related Concepts:

• постоянство (permanence)
• мимолётность (fleetingness)
• бродяжничество (vagabondage)