Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unusable'

English Word: unusable

Key Russian Translations:

• неиспользуемый /nʲɪ.ɪsˈpolʲ.zu.ɪˈmɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• неподходящий /nʲɪ.pədˈxo.dʲɪʂ.ɨj/ - [Informal, Contextual]
• бесполезный /bʲɪsˈpo.lʲɛz.nɨj/ - [General, Neutral]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical, everyday, and descriptive contexts, but not as frequent as basic adjectives in casual speech.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and vocabulary related to utility and functionality. For 'неиспользуемый', it's B2 due to its formal tone; for 'неподходящий', it's B1.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неиспользуемый: /nʲɪ.ɪsˈpolʲ.zu.ɪˈmɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'й' sound is a soft palatal approximant, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

неподходящий: /nʲɪ.pədˈxo.dʲɪʂ.ɨj/ (Note on неподходящий: The 'щ' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'sh' but more sibilant; practice with minimal pairs to avoid confusion with 'ш'.)

бесполезный: /bʲɪsˈpo.lʲɛz.nɨj/ (Note on бесполезный: The initial 'б' is voiced and soft; common in negative evaluations.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not capable of being used; unfit for purpose (e.g., referring to objects, tools, or systems)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неиспользуемый - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing defective equipment.
• неподходящий - Applied in everyday situations where something doesn't fit or is inappropriate.

Usage Examples:

• Этот инструмент неиспользуемый из-за поломки. (This tool is unusable due to the breakage.)

  English: This tool is unusable due to the breakage.

• После аварии машина стала неподходящей для поездок. (After the accident, the car became unsuitable for trips.)

  English: After the accident, the car became unsuitable for trips.

• Бесполезный гаджет лежит в ящике, так как он неиспользуемый. (The useless gadget is sitting in the drawer since it's unusable.)

  English: The useless gadget is sitting in the drawer since it's unusable.

• В старом доме мебель неподходящая для современной жизни. (In the old house, the furniture is unsuitable for modern life.)

  English: In the old house, the furniture is unsuitable for modern life.

• Из-за устаревшего ПО программа неиспользуемая в новых системах. (Due to outdated software, the program is unusable in new systems.)

  English: Due to outdated software, the program is unusable in new systems.

Meaning 2: Not useful or serving no purpose (e.g., in abstract or evaluative contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесполезный - Common in discussions of inefficiency or waste.
• неиспользуемый - Less common here, but used for emphasis in formal writing.

Usage Examples:

• Эта идея бесполезная, потому что она неиспользуемая в практике. (This idea is useless because it's unusable in practice.)

  English: This idea is useless because it's unusable in practice.

• В переговорах бесполезные аргументы только замедляют процесс. (In negotiations, useless arguments only slow down the process.)

  English: In negotiations, useless arguments only slow down the process.

• Неиспользуемая информация в отчете делает его неподходящим. (Unusable information in the report makes it unsuitable.)

  English: Unusable information in the report makes it unsuitable.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ('неиспользуемый', 'неподходящий', 'бесполезный') are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard first-declension adjective patterns with some irregularities in spelling due to prefixes.

For 'неподходящий' and 'бесполезный', the inflections are similar and regular. These adjectives do not change in short form contexts but must agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • непригодный (neprigodnyy) - Similar to 'unfit'; often used interchangeably with 'неиспользуемый' in technical contexts.
  • ненадёжный (nenadyozhnyy) - Implies unreliability, with a subtle connotation of potential failure.
• Antonyms:
  • полезный (poleznyy)
  • подходящий (podkhodyashchiy)

Related Phrases:

• неиспользуемый ресурс - Unused resource (Refers to untapped materials or assets in business or environmental contexts.)
• бесполезная трата времени - Waste of time (A common idiom for futile efforts.)
• неподходящий момент - Inopportune moment (Used to describe poor timing in social or professional situations.)

Usage Notes:

• 'Неиспользуемый' is the most direct equivalent to 'unusable' in formal English contexts, such as technical manuals, and requires agreement with the noun (e.g., masculine, feminine). Choose it for precise, objective descriptions.
• 'Неподходящий' emphasizes mismatch or inappropriateness, making it ideal for situational uses, like in casual conversations about daily life.
• Be cautious with 'бесполезный', as it carries a stronger negative judgment (implying worthlessness), which might not align perfectly with neutral 'unusable' in English.
• In Russian, these adjectives must inflect, so always match gender, number, and case; for example, avoid using the masculine form with a feminine noun.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'неиспользуемый' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "неиспользуемый книга" instead of "неиспользуемая книга" for a feminine noun.
  Correct: неиспользуемая книга (feminine accusative). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case; this mistake can make the sentence grammatically incorrect and confusing.
• Error: Confusing 'неиспользуемый' with 'бесполезный' in formal contexts, leading to overuse of the latter's judgmental tone.
  Correct: Use 'неиспользуемый' for factual unusability. Explanation: 'Бесполезный' implies subjective uselessness, which might alter the intended neutral meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'неиспользуемый' or 'бесполезный' often appear in discussions of resource management or Soviet-era inefficiencies, reflecting a historical emphasis on practicality and utility. For instance, in literature or media, they might evoke themes of waste in post-Soviet contexts, highlighting cultural values around efficiency and necessity.

Related Concepts:

• ненадёжный (unreliable)
• устаревший (outdated)
• непригодный (unfit)