Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Demanding'

English Word: Demanding

Key Russian Translations:

• требовательный [trʲɪbʲɪˈvatʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal, Often used for people or situations requiring high standards]
• сложный [ˈsloʐnɨj] - [Neutral, Often used for tasks or situations that are challenging]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in both formal and informal contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "требовательный"; A2 (Elementary) for "сложный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

требовательный: [trʲɪbʲɪˈvatʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on требовательный: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, and "е" is pronounced as "ye."

сложный: [ˈsloʐnɨj]

Note on сложный: Stress on the first syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced fricative, similar to "s" in "measure."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Requiring a lot of effort, time, or attention (e.g., a task)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сложный - Used for tasks, problems, or situations that are difficult or complicated.

Usage Examples:

• Это был очень сложный экзамен.

  This was a very demanding exam.

• Ремонт оказался сложным и долгим.

  The repair turned out to be demanding and time-consuming.

• Его работа всегда была сложной, но интересной.

  His job was always demanding but interesting.

2. Expecting high standards or strict compliance (e.g., a person)

Translation(s) & Context:

• требовательный - Used to describe someone who insists on high standards or is hard to please.

Usage Examples:

• Наш учитель очень требовательный к деталям.

  Our teacher is very demanding about details.

• Она требовательный руководитель, но справедливый.

  She is a demanding manager, but fair.

• Родители были требовательны к его успехам в школе.

  His parents were demanding about his school performance.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

требовательный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case, typical for Russian adjectives.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	требовательный	требовательная	требовательное	требовательные
Genitive	требовательного	требовательной	требовательного	требовательных

сложный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "требовательный."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for требовательный:

• строгий (strict)
• придирчивый (picky) - Slightly negative connotation.

Synonyms for сложный:

• трудный (difficult)
• запутанный (complicated)

Antonyms for требовательный:

• снисходительный (lenient)

Antonyms for сложный:

• простой (simple)

Related Phrases:

• требовательный подход - A demanding approach (used in professional or educational contexts).
• сложная задача - A demanding task (common in work or academic settings).
• быть требовательным к себе - To be demanding of oneself (reflects self-discipline).

Usage Notes:

• "Требовательный" is typically used for people or their behavior, emphasizing strictness or high expectations, while "сложный" refers to the inherent difficulty of tasks or situations.
• Be cautious with "требовательный" in informal settings, as it can sound overly formal or critical if misused.
• Both words can be intensified with adverbs like "очень" (very) to emphasize the degree of demand or difficulty.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up "требовательный" and "сложный": English learners often use "сложный" to describe a demanding person, which is incorrect. Correct: "Он требовательный учитель" (He is a demanding teacher). Incorrect: "Он сложный учитель" (implies he is complicated as a person).
• Overusing "требовательный" in casual contexts: It can sound overly formal or negative. Use softer alternatives like "строгий" (strict) in less formal situations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "требовательный" (demanding) is often seen as a positive trait in professional or educational contexts, reflecting high standards and discipline. However, it can be perceived as harsh in personal relationships if not balanced with empathy.

Related Concepts:

• строгость (strictness)
• трудность (difficulty)
• усилие (effort)