Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Conscientious'

English Word: Conscientious

Key Russian Translations:

• добросовестный [ˌdobrəsʌˈvʲesʲtʲnɨj] - [Formal, General Use]
• сознательный [sɐzˈnantʲnɨj] - [Formal, Often in Moral or Ethical Contexts]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

добросовестный: [ˌdobrəsʌˈvʲesʲtʲnɨj]

Note on добросовестный: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "в" sound is soft due to the following "е".

сознательный: [sɐzˈnantʲnɨj]

Note on сознательный: Stress on the second syllable. The "н" before "т" is nasalized slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Careful and Thorough (in Work or Duties)

Translation(s) & Context:

• добросовестный - Used to describe someone who performs tasks with care and responsibility, often in professional or formal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он очень добросовестный работник.

  He is a very conscientious worker.

• Она добросовестно выполнила все задания.

  She conscientiously completed all the tasks.

• Добросовестное отношение к делу всегда ценится.

  A conscientious attitude towards work is always appreciated.

2. Guided by Conscience (Moral or Ethical Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сознательный - Refers to someone acting with awareness of moral or ethical principles, often in personal or societal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он сделал сознательный выбор отказаться от предложения.

  He made a conscientious choice to decline the offer.

• Она сознательно борется за справедливость.

  She conscientiously fights for justice.

• Мы должны быть сознательными гражданами.

  We must be conscientious citizens.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

сознательный (Adjective): Follows similar adjective declension patterns. Refer to standard Russian grammar resources for full declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for добросовестный:

• ответственный (responsible)
• тщательный (thorough)

Note: "ответственный" emphasizes responsibility, while "тщательный" focuses on attention to detail.

Synonyms for сознательный:

• осознанный (deliberate, aware)
• разумный (rational, sensible)

Antonyms for добросовестный:

• небрежный (careless)
• безответственный (irresponsible)

Antonyms for сознательный:

• бессознательный (unconscious)
• бездумный (thoughtless)

Related Phrases:

• добросовестно трудиться - To work conscientiously (used in formal or professional contexts).
• сознательное решение - A conscientious decision (used when emphasizing moral deliberation).
• добросовестное выполнение обязанностей - Conscientious fulfillment of duties (common in official reports or evaluations).

Usage Notes:

• "добросовестный" is more commonly used in the context of work, duties, or tasks, emphasizing diligence and responsibility. It is the default choice for describing a "conscientious worker".
• "сознательный" is often tied to ethical or moral awareness and is more appropriate when discussing decisions or behaviors guided by conscience.
• Both terms are formal and rarely used in casual conversation. In informal contexts, native speakers might use descriptive phrases instead.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сознательный" to describe someone who is thorough in their work.
  Incorrect: Он сознательный студент. (Intended: He is a conscientious student.)
  Correct: Он добросовестный студент.
  Explanation: "сознательный" implies moral awareness, not diligence in tasks.
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation.
  Incorrect: Stressing "добросовестный" on the first syllable.
  Correct: Stress on the third syllable [ˌdobrəsʌˈvʲesʲtʲnɨj].
  Explanation: Incorrect stress can make the word sound unnatural or unclear.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "добросовестный" is highly valued in professional and educational settings, often associated with reliability and trustworthiness. The concept of "сознательный" ties into Soviet-era rhetoric, where it was frequently used to describe citizens who acted in alignment with collective moral or ideological principles.

Related Concepts:

• ответственность (responsibility)
• совесть (conscience)
• тщательность (thoroughness)