{"id":2577,"date":"2012-01-31T08:00:49","date_gmt":"2012-01-31T08:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=2577"},"modified":"2014-07-17T17:55:09","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T17:55:09","slug":"russian-no-nouns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/russian-no-nouns\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian No-nouns"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

This post\u2019s idea comes from Richard who mentioned that he was confused by the noun \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (lit: the undead) that he encountered reading Nabokov\u2019s story \u201cThe Wood Sprite\u201d. Indeed, the noun \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (undead) sounds exactly like the verb \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (to pamper), but the meanings of the two words couldn\u2019t be more different. False cognates strike again!<\/p>\n

As you\u2019ve undoubtedly realized by now, the noun \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> is related to the verb \u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (to live). In fact, one of the definitions<\/a> of the word \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> is \u0432\u0441\u0451, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0435 \u0436\u0438\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u0442 \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u043e\u043c, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0436\u0438\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u0442 \u0431\u0435\u0437 \u0434\u0443\u0448\u0438<\/span> \u0438 \u0431\u0435\u0437 \u043f\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0438, \u043d\u043e \u0432 \u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u0435 \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u0430\u2026<\/strong> (everything that is not a human being, that lives without soul and flesh, but in human likeness). Simply put \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0436\u0438\u0432\u0451<\/span>\u0442 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0443\u043c\u0438\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442<\/strong> (the undead neither live nor die).<\/p>\n

This would be a good post for Halloween, don\u2019t you think?<\/p>\n

There are quite a few nouns in the Russian language that are formed according to the same principle as \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\u041d\u0435<\/span>\u0443\u0447<\/strong> (ignoramus) is someone who \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0443<\/span><\/strong>\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (does not study). So a teacher might scold \u043d\u0435\u0440\u0430\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0443\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u043a<\/strong> (lazy, negligent student): \u0410 <\/strong>\u0442\u044b, <\/strong>\u041f\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432, <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u0431\u044b\u043b <\/strong>\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0443\u0447\u0435\u043c, <\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u043a <\/strong>\u0438\u043c <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u0448\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (And you, Petrov, have always been an ignoramus and will remain such forever).<\/p>\n

\u041d\u0435\u043b\u044e\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u043c<\/strong> (misanthrope) is someone who \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u043b\u044e\u0434\u044c\u043c\u0438<\/span><\/strong> (is not around other people, a loner). \u042f \u0434\u0443<\/span>\u043c\u0430\u043b\u0430, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043c\u043e\u0439 \u043d\u0430\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u043a \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/span> \u0442\u0435\u0440\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0435 \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0442, \u0430 \u043e\u043d \u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0435\u043b\u044e\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u043c.<\/strong> (I thought my boss hated my guts, but he\u2019s just a misanthrope).<\/p>\n

\u041d\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433<\/strong> (enemy) is someone who is \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 <\/strong>(not a friend) as in the old saying \u0431\u0435\u0437 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433\u0430 <\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u0443 <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0438\u0437\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (can\u2019t live out one\u2019s life without having an enemy).<\/p>\n

\u041d\u0435\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (a know-nothing) literally \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442<\/strong> (does not know) much. It is a character from a popular children\u2019s book that also features a character named \u0417\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430<\/strong> (the know-it-all). An adult know-nothing is \u043d\u0435\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u0430<\/strong> since he or she \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0430\u0435\u0442<\/strong> (does not know). \u041d\u0435\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u0430<\/strong> is an old-fashioned word much like the word it came from, \u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/strong> (to know).<\/p>\n

Somewhat confusingly, the alike-sounding \u043d\u0435\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0430<\/strong> (a boor) is someone who is \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u043b\u0438\u0432\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (is not polite). As this quote from \u041f\u0440\u0438\u043a\u043b\u044e\u0447\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f \u041d\u0435\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0438 \u0438 \u0435\u0433\u043e<\/span> \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0437\u0435<\/span>\u0439<\/em><\/strong> (Adventures of Know-Nothing and His Friends) shows: \u0415<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438 \u2026 \u043a\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0439-\u043d\u0438\u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u044c \u043c\u0430\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u0448 \u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0435 \u0441\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0442 \u043e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0441\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e \u043c\u0430\u043b\u044b<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0435, \u0442\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0434 \u043d\u0438\u043c \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0441\u043c\u0435\u044f<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c \u0438 \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0438, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043e\u043d \u043d\u0435\u0432\u043e\u0441\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0430, \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b\u0439 \u043d\u0435\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043c \u0441 \u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043c\u044b\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044b<\/span>\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u043b\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043f\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f.<\/strong>\u00a0(If\u2026 a boy were to say rude words to a girl, then all would laugh at him and say that he was an ill-mannered boor, unfamiliar with even the simplest rules of proper behavior.)<\/p>\n

