Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Burdensome'

English Word: burdensome

Key Russian Translations:

• обременительный [ɐbrʲɪmʲɪˈnʲitʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal, Often used in legal or financial contexts]
• тяжёлый [tʲɪˈʐolɨj] - [Neutral, Can refer to physical or emotional burden]
• гнетущий [ɡnʲɪˈtuʂːɪj] - [Emotional, Often used for oppressive feelings]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "обременительный"; B1 (Lower Intermediate) for "тяжёлый" and "гнетущий"

Pronunciation (Russian):

обременительный: [ɐbrʲɪmʲɪˈnʲitʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on обременительный: Stress falls on the fourth syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

тяжёлый: [tʲɪˈʐolɨj]

Note on тяжёлый: The "ё" is always stressed and pronounced distinctly as "yo".

гнетущий: [ɡnʲɪˈtuʂːɪj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Causing difficulty or trouble (General/Physical Burden)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тяжёлый - Often used for physical or tangible burdens, like heavy workload or responsibility.

Usage Examples:

• Этот чемодан слишком тяжёлый для меня.

  This suitcase is too burdensome (heavy) for me.

• У него тяжёлая работа, он всегда устал.

  He has a burdensome (difficult) job; he is always tired.

• Тяжёлое бремя ответственности легло на её плечи.

  The burdensome weight of responsibility fell on her shoulders.

2. Causing financial or legal obligation (Formal Burden)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обременительный - Used in formal contexts, often related to debts, contracts, or obligations.

Usage Examples:

• Этот договор оказался обременительным для компании.

  This contract turned out to be burdensome for the company.

• Обременительные налоги душат малый бизнес.

  Burdensome taxes are stifling small businesses.

• Она отказалась от обременительного наследства.

  She declined the burdensome inheritance.

3. Causing emotional or psychological strain (Emotional Burden)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гнетущий - Refers to oppressive or emotionally heavy feelings.

Usage Examples:

• Гнетущая тишина наполнила комнату после его слов.

  A burdensome (oppressive) silence filled the room after his words.

• У неё гнетущее чувство вины из-за прошлого.

  She has a burdensome (oppressive) feeling of guilt about the past.

• Гнетущие воспоминания не дают ему спать.

  Burdensome (oppressive) memories keep him from sleeping.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

обременительный (Adjective): Follows regular adjective declension in Russian, agreeing in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.

тяжёлый (Adjective): Follows regular adjective declension with a stem change in some forms due to "ё".

гнетущий (Adjective): Follows regular adjective declension, often used in figurative contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for обременительный:

• тягостный
• утомительный

Note: "тягостный" is more emotional, while "утомительный" implies tiring or exhausting.

Antonyms for обременительный/тяжёлый:

• лёгкий
• простой

Related Phrases:

• тяжёлое бремя - "a heavy burden" (often metaphorical, referring to responsibility or hardship)
• обременительные условия - "burdensome conditions" (often used in legal or contractual contexts)
• гнетущая атмосфера - "an oppressive atmosphere" (used to describe emotionally heavy environments)

Usage Notes:

• "обременительный" is the most direct translation for formal or legal burdens, but it is less common in everyday speech.
• "тяжёлый" is versatile and can refer to both physical and abstract burdens, making it the most frequently used option.
• "гнетущий" is almost exclusively used for emotional or psychological burdens and carries a stronger negative connotation.
• Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian; the form must match the noun in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "обременительный" in casual conversation for emotional burdens (e.g., "обременительное чувство" for "a burdensome feeling"). Correct Usage: Use "гнетущий" instead (e.g., "гнетущее чувство").
• Error: Mispronouncing "тяжёлый" as "тяжелый" without stressing the "ё". Correct Usage: Always stress "ё" as "yo".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "burden" often carries a historical and emotional weight, especially in literature and folklore, where "тяжёлое бремя" (heavy burden) frequently symbolizes enduring hardship or societal responsibility. Understanding this nuance can help in using "тяжёлый" appropriately in deeper conversations.

Related Concepts:

• тяжесть
• бремя
• груз