Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'agonizing'

English Word: agonizing

Key Russian Translations:

• мучительный [ˈmu.t͡ɕɪ.tʲɪlʲ.nɨj] - [Formal, Often used for physical or emotional pain]
• тягостный [ˈtʲa.ɡəsʲ.tnɨj] - [Formal, Used for burdensome or distressing situations]
• терзающий [tʲɪrˈza.ju.ɕːɪj] - [Formal/Informal, Often metaphorical for tormenting thoughts or feelings]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature and emotional contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for all translations due to nuanced usage and conjugation challenges

Pronunciation (Russian):

мучительный: [ˈmu.t͡ɕɪ.tʲɪlʲ.nɨj]

Note on мучительный: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ч" sound is a soft affricate, similar to 'ch' in "church."

тягостный: [ˈtʲa.ɡəsʲ.tnɨj]

Note on тягостный: Stress on the first syllable. The "тя" combination requires a soft 't' sound.

терзающий: [tʲɪrˈza.ju.ɕːɪj]

Note on терзающий: Stress on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a long, soft 'sh' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Causing physical or emotional pain (tormenting)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мучительный - Used for intense physical pain or deep emotional suffering, often in formal or literary contexts.
• терзающий - Often used metaphorically for emotional or psychological torment.

Usage Examples:

• Его мучительная боль не утихала даже ночью.

  His agonizing pain did not subside even at night.

• Это был мучительный выбор между долгом и любовью.

  It was an agonizing choice between duty and love.

• Мысли о прошлом терзающие его душу не давали покоя.

  Thoughts of the past, agonizing his soul, gave him no peace.

2. Causing distress or anxiety (burdensome)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тягостный - Refers to situations or feelings that are oppressive or distressing, often in formal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Тягостное ожидание длилось несколько часов.

  The agonizing wait lasted for several hours.

• Её тягостное молчание вызывало беспокойство у всех.

  Her agonizing silence caused concern for everyone.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

мучительный (Adjective): Follows standard adjective declension in Russian based on gender, number, and case.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	мучительный	мучительная	мучительное	мучительные
Genitive	мучительного	мучительной	мучительного	мучительных

тягостный (Adjective): Similar declension pattern as above. Refer to standard adjective rules.

терзающий (Participle/Adjective): Derived from the verb "терзать" (to torment). Declines as a present active participle.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• страдательный (suffering)
• болезненный (painful)
• томительный (tormenting, drawn-out)

Note: "болезненный" often refers to physical pain, while "томительный" implies prolonged distress.

Antonyms:

• приятный (pleasant)
• радостный (joyful)

Related Phrases:

• мучительная боль - Agonizing pain (often physical or emotional).
• тягостное чувство - Agonizing feeling (sense of burden or distress).
• терзающие сомнения - Agonizing doubts (tormenting or haunting doubts).

Usage Notes:

• "мучительный" is the most versatile translation for "agonizing," suitable for both physical pain and emotional suffering. It is often used in literary or formal contexts.
• "тягостный" is more specific to situations or feelings that weigh heavily on someone, often implying a sense of oppression or burden.
• "терзающий" is typically used in a metaphorical sense, often paired with abstract nouns like "doubts" or "thoughts."
• Pay attention to adjective agreement in Russian; the form must match the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "мучительный" for non-painful distress. English speakers might overuse this word for mild discomfort.

Incorrect: Это был мучительный день на работе. (This was an agonizing day at work.)

Correct: Это был тяжелый день на работе. (This was a tough day at work.)

Explanation: "мучительный" implies intense suffering; for milder distress, use "тяжелый" (difficult) or "утомительный" (tiring).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, expressions of emotional or physical suffering (like "мучительный") are often used in literature and poetry to convey deep existential or dramatic themes, reflecting a cultural tendency to emphasize emotional depth. Such vocabulary may appear more frequently in Russian compared to English in similar contexts.

Related Concepts:

• страдание (suffering)
• боль (pain)
• тоска (anguish, longing)