Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'choosy'

English Word: choosy

Key Russian Translations:

• привередливый [prɪvrʲɪˈdʲlʲɪvɨj] - [Informal, often used for everyday choices like food or preferences]
• требовательный [trʲɪbəvɐˈtʲɛlʲnɨj] - [Formal, implying higher standards in professional or serious contexts]
• выборочный [vɨˈborətɕnɨj] - [Neutral, emphasizing selective behavior in academic or decision-making scenarios]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like "хороший".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual nuances. For 'привередливый', it's B1; for 'требовательный', it might lean towards B2 due to formal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

привередливый: [prɪvrʲɪˈdʲlʲɪvɨj]

требовательный: [trʲɪbəvɐˈtʲɛlʲnɨj]

выборочный: [vɨˈborətɕnɨj]

Note on привередливый: The stress falls on the third syllable ('dʲlʲɪvɨj'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian palatalized consonants; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Tending to be very selective or picky, especially in choices of food, partners, or items

Translation(s) & Context:

• привередливый - Used in informal, everyday contexts, such as describing someone's picky eating habits or personal preferences.
• требовательный - Applied in more formal or professional settings, like evaluating someone's high standards in work or relationships.
• выборочный - Employed in neutral or analytical contexts, such as in research or decision-making processes.

Usage Examples:

• Мой брат очень привередливый, он не ест ничего, кроме органических продуктов.

  My brother is very choosy; he only eats organic products.

• Она привередливая в выборе друзей и всегда тщательно проверяет их.

  She is choosy about choosing friends and always scrutinizes them carefully.

• Этот клиент слишком требовательный, ему не угодишь ни в чем.

  This client is too choosy; it's impossible to please him in anything.

• В университете студенты должны быть выборочными при подборе источников для исследования.

  In university, students need to be choosy when selecting sources for their research.

• Дети часто бывают привередливыми во время еды, но с возрастом это проходит.

  Children are often choosy about food, but it tends to pass with age.

Implying excessive selectivity in decision-making

Translation(s) & Context:

• привередливый - Informal, often with a negative connotation in casual speech.
• требовательный - Formal, potentially positive in professional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Не будь таким привередливым; иногда нужно просто принять решение.

  Don't be so choosy; sometimes you just need to make a decision.

• Руководитель компании известен как требовательный специалист, но это помогает поддерживать качество.

  The company leader is known as choosy, but it helps maintain quality.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Below is a table for 'привередливый' as an example; similar patterns apply to others with minor variations.

For 'требовательный', it follows a similar regular adjective pattern. 'Выборочный' is also regular but less commonly inflected in everyday use. These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • капризный (capricious, often with a whimsical connotation)
  • тщательный (thorough, implying careful selection)
• Antonyms:
  • непривередливый (unfussy, easygoing)
  • терпимый (tolerant, accepting)

Related Phrases:

• быть привередливым - To be choosy; often used in personal contexts, e.g., about tastes.
• слишком требовательный - Too choosy; implies excessive standards in professional settings.
• выборочный подход - A choosy approach; refers to selective methods in analysis or decision-making.

Usage Notes:

'Привередливый' is the most direct translation for 'choosy' in informal English contexts, like daily preferences, while 'требовательный' suits formal or professional scenarios where high standards are implied. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives change based on gender and case, so always adjust for agreement (e.g., 'привередливая' for feminine nouns). In casual speech, 'привередливый' can carry a slightly negative tone, suggesting fussiness, whereas 'выборочный' is more neutral. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use 'требовательный' for positive connotations in business.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'привередливый' in formal contexts where 'требовательный' is more appropriate. Incorrect: "Он привередливый менеджер." (Sounds too casual.) Correct: "Он требовательный менеджер." (Better for professional settings.) Explanation: This error can make the speaker seem less polished; always match the adjective to the formality level.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "привередливый женщина" instead of "привередливая женщина." Incorrect: "привередливый женщина" Correct: "привередливая женщина" Explanation: Russian requires gender agreement, which English lacks, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being 'привередливый' (choosy) about food or daily choices is often seen as a common trait, especially in family settings, reflecting a value on quality and tradition. For instance, during holidays like New Year's, people might be choosy about ingredients for traditional dishes, emphasizing hospitality and care in social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• каприз
• вкус
• стандарты