Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unsuccessful'

English Word: unsuccessful

Key Russian Translations:

• неудачный /nʲɪˈudət͡ɕnɨj/ - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]
• безуспешный /bʲɪzʊˈspʲeʂnɨj/ - [Formal, often in professional or written language]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in Russian media, literature, and conversation, but not as frequently as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections and negative prefixes, which may challenge beginners but are manageable for intermediate learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неудачный: /nʲɪˈudət͡ɕnɨj/

Note on неудачный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("u-"), which is a common feature in Russian adjectives. Pay attention to the palatalized 'n' sound at the beginning.

безуспешный: /bʲɪzʊˈspʲeʂnɨj/

Note on безуспешный: The 'zh' sound (represented as ʂ) can be tricky for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in "measure". Stress is on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not achieving the desired outcome (e.g., in attempts, efforts, or results)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неудачный - Used in informal settings, such as describing a failed personal endeavor or everyday mishaps.
• безуспешный - Preferred in formal contexts, like business reports or academic discussions, to denote complete lack of success.

Usage Examples:

• Этот проект оказался неудачным из-за недостатка финансирования.

  This project turned out to be unsuccessful due to a lack of funding.

• Его попытка переубедить команду была безуспешной.

  His attempt to convince the team was unsuccessful.

• Неудачная шутка испортила атмосферу на вечеринке.

  The unsuccessful joke ruined the atmosphere at the party.

• Безуспешные переговоры привели к разрыву контракта.

  The unsuccessful negotiations led to the contract's termination.

• Моя неудачная диета не принесла ожидаемых результатов.

  My unsuccessful diet didn't bring the expected results.

Meaning 2: Not producing the intended effect (e.g., in strategies or plans)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неудачный - Applied in casual conversations about ineffective plans or ideas.
• безуспешный - Used in more structured contexts, such as legal or scientific discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Неудачная стратегия маркетинга обошлась компании дорого.

  The unsuccessful marketing strategy cost the company dearly.

• Безуспешные усилия по реформе вызвали общественное недовольство.

  The unsuccessful efforts at reform caused public discontent.

• Его неудачный подход к проблеме только усугубил ситуацию.

  His unsuccessful approach to the problem only worsened the situation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неудачный" and "безуспешный" are adjectives, which inflect for gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow the standard first-declension adjective patterns, with some irregularities due to their prefixes. Below is a table for "неудачный" as an example; "безуспешный" follows similar rules.

For "безуспешный", the inflections are identical in pattern. These adjectives do not have irregular forms but require attention to agreement with nouns in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • провальный (provzalnyy) - More dramatic, implying total failure.
  • неэффективный (neeffektivnyy) - Emphasizes lack of efficiency rather than success.
• Antonyms:
  • успешный (uspeshnyy)
  • эффективный (effektivnyy)

Related Phrases:

• неудачная попытка - An unsuccessful attempt; used to describe failed efforts in daily life.
• безуспешные старания - Unsuccessful efforts; common in motivational or reflective contexts.
• неудачный исход - Unsuccessful outcome; often in narratives about projects or events.

Usage Notes:

"Неудачный" is the more versatile and idiomatic choice for everyday English "unsuccessful", while "безуспешный" is better for formal or emphatic situations. Choose based on context: use "неудачный" for personal stories and "безуспешный" in professional writing. Always ensure adjective agreement with the noun in gender, number, and case. For example, if translating "unsuccessful meeting", it becomes "неудачная встреча" (feminine noun). Be cautious with nuance: "unsuccessful" can sometimes imply bad luck, which "неудачный" captures well in Russian culture.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "неудачный" in formal contexts where "безуспешный" is more appropriate. For instance, saying "неудачный переговоры" instead of "безуспешные переговоры" in a business report.

  Correct: безуспешные переговоры - Explanation: "Безуспешный" conveys a more professional tone, avoiding the casual feel of "неудачный".

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "неудачный машина" (incorrect for feminine noun) instead of "неудачная машина".

  Correct: неудачная машина - Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; "машина" is feminine, so use the feminine form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "неудачный" often carry a resigned or humorous connotation, reflecting the idea that failure is a natural part of life. This stems from historical contexts, such as Soviet-era literature, where unsuccessful endeavors were portrayed as learning experiences rather than defeats, emphasizing resilience.

Related Concepts:

• успех (uspekh) - Success
• провал (proval) - Failure
• эксперимент (eksperiment) - Experiment