Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'undesirable'

English Word: undesirable

Key Russian Translations:

• нежелательный (/nʲɪʐɨˈlatʲɪlʲnɨj/) - [Formal, Adjective]
• неприемлемый (/nʲɪprʲɪˈjemlʲɪmɨj/) - [Formal, Often used in official or legal contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday Russian, especially in discussions about preferences or decisions, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "хороший").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of adjective formation and common negatives, but straightforward for learners familiar with basic grammar).

Pronunciation (Russian):

нежелательный: /nʲɪʐɨˈlatʲɪlʲnɨj/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; the "ж" is a soft, voiced fricative, similar to the "s" in "measure".)

неприемлемый: /nʲɪprʲɪˈjemlʲɪmɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; note the palatalized "р" and "м", which can be tricky for English speakers.)

Note on нежелательный: Be cautious with the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation; it softens the preceding consonant. This word may have slight regional variations in stress.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Something not wanted or welcome due to negative qualities.

Translation(s) & Context:

• нежелательный - Used in general contexts to describe something unpleasant or to be avoided, such as in personal opinions or social situations.
• неприемлемый - Applied in more formal or professional settings, like negotiations or policies, to indicate something that cannot be tolerated.

Usage Examples:

• Этот тип поведения нежелательный в нашей компании. (This type of behavior is undesirable in our company.)

  English: This type of behavior is undesirable in our company.

• Нежелательные последствия могут возникнуть, если игнорировать правила. (Undesirable consequences may arise if rules are ignored.)

  English: Undesirable consequences may arise if rules are ignored. (Shows use in hypothetical scenarios.)

• Для меня неприемлемый уровень шума в городе. (The level of noise in the city is undesirable for me.)

  English: The level of noise in the city is undesirable for me. (Demonstrates personal context with a formal tone.)

• Неприемлемые изменения в контракте могут привести к разрыву сделки. (Undesirable changes in the contract could lead to breaking the deal.)

  English: Undesirable changes in the contract could lead to breaking the deal. (Illustrates business usage.)

Meaning 2: Something that is not advisable or recommended.

Translation(s) & Context:

• нежелательный - Often in advice-giving contexts, emphasizing potential harm.
• неприемлемый - In ethical or moral discussions, to denote something that violates standards.

Usage Examples:

• Нежелательный эффект от лекарства — сонливость. (The undesirable effect of the medicine is drowsiness.)

  English: The undesirable effect of the medicine is drowsiness. (Shows adjective in a medical context.)

• Неприемлемый риск в инвестициях должен быть минимизирован. (Undesirable risk in investments should be minimized.)

  English: Undesirable risk in investments should be minimized. (Example in financial discussions.)

• В обществе нежелательны дискриминационные практики. (Discriminatory practices are undesirable in society.)

  English: Discriminatory practices are undesirable in society. (Highlights social usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives and follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular for most cases. Adjectives in Russian agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify.

These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неприятный (nepriyatnyy) - Similar but often implies discomfort; used for sensory experiences.
  • неудобный (neudobnyy) - Focuses on inconvenience rather than undesirability.
• Antonyms:
  • желательный (zhelatel'nyy)
  • приемлемый (priemlemyy)

Related Phrases:

• нежелательный исход (nezhelatel'nyy iskhod) - Undesirable outcome; used in planning or risk assessment.
• неприемлемые условия (nepriemlemye usloviya) - Undesirable conditions; common in negotiations or contracts.
• избегать нежелательного (izbegat' nezhelatel'nogo) - To avoid the undesirable; a phrase for general advice.

Usage Notes:

• Choose "нежелательный" for everyday, subjective contexts, as it directly mirrors the English "undesirable" in personal preferences. "Неприемлемый" is better for formal or objective situations, like legal documents, to emphasize unacceptability.
• Always ensure adjective agreement with the noun in gender, number, and case, which is a key feature of Russian grammar.
• In spoken Russian, these words are often used in negative constructions, e.g., "не является нежелательным" (is not undesirable), to soften statements.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "нежелательный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "нежелательный женщина" instead of "нежелательная женщина".
  Correct: Ensure gender agreement; explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender (here, feminine for "женщина").
• Error: Confusing with similar words like "неприятный", leading to misuse in formal contexts.
  Correct: Use "неприемлемый" for professional settings; explanation: "Неприятный" implies emotional discomfort, while "неприемлемый" denotes objective unacceptability.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "нежелательный" often reflect a collectivist mindset, where individual desires are weighed against societal norms. For instance, in discussions about behavior, it might imply community disapproval rather than personal opinion, highlighting the importance of harmony in Russian social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• неприятность (nepriyatnost')
• риск (risk)
• предпочтение (predpochteniye)