Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unbecoming'

English Word: unbecoming

Key Russian Translations:

• неприличный [nʲɪˈprʲilʲɪtɕnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• неподходящий [nʲɪpɐdˈxodʲəʂɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday and literary contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary; varies slightly by translation, with "неприличный" being slightly more advanced due to formal connotations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

неприличный: [nʲɪˈprʲilʲɪtɕnɨj]

Note on неприличный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("pri"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants. Pronounce the "л" softly.

Audio: []

неподходящий: [nʲɪpɐdˈxodʲəʂɨj]

Note on неподходящий: The "х" is pronounced like a guttural "h" in "loch," and the final "й" is a soft palatal approximant. Stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not attractive or flattering (e.g., referring to appearance or style)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неприличный - Used in formal or critical contexts, such as describing clothing that doesn't suit someone.
• неподходящий - Applied in informal settings for everyday mismatches, like an outfit for an event.

Usage Examples:

• Эта шляпа неприлична к её лицу. (This hat is unbecoming to her face.)

  English: This hat is unbecoming to her face. (Context: Formal critique of fashion.)

• Его костюм неподходящий для пляжа. (His suit is unbecoming for the beach.)

  English: His suit is unbecoming for the beach. (Context: Informal, everyday observation.)

• Такая причёска неприлична для официального приёма. (Such a hairstyle is unbecoming for a formal reception.)

  English: Such a hairstyle is unbecoming for a formal reception. (Context: Emphasizing social norms.)

• Это платье неподходящее для её фигуры. (This dress is unbecoming for her figure.)

  English: This dress is unbecoming for her figure. (Context: Casual conversation about style.)

• В этом свете её макияж выглядит неприличным. (In this light, her makeup looks unbecoming.)

  English: In this light, her makeup looks unbecoming. (Context: Varied lighting affecting appearance.)

Meaning 2: Not suitable or proper for a person (e.g., referring to behavior or character)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неприличный - Used for behaviors that are socially inappropriate or indecent.
• неподходящий - For actions that simply don't fit the situation, without strong moral judgment.

Usage Examples:

• Его поведение неприличное для джентльмена. (His behavior is unbecoming for a gentleman.)

  English: His behavior is unbecoming for a gentleman. (Context: Formal social critique.)

• Такие шутки неподходящие на рабочем собрании. (Such jokes are unbecoming at a work meeting.)

  English: Such jokes are unbecoming at a work meeting. (Context: Informal professional setting.)

• Гнев неприличен в переговорах. (Anger is unbecoming in negotiations.)

  English: Anger is unbecoming in negotiations. (Context: Emphasizing emotional control.)

• Её комментарии неподходящие для дружеской беседы. (Her comments are unbecoming for a friendly conversation.)

  English: Her comments are unbecoming for a friendly conversation. (Context: Casual social interaction.)

• Такое высокомерие неприличное для лидера. (Such arrogance is unbecoming for a leader.)

  English: Such arrogance is unbecoming for a leader. (Context: Leadership and ethics discussion.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неприличный" and "неподходящий" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect for gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard adjectival declension patterns.

These adjectives follow the regular first-declension pattern. They do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once the basics are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неподобающий (nepodobayushchiy) - Similar to "unbecoming" but with a stronger moral tone; often used interchangeably with неприличный.
  • неприемлемый (neprimemyy) - More formal, emphasizing unsuitability in professional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • подходящий (podkhodyashchiy) - Suitable or fitting.
  • приличный (prilichnyy) - Decent or proper.

Related Phrases:

• неприличное поведение (neprilichnoe povedenie) - Unbecoming behavior; a common phrase for describing improper actions in social settings.
• неподходящий момент (nepodkhodyashchiy moment) - Unbecoming moment; used for timing that doesn't fit, e.g., in conversations.
• выглядеть неприлично (vyglyadet' neprilichno) - To look unbecoming; often in the context of appearance or style.

Usage Notes:

"Unbecoming" translates to Russian adjectives like "неприличный" for more formal or moral judgments and "неподходящий" for casual mismatches. Choose "неприличный" in contexts involving etiquette or social norms, as it carries a stronger negative connotation. Always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For English learners, note that Russian adjectives don't have comparative forms like English; use adverbs like "очень" (very) for emphasis.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "неприличный" in casual contexts where "неподходящий" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Эта еда неприличная" instead of "Эта еда неподходящая" for "This food is unbecoming."
  Correct: "неподходящая" for everyday unsuitability; explanation: "неприличный" implies indecency, which might offend in neutral situations.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "неприличный дом" for a feminine noun instead of "неприличная дом."
  Correct: "неприличный" for masculine, "неприличная" for feminine; explanation: Russian requires full agreement to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "неприличный" often tie into traditional values of decorum and propriety, influenced by historical norms from the Soviet era and Orthodox Christianity. Using "unbecoming" equivalents can highlight social expectations, such as in literature by authors like Chekhov, where character flaws are critiqued through such language.

Related Concepts:

• приличный (prilichnyy)
• подходящий (podkhodyashchiy)
• неприемлемый (neprimemyy)