Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'exacting'

English Word: exacting

Key Russian Translations:

• требовательный [trʲɪbə'teːlʲnɨj] - [Formal; used in professional or educational contexts]
• строгий [ˈstro.gʲɪj] - [Informal; often in everyday conversations]

Frequency: Medium (Common in written and spoken Russian, especially in work-related discussions)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

требовательный: [trʲɪbə'teːlʲnɨj]

Note on требовательный: The stress falls on the fourth syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'т' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

строгий: [ˈstro.gʲɪj]

Note on строгий: The initial 'с' is pronounced as a soft 's' with a slight palatalization; this word has a more neutral stress pattern.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Demanding great accuracy, precision, or high standards (e.g., in work, tasks, or expectations).

Translation(s) & Context:

• требовательный - Used in formal settings, such as describing a boss or a job that requires meticulous attention to detail.
• строгий - Applied in informal contexts, like parenting or casual evaluations, implying strictness without necessarily emphasizing precision.

Usage Examples:

• Его работа всегда была требовательной, требуя точности и внимания к мелким деталям.

  His work was always exacting, requiring accuracy and attention to small details.

• В университете преподаватели строгие, но это помогает студентам развиваться.

  At the university, the teachers are exacting, but it helps students to develop.

• Требовательный подход к тренировкам сделал команду чемпионами.

  An exacting approach to training made the team champions.

• Её строгий стиль управления иногда отпугивает сотрудников, но повышает производительность.

  Her exacting management style sometimes intimidates employees but boosts productivity.

• В научных исследованиях требовательность — ключ к открытиям.

  In scientific research, exacting standards are key to discoveries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives like these follow standard patterns for second-declension adjectives.

Note: These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward once the pattern is learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: строгий (similar to exacting but with a harsher connotation), взыскательный (implies high expectations and selectivity)
• Antonyms: снисходительный (lenient or forgiving, opposite in demanding nature)

Related Phrases:

• Требовательный начальник - A demanding boss; used to describe a supervisor who expects high performance.
• Строгий контроль - Strict control; refers to rigorous oversight in processes like quality assurance.
• Требовательные стандарты - Exacting standards; common in professional or academic contexts to denote precision requirements.

Usage Notes:

"Exacting" corresponds closely to "требовательный" in formal English-Russian translations, emphasizing precision and high standards, while "строгий" is better for contexts implying strictness without the focus on accuracy. Use "требовательный" in written or professional settings, as it aligns with business or educational discourse. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in Russian sentences, which can affect word choice. When choosing between translations, opt for "строгий" in informal speech to sound more natural, but avoid it in official documents where "требовательный" is preferred for its precision.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "требовательный" in informal contexts where "строгий" would be more appropriate, e.g., saying "Мой друг требовательный" instead of "Мой друг строгий" for "My friend is exacting" in casual talk. Correct: "строгий" fits better here, as "требовательный" sounds overly formal.

• Error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "Я имею требовательный работа" instead of "Я имею требовательную работу" (I have an exacting job). Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender, number, and case.

• Error: Confusing with similar words like "трудный" (difficult), leading to misuse in sentences. Explanation: "Трудный" means challenging in effort, not in standards, so for "exacting," stick to "требовательный" for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "требовательный" often reflect the value placed on discipline and high achievement, stemming from historical influences like the Soviet education system. This can imply a positive connotation in professional settings, where exacting standards are seen as a path to excellence, unlike in some Western contexts where they might be viewed as overly rigid.

Related Concepts:

• Дисциплина (discipline)
• Точность (precision)
• Взыскательность (selectivity or demand for quality)