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> "coffee-color" The Russian word for "brown" is literally "cinnamon-colored" ("коричневый"). And the Chinese language just uses the literal "coffee-colored" p
by cyberax 11mo ago
> "coffee-color"
The Russian word for "brown" is literally "cinnamon-colored" ("коричневый"). And the Chinese language just uses the literal "coffee-colored" phrase (咖啡色).
- d_silin 11mo agoYou can also use "кофейный" (coffee-coloured) as synonym for "brown".
- koakuma-chan 11mo agoThat wouldn't be natural though. You would never describe, say, pants, as "coffee-coloured" in Russian.
- d_silin 11mo agoIt would make your Russian more posh, eccentric or sophisticated, depending on the context, but not necessary unnatural.
- galkk 11mo agoБрюки цвета кофе is natural in Russian. Pretentious, but still natural.
- koakuma-chan 11mo ago"Брюки цвета кофе" ("pants of coffee color") is natural, "коричневые брюки" ("brown pants") is natural, but "кофейные брюки" is not. In fact the latter would likely be interpreted as "coffee pants" or "pants made out of coffee."
- d_silin 11mo ago"кофейного цвета брюки" is acceptable too.
- koakuma-chan 11mo agoI admit that. I also realize that tguvot is actually arguing in my favor, as he said that coffee color is distinct from brown, and therefore the inference is that they aren't synonymous. I would summarize that they are conceptually different, as "brown" is a real color, whereas "coffee color" is a marketing color.
- tguvot 11mo ago"кофейные брюки" is totally ok. everybody will understand it. it's just the way the russian language is. you can abuse it, you can come up with words that do not really exist in language and make no sense, yet, everybody will understand what you meant to say
- koakuma-chan 11mo ago> "кофейные брюки" is totally ok. everybody will understand it. If the context is clothes, people would likely be able to guess, sure. But consider another example "кофейная чашка" ("a coffee mug"). In this context, it would most certainly be interpreted as "a mug for coffee" and not as "a coffee-coloured mug." In other words, you must include the word "цвет" ("color") for it to be correct and unambiguous. > it's just the way the russian language is. you can abuse it, you can come up with words that do not really exist in language and make no sense, yet, everybody will understand what you meant to say I don't think this is unique to Russian. I'm sure you can do the same in English and Japanese at least.
- tguvot 11mo ago"кофейная чашка" meaning will be resolved according to context where it's used Don't know japanese, but english been main language that i consume in past 25 years or so. i never saw it abused to same degree as russian gets abused
- LudwigNagasena 11mo agoIt’s fine as an occasional stylistic choice, but using it repeatedly as a regular synonym for brown is a pragmatic and collocational error. The meaning is clear, but the wording is marked, and overuse makes the speech sound odd in everyday contexts.
- tguvot 11mo agocoffee color won't be synonym for brown. it will be distinct color, just like strawberry, raspberry, straw, ruby, etc colors.
- tguvot 11mo agoactually you will. "coffee color" it's distinct from brown. And then there is also "coffee with milk" color. Won't be surprised if there is "pumpkin latte" color nowdays.
- koakuma-chan 11mo agoUh huh. Don't forget "aliceblue" and "rebeccapurple." But seriously, those are just arbitrary marketing aliases, aren't they. I remember e-shopping for sneakers, and every brand's "off-white" was a different color.
- tguvot 11mo agoActually brown in russian it's "bark-colored". bark = кора. Корица (cinnamon) is diminutive
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