Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unwieldy'

English Word: unwieldy

Key Russian Translations:

• неудобный /nʲɪˈudəbnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, Used for objects or situations that are awkward due to size or complexity]
• неуклюжий /nʲɪʊˈkluʐɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective, Often applied to clumsy movements or poorly designed items]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in descriptions of tools, machinery, or daily inconveniences, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "хороший").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual usage. For 'неудобный', it's straightforward; for 'неуклюжий', learners may struggle with nuances, making it slightly more challenging at B2 for full mastery.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неудобный: /nʲɪˈudəbnɨj/

Note on неудобный: The stress falls on the second syllable ('u-'), which is common in Russian adjectives. Pay attention to the palatalized 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Audio: []

неуклюжий: /nʲɪʊˈkluʐɨj/

Note on неуклюжий: The 'ж' sound is a voiced fricative, similar to 'zh' in 'measure', and the word has a rolling quality in casual speech. Variations in regional accents may soften the 'у' vowel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Difficult to handle, move, or use due to size, weight, or complexity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неудобный - Typically used in formal contexts for inanimate objects, such as tools or furniture, emphasizing impracticality (e.g., in technical or professional settings).
• неуклюжий - More informal, often describing awkwardness in human actions or designs, suitable for everyday conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Эта старая мебель неудобная для маленькой квартиры. (This old furniture is unwieldy for a small apartment.)

  This old furniture is unwieldy for a small apartment. (Demonstrates use in describing spatial inconvenience.)

• Неуклюжий робот не смог собрать детали на конвейере. (The unwieldy robot couldn't assemble the parts on the conveyor belt.)

  The unwieldy robot couldn't assemble the parts on the conveyor belt. (Shows application to machinery in an industrial context.)

• Ветхий чемодан оказался неудобным во время поездки. (The outdated suitcase proved unwieldy during the trip.)

  The outdated suitcase proved unwieldy during the trip. (Illustrates usage with travel-related items.)

• Неуклюжий дизайн сайта делает навигацию сложной. (The unwieldy website design makes navigation difficult.)

  The unwieldy website design makes navigation difficult. (Applies to abstract concepts like digital interfaces.)

• Неудобный инструмент мешает работе в мастерской. (The unwieldy tool hinders work in the workshop.)

  The unwieldy tool hinders work in the workshop. (Highlights interference in practical tasks.)

Meaning 2: Awkward or clumsy in manner or execution.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неуклюжий - Preferred in informal settings for describing physical clumsiness or poor execution.

Usage Examples:

• Его неуклюжий танец рассмешил всех на вечеринке. (His unwieldy dance amused everyone at the party.)

  His unwieldy dance amused everyone at the party. (Focuses on personal awkwardness in social situations.)

• Неудобный подход к проблеме только ухудшил ситуацию. (The unwieldy approach to the problem only worsened the situation.)

  The unwieldy approach to the problem only worsened the situation. (Extends to metaphorical usage in problem-solving.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'неудобный' and 'неуклюжий' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can be irregular in certain forms. Below is a table for 'неудобный' as an example; 'неуклюжий' follows similar rules.

For 'неуклюжий', the inflections are identical in structure but may vary slightly in pronunciation due to its softer consonants. These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them predictable for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: громоздкий (bulky, often for large objects), неудобоносимый (hard to carry) - 'громоздкий' is more neutral and commonly used in formal contexts.
• Antonyms: удобный (convenient), ловкий (agile) - 'удобный' directly contrasts with 'неудобный' in everyday usage.

Related Phrases:

• неудобный момент - An inconvenient moment; used to describe poorly timed events in daily life.
• неуклюжий жест - An awkward gesture; refers to clumsy body language in social interactions.
• громоздкий багаж - Bulky luggage; a common phrase in travel contexts, implying unwieldiness.

Usage Notes:

'Unwieldy' corresponds most closely to 'неудобный' in formal English-Russian translations, especially for inanimate objects, while 'неуклюжий' is better for informal or human-related contexts. Be mindful of the adjective's agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case, as Russian requires this for grammatical accuracy. In professional settings, opt for 'неудобный' to maintain a neutral tone; in casual speech, 'неуклюжий' adds a humorous or light-hearted nuance. When choosing between translations, consider the specific connotation: 'неудобный' emphasizes practicality, whereas 'неуклюжий' highlights clumsiness.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Using 'неудобный' interchangeably with 'неуклюжий' without considering context, e.g., saying "неуклюжий машина" (incorrect) instead of "неудобная машина" for a car that's hard to handle. Correct usage: "неудобная машина". Explanation: Adjectives must agree in gender and case; here, 'машина' is feminine, so the adjective ends in '-ая'.
• Another error: Forgetting inflections, such as using 'неудобный' in the nominative for all cases, e.g., "из-за неудобный сумки" (incorrect) vs. "из-за неудобной сумки" (correct). This can make sentences sound unnatural to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'неудобный' often reflect the practical challenges of everyday life, such as dealing with harsh winters or crowded urban spaces. For instance, 'неуклюжий' might be used humorously in literature or films to describe characters' mishaps, echoing themes in Russian folklore where clumsiness is a relatable human trait, as seen in stories by Chekhov.

Related Concepts:

• громоздкий
• неподъёмный
• сложный