Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Chiefly'

English Word: chiefly

Key Russian Translations:

• главным образом [ˈɡlavnɨm ˈobrəzəm] - [Formal, Commonly Used]
• преимущественно [prʲɪɪˈmuʂːɪstvʲɪnːə] - [Formal, Academic]
• в основном [v ɐˈsnovnəm] - [Neutral, Everyday Use]

Frequency: Medium (Widely understood but not extremely common in casual speech)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate - Suitable for learners with basic grammar and vocabulary knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

главным образом: [ˈɡlavnɨm ˈobrəzəm]

Note on главным образом: Stress falls on the first syllable of both words; ensure clear separation between "главным" and "образом".

преимущественно: [prʲɪɪˈmuʂːɪstvʲɪnːə]

Note on преимущественно: The stress is on the third syllable ("му"); the "щ" sound is a soft "shch".

в основном: [v ɐˈsnovnəm]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Primarily / Mainly (Indicating the main reason or focus)

Translation(s) & Context:

• главным образом - Often used in formal or written contexts to emphasize the primary factor or reason.
• в основном - Neutral tone, suitable for both spoken and written language, often used in everyday conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Мы решили остаться дома главным образом из-за погоды.

  We decided to stay home chiefly because of the weather.

• В основном я читаю книги на английском языке.

  I chiefly read books in English.

• Этот проект был создан главным образом для студентов.

  This project was created chiefly for students.

2. Mostly / Predominantly (Indicating a dominant proportion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• преимущественно - Used in formal or academic contexts to describe something predominant or prevailing.
• в основном - Also applicable, with a slightly less formal tone.

Usage Examples:

• Этот регион преимущественно сельскохозяйственный.

  This region is chiefly agricultural.

• Аудитория состояла в основном из молодых людей.

  The audience consisted chiefly of young people.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

главным образом: This is a fixed adverbial phrase and does not change form. It consists of "главный" (main, chief) in the instrumental case and "образом" (manner, way), also in the instrumental case.

преимущественно: This is an adverb derived from "преимущество" (advantage). It is invariable and does not inflect.

в основном: Another fixed adverbial phrase, derived from "основной" (basic, main) in the prepositional case with the preposition "в". It does not change form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• по большей части (for the most part)
• в первую очередь (in the first place)
• по преимуществу (predominantly, formal)

Note: "по большей части" is more colloquial, while "по преимуществу" is highly formal and rare in everyday speech.

Antonyms:

• в меньшей степени (to a lesser extent)
• частично (partially)

Related Phrases:

• в основном и целом - "On the whole, generally" (used to summarize or generalize).
• главным образом из-за - "Chiefly because of" (used to explain a primary reason).
• преимущественно в - "Predominantly in" (used to describe dominance in a specific context or area).

Usage Notes:

• "главным образом" is often used in formal writing or speeches to emphasize the most important reason or factor. It is less common in casual speech.
• "в основном" is the most versatile and widely used translation, fitting both formal and informal contexts. It is the safest choice for learners.
• "преимущественно" carries a more academic or technical tone and is best used when describing predominant trends or characteristics in a formal setting.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "главным образом" in casual conversation, which can sound overly formal or awkward.

Incorrect: Я не пришел на вечеринку главным образом из-за усталости. (Sounds stiff)

Correct: Я не пришел на вечеринку в основном из-за усталости.

Error 2: Confusing "преимущественно" with "преимущество" (advantage), leading to incorrect grammar.

Incorrect: Этот метод имеет преимущество. (Wrong word for "chiefly")

Correct: Этот метод применяется преимущественно в науке.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, expressions like "в основном" are often used to soften statements or avoid sounding overly definitive, reflecting a cultural tendency to be less direct in certain contexts. For instance, saying "в основном я согласен" ("I chiefly agree") can imply partial agreement with room for nuance, which is common in Russian communication.

Related Concepts:

• по большей части (for the most part)
• в первую очередь (primarily, in the first place)
• в целом (on the whole)