Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unseemly'

English Word: unseemly

Key Russian Translations:

• неприличный [nʲɪˈprʲilʲɪtɕnɨj] - [Formal, used for describing inappropriate behavior or actions]
• непристойный [nʲɪˈprʲistojnɨj] - [Informal, often in everyday contexts for indecency]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in literature, formal discussions, and media, but not as commonly as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and context, with some translations like неприличный being straightforward for learners at this level, while непристойный may vary slightly in connotation.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неприличный: [nʲɪˈprʲilʲɪtɕnɨj]

непристойный: [nʲɪˈprʲistojnɨj]

Note on неприличный: The stress is on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which affects the pronunciation of the preceding consonant, making it softer and more palatalized.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not appropriate, fitting, or decent, often referring to behavior or actions that violate social norms.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неприличный - Used in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as describing etiquette breaches in professional settings.
• непристойный - Applied in informal or everyday situations, emphasizing indecency or vulgarity.

Usage Examples:

• Его неприличное поведение на вечеринке шокировало гостей.

  His unseemly behavior at the party shocked the guests.

• Шутка была непристойной для аудитории, состоящей из детей.

  The joke was unseemly for an audience consisting of children.

• В обществе ожидается, что люди избегают неприличных комментариев во время формальных мероприятий.

  In society, it is expected that people avoid unseemly comments during formal events.

• Её платье считалось неприличным для церковной службы.

  Her dress was deemed unseemly for a church service.

• Неуместный смех в траурной обстановке может быть воспринят как непристойный.

  Inappropriate laughter in a mourning setting can be perceived as unseemly.

Meaning 2: Lacking propriety or decorum, often in a moral or ethical sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неприличный - In contexts involving ethics or morality, such as in literature or legal discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Такое неприличное предложение от босса вызвало скандал в офисе.

  Such an unseemly proposal from the boss caused a scandal in the office.

• В исторических текстах часто описывается неприличное поведение монархов.

  Historical texts often describe the unseemly behavior of monarchs.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo changes based on gender, number, and case. "Неприличный" and "непристойный" follow standard first-conjugation adjective patterns, with regular inflections. Below is a table for "неприличный" as an example; "непристойный" follows similar rules.

Note: These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неподходящий (nepodkhodyashchiy) - More neutral, used for general inappropriateness.
  • непристойный (nepristoinyy) - Overlaps with the original but emphasizes indecency; fine for informal use.
• Antonyms:
  • приличный (prilichnyy) - Decent or proper.
  • подходящий (podkhodyashchiy) - Suitable or fitting.

Related Phrases:

• неприличное поведение - Unseemly behavior; used to describe actions that breach social etiquette.
• непристойный жест - An unseemly gesture; often in contexts of rudeness or vulgarity.
• избегать неприличных тем - To avoid unseemly topics; common in formal conversations to maintain decorum.

Usage Notes:

• Russian translations like "неприличный" directly correspond to "unseemly" in formal contexts, but "непристойный" may carry a stronger connotation of indecency, similar to "indecent" in English. Choose based on the level of severity.
• These adjectives are often used in attributive positions (e.g., before a noun) and must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.
• In spoken Russian, they are common in discussions of social norms, but avoid them in polite company unless necessary, as they imply criticism.
• When translating from English, consider the context: "unseemly" is somewhat archaic in English, while Russian equivalents are more everyday.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "неприличный" with "неприятный" (unpleasant), leading to misuse in sentences. Incorrect: Его неприятное поведение (implying it's just unpleasant, not unseemly). Correct: Его неприличное поведение (specifically highlighting social inappropriateness). Explanation: "Неприятный" focuses on discomfort, not decorum.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., using masculine form with a feminine noun. Incorrect: неприличный женщина (wrong gender). Correct: неприличная женщина. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case.
• Error: Overusing in formal writing, which can sound overly judgmental. Explanation: Opt for softer alternatives if the context allows to avoid sounding harsh.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, what is considered "unseemly" (e.g., via "неприличный") often ties to historical emphasis on decorum and collectivism, stemming from Soviet-era norms. For instance, public displays of affection or loud behavior in certain settings might be labeled as such, reflecting a value on restraint and respect for social harmony, which contrasts with more individualistic Western attitudes.

Related Concepts:

• вежливый (vezhlivyy) - Polite
• приличный (prilichnyy) - Decent
• неподходящий (nepodkhodyashchiy) - Inappropriate