Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'trivia'

English Word: trivia

Key Russian Translations:

• тривиальные факты [trʲɪˈvʲijalʲnɨje ˈfaktɨ] - [Informal, Plural]
• мелочи [ˈmʲɛlətɕɪ] - [Informal]
• незначительные детали [nʲɪznatɕnʲɪˈtʲeɫʲi dʲɪˈtaɪlʲi] - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in casual conversations, educational contexts, and media)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun phrases and basic sentence structure in Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тривиальные факты: [trʲɪˈvʲijalʲnɨje ˈfaktɨ]

Note on тривиальные факты: The stress is on the third syllable of "тривиальные"; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

мелочи: [ˈmʲɛlətɕɪ]

Note on мелочи: This word has a soft 'ч' sound; pronounce it quickly as in "church" but softer.

незначительные детали: [nʲɪznatɕnʲɪˈtʲeɫʲi dʲɪˈtaɪlʲi]

Note on незначительные детали: The word "незначительные" has multiple syllables; practice the rolling 'р' if present in variations.

Audio: Audio playback placeholder for тривиальные факты (insert audio link here)

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Insignificant or trivial facts, often used in quizzes or casual knowledge sharing

Translation(s) & Context:

• тривиальные факты - Used in informal educational or entertainment contexts, such as trivia games.
• мелочи - Applied in everyday conversations when referring to minor details that are not important.

Usage Examples:

• Эти тривиальные факты о истории России интересны, но не критичны для экзамена.

  These trivia facts about Russian history are interesting but not critical for the exam.

• В викторине мы обсуждали мелочи из жизни знаменитостей.

  In the quiz, we discussed trivia from the lives of celebrities.

• Не отвлекайся на незначительные детали; сосредоточься на главном.

  Don't get distracted by trivia; focus on the main points.

• Эти мелочи о повседневной жизни в Москве могут удивить иностранцев.

  This trivia about everyday life in Moscow can surprise foreigners.

• В музее гид рассказал несколько тривиальных фактов о древних артефактах.

  In the museum, the guide shared a few trivia facts about ancient artifacts.

Meaning 2: Unimportant details or minor matters in a broader context

Translation(s) & Context:

• незначительные детали - Used in formal or professional settings, such as reports or discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В отчёте упоминаются незначительные детали, которые не влияют на общий вывод.

  The report mentions trivia that don't affect the overall conclusion.

• Не стоит тратить время на такие мелочи; давай перейдём к сути.

  Don't waste time on such trivia; let's get to the point.

• Эти тривиальные факты из биографии автора добавляют контекст, но не обязательны.

  These trivia facts from the author's biography add context but are not essential.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations are noun phrases. For example, "тривиальные факты" is a plural noun phrase. "Факты" is a masculine plural noun that follows standard Russian declension patterns.

"Мелочи" is an invariable plural noun in most contexts, meaning it does not change form significantly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: пустяки (used for very minor things), мелочи жизни (nuances of daily life)
• Antonyms: суть (the essence), важные детали (important details)

Related Phrases:

• Занимательные мелочи - Interesting trivia or minor facts, often used in storytelling or casual chats.
• Тривиальные вопросы - Trivia questions, commonly in quizzes or games.
• Не бери в голову мелочи - Don't sweat the small stuff; a phrase for ignoring trivia.

Usage Notes:

The English word "trivia" corresponds most closely to Russian phrases like "тривиальные факты" in informal contexts, but in formal writing, opt for "незначительные детали" to maintain a professional tone. Be mindful of Russian's case system when using these nouns in sentences; for example, "факты" changes based on the grammatical case. When choosing between translations, use "мелочи" for everyday, spoken language and "тривиальные факты" for educational settings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "тривиальные" as a direct adjective without context, e.g., saying "тривиальные" alone instead of "тривиальные факты". Correct: Always pair it with a noun for clarity. Example of error: "Это тривиальные." (Incorrect) vs. "Это тривиальные факты." (Correct) – Explanation: Russian requires the full phrase for meaning.
• Error: Mispronouncing the stress in "тривиальные", placing it on the wrong syllable. Correct pronunciation: [trʲɪˈvʲijalʲnɨje]. Explanation: This can lead to confusion with similar words.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, trivia like "мелочи" often appears in literature and conversations as a way to add humor or depth to stories, reflecting the value placed on anecdotal knowledge in social interactions, such as during family gatherings or in classic works by authors like Chekhov.

Related Concepts:

• анекдоты (anecdotes)
• интересные факты (interesting facts)
• повседневные мелочи (daily trivia)