\u041d\u0435\u0434\u043e\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0430<\/strong> is an unfinished item, something that is \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u043d\u043e<\/strong> (is not completely done). Another good word is \u043d\u0435\u0434\u043e\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u043a\u0430<\/strong>, something that is not up to standard yet. \u042f – \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u043a \u0431\u044b<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e \u0443\u0432\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0439\u0441\u044f \u0438 \u043b\u0435\u0433\u043a\u043e<\/span> \u043e\u0442\u0432\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0439\u0441\u044f, \u0442\u0430\u043a \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f<\/span> \u0431\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0435 \u043d\u0435\u0434\u043e\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u043a, \u0447\u0435\u043c \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u043a.<\/strong> (I am quick to get into something, yet easily distracted. \u00a0As a result, I have more unfinished projects\/crafts than finished ones.)<\/p>\n

\u041d\u0435\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u043a<\/strong> is a rather \u0432\u044b\u0441\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (highfaluting) word that means someone who lacks \u0432\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044f<\/strong> (free will, freedom). In other words, it\u2019s a slave. The most famous line that uses this word is probably the opening of Lermontov\u2019s poem<\/a>: \u041f\u043e\u0433\u0438<\/span>\u0431 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u044d<\/span>\u0442! – <\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u043a <\/strong>\u0447\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0438\u2026<\/strong> (The poet\u2019s dead! – a slave to honor…)<\/p>\n

\u041d\u0435\u0443\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u0446\u0430<\/strong> is probably my most favorite word in this list. Sure, its meaning isn\u2019t all that pleasant – trouble, woe, confusion. But it comes from the word \u0440\u044f\u0434<\/strong> (here: order, harmony). The old Russian \u0443\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0434<\/strong> (order, rule) is no longer used, but \u043f\u043e\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u043a <\/strong>(order) is as popular as ever<\/a>. \u041f\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0435 \u0434\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044b<\/span> \u0444\u0438\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043e\u0432\u044b\u0445\u00a0\u043d\u0435\u0443\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u0446\u00a0\u0420\u043e\u0441\u0430\u0432\u0438\u0430<\/span>\u0446\u0438\u044f \u0430\u043d\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u0441\u0435\u0440\u0442\u0438\u0444\u0438\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0442 \u00ab\u0410\u0432\u0438\u0430\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> (After a long streak of financial trouble, Rosaviatsiya (Federal Air Transportation agency) withdrew Avianova\u2019s (Russian low-cost air carrier) certificate.<\/p>\n

This is not \u0438\u0441\u0447\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043f\u044b\u0432\u0430\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u0441\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u043a<\/strong> (an exhaustive list) of Russian \u043d\u0435 <\/strong>(no) words. Feel free to add more. And if you have a question, let me know and I\u2019ll blog you the answer (or at least something entertaining and educational).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post\u2019s idea comes from Richard who mentioned that he was confused by the noun \u043d\u0435\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c (lit: the undead) that he encountered reading Nabokov\u2019s story \u201cThe Wood Sprite\u201d. Indeed, the noun \u043d\u0435\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c (undead) sounds exactly like the verb \u043d\u0435\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c (to pamper), but the meanings of the two words couldn\u2019t be more different. False cognates…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8,7828],"tags":[117481,13332,117514,1237,8206],"class_list":["post-2577","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-language","category-russian-for-beginners","tag-beginner-russian","tag-learning-russian-language","tag-russian-false-cognates","tag-russian-grammar","tag-russian-nouns"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2577"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2577\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6403,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2577\/revisions\/6403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}