Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vain'

English Word: vain

Key Russian Translations:

• тщеславный [tɕːɪˈslavnɨj] - [Formal; used for describing excessive pride or conceit]
• напрасный [nəˈprasnɨj] - [Informal; used for describing something futile or pointless]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, conversations, and media, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced contexts and adjective declensions, varying by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тщеславный: [tɕːɪˈslavnɨj]

напрасный: [nəˈprasnɨj]

Note on тщеславный: The initial "тщ" sound is a soft "ch" like in "church," which can be challenging for English speakers; stress on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Conceited or excessively proud (referring to a person or behavior)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тщеславный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone overly focused on their appearance or achievements, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда был тщеславным и не мог пройти мимо зеркала, не посмотревшись.

  He was always vain and couldn't pass by a mirror without looking at himself.

• Её тщеславные привычки раздражали друзей, так как она постоянно хвасталась успехами.

  Her vain habits annoyed her friends, as she constantly boasted about her successes.

• В этом обществе тщеславные люди часто добиваются успеха, но не уважения.

  In this society, vain people often achieve success but not respect.

• Тщеславный актёр отказался от роли, потому что она не подчёркивала его красоту.

  The vain actor turned down the role because it didn't highlight his beauty.

Meaning 2: Futile or pointless (referring to efforts or actions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• напрасный - Used in everyday or informal contexts to indicate wasted effort, often in expressions of regret or frustration.

Usage Examples:

• Его попытки убедить босса были напрасными, так как решение уже было принято.

  His attempts to convince the boss were vain, as the decision had already been made.

• Напрасные усилия потрачены на ремонт старого дома, который всё равно обрушился.

  Vain efforts were spent on repairing the old house, which collapsed anyway.

• В такие моменты напрасные надежды только усугубляют разочарование.

  In such moments, vain hopes only worsen the disappointment.

• Её напрасные предупреждения не остановили его от рискованного поступка.

  Her vain warnings didn't stop him from taking the risky action.

• Напрасный спор с соседями не привёл ни к чему, кроме усталости.

  The vain argument with the neighbors led to nothing but exhaustion.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives like these follow the standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives.

For тщеславный (masc., singular, nominative):

For напрасный, it follows a similar pattern but is less commonly used in plural forms due to its abstract nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • самодовольный (similar to тщеславный, but implies self-satisfaction without the extreme vanity)
  • бесполезный (for напрасный, meaning useless in a more general sense)
• Antonyms:
  • скромный (modest, opposite of тщеславный)
  • полезный (useful, opposite of напрасный)

Related Phrases:

• тщеславное тщеславие - A phrase meaning "vain vanity," often used in literary contexts to criticize excessive self-admiration.
• напрасные старания - Refers to "vain efforts," highlighting futile attempts in everyday situations.
• бороться с тщеславием - Means "to fight against vanity," commonly in self-improvement discussions.

Usage Notes:

Choose тщеславный for contexts emphasizing personal pride, as it aligns closely with the English "vain" in a psychological sense, while напрасный is better for situations involving wasted effort. Be mindful of formal vs. informal settings: тщеславный is more literary, whereas напрасный fits casual speech. Grammatically, both adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key difference from English adjectives.

Common Errors:

• Confusing тщеславный with напрасный: English learners often mix these when translating "vain," using тщеславный for futile actions. Correct usage: For futile actions, use напрасный, e.g., Incorrect: "тщеславные усилия" (wrongly implies proud efforts); Correct: "напрасные усилия" (futile efforts).
• Forgetting declensions: Learners might use тщеславный in all cases without changing forms, e.g., Incorrect: "о тщеславный человек" (should be "о тщеславном человеке" in prepositional case); Correct: Adjust based on case for proper agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like тщеславный often appear in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky) to critique societal vanity, reflecting historical emphasis on modesty and collectivism in Russian society. This can help English users understand why such terms carry a moral undertone.

Related Concepts:

• гордость (pride)
• самоуверенность (self-confidence)
• бесполезность (uselessness)