Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'excessive'

English Word: excessive

Key Russian Translations:

• излишний (/ɪzˈlʲiʃnʲij/) - [Formal, Adjective]
• чрезмерный (/t͡ɕrʲɪzˈmʲɛrnʲij/) - [Formal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (This word is commonly encountered in written Russian, such as in literature, legal texts, and formal discussions, but less so in everyday spoken language.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding adjective inflections; learners at this level can grasp basic usage, though mastering nuances may require further practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

излишний: /ɪzˈlʲiʃnʲij/ (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

чрезмерный: /t͡ɕrʲɪzˈmʲɛrnʲij/ (Pronounce the initial 'ч' as a soft 'ch' like in 'church'; the word has a rolling rhythm due to its length.)

Note on чрезмерный: This word may have slight regional variations in stress in spoken Russian, particularly in faster speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Exceeding the normal or proper limit (e.g., in quantity, degree, or extent)

Translation(s) & Context:

• излишний - Used in formal contexts, such as describing unnecessary expenses or redundant actions in professional or legal settings.
• чрезмерный - Applied to situations involving extreme excess, like overeating or overwork, often in more emphatic or critical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Это излишняя трата денег на ненужные покупки.

  This is an excessive waste of money on unnecessary purchases.

• Чрезмерное потребление сахара может привести к проблемам со здоровьем.

  Excessive consumption of sugar can lead to health problems.

• В его речи было излишнее использование сложных терминов, что запутало аудиторию.

  His speech had an excessive use of complex terms, which confused the audience.

• Чрезмерная нагрузка на работе часто приводит к выгоранию.

  Excessive workload at work often leads to burnout.

• Излишние детали в отчете сделали его слишком длинным и неэффективным.

  Excessive details in the report made it too long and inefficient.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "излишний" and "чрезмерный" are adjectives in Russian, which typically follow the standard adjective declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They do not have irregular forms but must be inflected accordingly.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow the first declension pattern. If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not inflect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • лишний (lishniy) - Similar to излишний, but more neutral and common in everyday language.
  • преизбыточный (preizbytochnïy) - More emphatic, used for extreme excess in formal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • необходимый (neobkhodimïy) - Necessary, implying the opposite of excessive by highlighting essentiality.
  • умеренный (umerennïy) - Moderate, contrasting with чрезмерный to indicate restraint.

Related Phrases:

• Излишняя осторожность (izlishnyaya ostorozhnost') - Excessive caution; often used to describe overprotectiveness in decision-making.
• Чрезмерное потребление (chrezmernoye potrebleniye) - Excessive consumption; commonly in health or environmental contexts.
• Излишние расходы (izlishniye rashody) - Excessive expenses; refers to unnecessary spending in financial discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Излишний" is a direct and precise translation for "excessive" in contexts involving redundancy or surplus, making it suitable for formal writing. "Чрезмерный" emphasizes extremity and is ideal for situations implying harm or exaggeration. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case, which has no direct equivalent in English. Choose "излишний" for neutral excess and "чрезмерный" for more intense scenarios; avoid using them interchangeably without context.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "излишний" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "излишний женщина" instead of "излишняя женщина" (for feminine nouns).

  Correct: излишняя женщина (An excessive woman). Explanation: Adjectives in Russian must match the noun's gender; this mistake often stems from English's lack of agreement.

• Error: Confusing "излишний" with "лишний," leading to understatement, e.g., using "лишний" for something truly excessive.

  Correct: Use "излишний" for formal excess. Explanation: "Лишний" is more casual and means "extra" or "unnecessary," while "излишний" conveys a sense of inappropriateness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "чрезмерный" often appear in discussions about work-life balance, reflecting a societal emphasis on endurance and criticism of overwork, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works where excess is portrayed as a moral flaw.

Related Concepts:

• необходимость (neobkhodimost') - Necessity
• умеренность (umerennost') - Moderation
• переизбыток (perei̯zbytok) - Surplus