Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Carefully'

English Word: Carefully

Key Russian Translations:

• осторожно [ɐsˈtroʐnə] - [Neutral, Commonly Used]
• внимательно [vnʲɪˈmatʲɪlnə] - [Neutral, Often for Attention to Detail]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

осторожно: [ɐsˈtroʐnə]

Note on осторожно: The stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

внимательно: [vnʲɪˈmatʲɪlnə]

Note on внимательно: Stress on the third syllable. The soft 'н' and 'т' sounds require palatalization, common in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. With Caution or Care (Physical or Behavioral)

Translation(s) & Context:

• осторожно - Used when referring to physical caution or careful handling (e.g., walking on ice, handling fragile items).

Usage Examples:

• Иди осторожно, дорога скользкая.

  Walk carefully, the road is slippery.

• Поставь вазу осторожно, она хрупкая.

  Place the vase carefully, it’s fragile.

• Осторожно, не порежься!

  Be careful, don’t cut yourself!

2. With Attention or Thoroughness (Mental Focus)

Translation(s) & Context:

• внимательно - Used when emphasizing attention to detail or thoroughness (e.g., reading or listening).

Usage Examples:

• Прочитай инструкцию внимательно.

  Read the instructions carefully.

• Слушай учителя внимательно, чтобы всё понять.

  Listen to the teacher carefully to understand everything.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both осторожно and внимательно are adverbs derived from adjectives (осторожный and внимательный, respectively). As adverbs, they do not inflect or change form based on gender, number, or case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for осторожно (with caution):

• бережно (with care, often for handling)
• аккуратно (neatly, meticulously)

Synonyms for внимательно (with attention):

• тщательно (thoroughly)
• пристально (intently, closely)

Antonyms:

• неосторожно (carelessly, for осторожно)
• невнимательно (inattentively, for внимательно)

Related Phrases:

• действовать осторожно - to act cautiously (used in decision-making or risky situations)
• смотреть внимательно - to look carefully (often for observation or analysis)
• осторожно на поворотах - be careful on the turns (common warning in driving contexts)

Usage Notes:

• While both осторожно and внимательно can translate to "carefully," they are not interchangeable. Use осторожно for physical caution or safety, and внимательно for mental focus or attention to detail.
• осторожно is often used as a standalone warning, similar to "Watch out!" or "Be careful!" in English.
• Both words are neutral in register and can be used in formal and informal contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using внимательно when caution is implied. Incorrect: "Иди внимательно по скользкой дороге." (Intended: Walk carefully on the slippery road.)
  Correction: Use осторожно instead: "Иди осторожно по скользкой дороге."
• Error: Overusing осторожно in contexts requiring attention. Incorrect: "Читай осторожно." (Intended: Read carefully.)
  Correction: Use внимательно: "Читай внимательно."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, осторожно is frequently used in public spaces (e.g., metro announcements like "Осторожно, двери закрываются" - "Be careful, the doors are closing"). It reflects a cultural emphasis on safety and communal warnings. Additionally, Russians often use внимательно in educational or professional settings to stress the importance of precision and focus.

Related Concepts:

• безопасность (safety)
• внимание (attention)
• точность (precision)