Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unobtainable'

English Word: unobtainable

Key Russian Translations:

• недоступный [nʲɪdɐˈstupnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• невосполнимый [nʲɪvɐsˈpolʲnɨj] - [Formal, Often used for irreplaceable items, but less direct]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing and discussions about availability, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and declensions, but straightforward for learners familiar with basic vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

недоступный: [nʲɪdɐˈstupnɨj]

невосполнимый: [nʲɪvɐsˈpolʲnɨj]

Note on недоступный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("stup"), and the initial "н" is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft "n" sound as in "new".

Audio: Insert audio link or player here (e.g., MP3 file for pronunciation)

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Something that cannot be obtained or accessed

Translation(s) & Context:

• недоступный - Used in contexts involving physical or metaphorical inaccessibility, such as restricted areas or unattainable goals (e.g., in formal reports or legal documents).

Usage Examples:

• Этот сайт недоступен без специального пароля. (This website is unobtainable without a special password.)

  English: This website is unobtainable without a special password. (Context: Digital security, showing restriction.)

• Для большинства людей такие билеты на концерт оказались недоступными. (For most people, such concert tickets turned out to be unobtainable.)

  English: For most people, such concert tickets turned out to be unobtainable. (Context: High demand and scarcity, in everyday conversation.)

• В отдаленных регионах качественное образование часто бывает недоступным. (In remote regions, quality education is often unobtainable.)

  English: In remote regions, quality education is often unobtainable. (Context: Social issues, in formal discussions.)

• Из-за экономического кризиса, многие товары стали недоступными для простых граждан. (Due to the economic crisis, many goods have become unobtainable for ordinary citizens.)

  English: Due to the economic crisis, many goods have become unobtainable for ordinary citizens. (Context: Economic hardship, demonstrating broader societal impact.)

Secondary Meaning: Something irreplaceable or beyond reach emotionally

Translation(s) & Context:

• невосполнимый - Used when emphasizing loss or permanence, such as in emotional or sentimental contexts (e.g., in literature or personal narratives).

Usage Examples:

• Утрата близкого друга оставила в его жизни невосполнимую пустоту. (The loss of a close friend left an unobtainable void in his life.)

  English: The loss of a close friend left an unobtainable void in his life. (Context: Emotional loss, in storytelling.)

• Для коллекционера эта редкая монета была невосполнимой утратой. (For the collector, this rare coin was an unobtainable loss.)

  English: For the collector, this rare coin was an unobtainable loss. (Context: Personal value, in descriptive writing.)

• Война принесла невосполнимые потери для семьи. (The war brought unobtainable losses to the family.)

  English: The war brought unobtainable losses to the family. (Context: Historical or tragic events, in formal contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which inflect according to Russian grammatical rules. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. Below is a table for недоступный as an example; невосполнимый follows similar patterns.

For невосполнимый, the inflections are identical in structure. These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must be memorized for proper agreement.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • недоступимый (slightly more emphatic, often for physical barriers)
  • невозможный (impossible, with a connotation of absolute unattainability)
• Antonyms:
  • доступный (accessible)
  • возможно (possible, though not a direct adjective)

Related Phrases:

• Сделать что-то недоступным (To make something unobtainable) - Used in contexts of restriction or protection.
• Недоступный для публики (Unobtainable to the public) - Refers to exclusive or private items.
• Невосполнимый ущерб (Irreparable or unobtainable damage) - Common in legal or environmental discussions.

Usage Notes:

недоступный directly corresponds to "unobtainable" in formal English contexts, such as technology or access rights, and is preferred in written Russian. It should be used with caution in informal speech, where simpler alternatives like "нельзя достать" (can't get) might be more natural. For emotional nuances, choose невосполнимый when emphasizing permanence. Always ensure adjective agreement with the noun in gender, number, and case to avoid grammatical errors.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using недоступный without proper declension, e.g., saying "недоступный дом" in genitive context instead of "недоступного дома".
  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "недоступного дома" (of the unobtainable house). Explanation: Russian requires adjectives to match nouns fully, unlike English.
• Mistake: Confusing недоступный with невозможный, leading to overuse in emotional contexts.
  Correct: Use невозможный for "impossible" tasks; недоступный for "unobtainable" items. Explanation: These words have overlapping but distinct shades, and misusing them can alter the intended meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like недоступный often appear in discussions of social inequality or historical events, such as the inaccessibility of resources during the Soviet era. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on resilience and the pursuit of the "unobtainable" in literature and art, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• доступ
• ограничивать
• невозможность