Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cumbersome'

English Word: Cumbersome

Key Russian Translations:

• громоздкий [ɡrɐˈmozdʲkʲɪj] - [Formal, Descriptive]
• неуклюжий [nʲɪʊˈklʲuʐɨj] - [Informal, Often for physical awkwardness]
• обременительный [ɐbrʲɪmʲɪˈnʲitʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal, Often metaphorical for burden]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate) for "громоздкий" and "неуклюжий"; B2-C1 (Intermediate-Advanced) for "обременительный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

громоздкий: [ɡrɐˈmozdʲkʲɪj]

Note on громоздкий: Stress on the second syllable; the "д" is pronounced softly due to palatalization.

неуклюжий: [nʲɪʊˈklʲuʐɨj]

Note on неуклюжий: Stress on the second syllable; the "ж" sounds like the 's' in "measure".

обременительный: [ɐbrʲɪmʲɪˈnʲitʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on обременительный: Stress on the fourth syllable; a longer word with a formal tone.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physically Bulky or Unwieldy

Translation(s) & Context:

• громоздкий - Used for large, bulky objects that are difficult to handle or move (e.g., furniture, machinery).

Usage Examples:

• Этот стол слишком громоздкий для нашей маленькой комнаты.

  This table is too cumbersome for our small room.

• Громоздкий чемодан едва поместился в багажник.

  The cumbersome suitcase barely fit in the trunk.

• Они купили громоздкий шкаф, который невозможно передвинуть.

  They bought a cumbersome wardrobe that is impossible to move.

2. Awkward or Clumsy (Physical Movement)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неуклюжий - Refers to physical awkwardness or clumsiness, often for people or movements.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой неуклюжий, что постоянно что-то роняет.

  He is so cumbersome that he constantly drops things.

• Её неуклюжие движения вызывали смех у зрителей.

  Her cumbersome movements caused laughter among the audience.

3. Burdensome or Overly Complicated (Metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обременительный - Used in formal contexts for something that feels like a burden or is overly complex (e.g., tasks, responsibilities).

Usage Examples:

• Этот процесс слишком обременительный для небольшой компании.

  This process is too cumbersome for a small company.

• Обременительные правила мешают нам работать эффективно.

  Cumbersome rules prevent us from working efficiently.

• Его обременительные обязательства отнимают всё время.

  His cumbersome obligations take up all his time.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

громоздкий (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case as a standard Russian adjective.

неуклюжий (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "громоздкий".

обременительный (Adjective): Also declines as a standard adjective, with a longer stem but no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for громоздкий:

• огромный (huge)
• тяжёлый (heavy)

Note: "огромный" emphasizes size, while "тяжёлый" focuses on weight.

Antonyms for громоздкий:

• компактный (compact)
• лёгкий (light)

Related Phrases:

• громоздкая мебель - Cumbersome furniture (refers to bulky, hard-to-move furniture).
• неуклюжий человек - Cumbersome person (a clumsy or awkward individual).
• обременительные условия - Cumbersome conditions (burdensome or restrictive terms).

Usage Notes:

• "громоздкий" is the most direct translation for physical bulkiness or unwieldiness and is widely used in everyday speech.
• "неуклюжий" is more specific to physical clumsiness and is often applied to people or their actions rather than objects.
• "обременительный" carries a metaphorical sense of burden or complication and is more formal, often found in written or official contexts.
• Choosing between these translations depends on whether the context is literal (physical) or figurative (burden).

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "неуклюжий" for inanimate objects. English speakers might mistakenly apply it to things like furniture. Correct usage: Use "громоздкий" for objects (e.g., громоздкий стол - cumbersome table) and reserve "неуклюжий" for people or movements (e.g., неуклюжий танцор - cumbersome dancer).

Error 2: Overusing "обременительный" in casual speech. It sounds overly formal in everyday contexts. Correct usage: Use it in formal writing or discussions (e.g., обременительные правила - cumbersome rules) and opt for simpler terms like "сложный" (complex) in informal settings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, describing something as "громоздкий" often carries a practical implication, reflecting a cultural value of functionality and efficiency, especially in small living spaces common in urban Russia. Using "неуклюжий" to describe a person might be seen as mildly humorous or affectionate rather than harsh criticism.

Related Concepts:

• тяжёлый (heavy)
• сложный (complex)
• неудобный (inconvenient)