Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'finicky'

English Word: finicky

Key Russian Translations:

• придирчивый [prɪˈdʲɪrʲt͡ɕɪvɨj] - [Formal, Adjective; Used to describe someone overly critical or fussy in detailed matters]
• капризный [kəˈprʲiznɨj] - [Informal, Adjective; Used in everyday contexts for someone whimsical or hard to please]
• требовательный [trʲɪbəˈvætʲɪlnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective; Often used in professional or educational settings for high standards]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday Russian conversations, especially in personal or descriptive contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp the concept with practice, as it involves understanding nuances of adjectives, but the inflections may pose challenges for beginners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

придирчивый: [prɪˈdʲɪrʲt͡ɕɪvɨj]

Note on придирчивый: The stress falls on the third syllable ("dʲɪr"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's complex stress patterns. Ensure the "ч" sound is soft and palatalized.

капризный: [kəˈprʲiznɨj]

Note on капризный: The initial "к" is unaspirated, and the "з" is voiced; this word often varies slightly in casual speech with a quicker tempo.

требовательный: [trʲɪbəˈvætʲɪlnɨj]

Note on требовательный: Pay attention to the rolling "р" and the soft "тʲ"; it's similar to English "demanding" but with a more neutral tone in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Excessively detailed or fussy about minor matters (e.g., picky about food or appearance).

Translation(s) & Context:

• придирчивый - Often used in formal or written contexts, such as describing a perfectionist in work or daily life.
• капризный - Common in informal, everyday situations, like talking about a child's behavior or personal preferences.
• требовательный - Applied in contexts involving high expectations, such as education or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Мой босс всегда придирчивый к мелким деталям в отчётах. (Moy boss vsegda pridirkhivyy k melym detalyam v otchyotakh.)

  My boss is always finicky about minor details in reports. (This example shows the word in a professional context.)

• Она капризная по поводу еды и не ест ничего, кроме овощей. (Ona kapriznaya po povodu edy i ne yest nichego, krome ovoshchey.)

  She is finicky about food and won't eat anything except vegetables. (Illustrates informal use in daily life.)

• Этот клиент слишком требовательный, и ему трудно угодить. (Etot klient slishkom trebovatel'nyy, i yemu trudno ugodit'.)

  This client is too finicky, and it's hard to please him. (Demonstrates use in business interactions.)

• Дети часто бывают капризными во время путешествий. (Deti chasto byvayut kapriznymi vo vremya puteshestviy.)

  Children are often finicky during travels. (Shows the word in a familial or casual setting.)

Meaning 2: Overly precise or meticulous in a way that can be excessive (e.g., in hobbies or tastes).

Translation(s) & Context:

• придирчивый - Used when emphasizing attention to detail in creative or technical fields.
• требовательный - In contexts like art or sports, where high standards are implied.

Usage Examples:

• Художник придирчивый к цветам и тратит часы на выбор оттенков. (Khudozhnik pridirkhivyy k tsvetam i tratit chasy na vybor ottenkov.)

  The artist is finicky about colors and spends hours choosing shades. (Highlights meticulousness in creative work.)

• Её требовательный подход к тренировкам делает её лучшей в команде. (Ey trebovatel'nyy podkhod k trenirovkam delayet ey luchshey v komande.)

  Her finicky approach to training makes her the best in the team. (Shows positive connotation in achievement contexts.)

• Он придирчивый коллекционер и проверяет каждую монету. (On pridirkhivyy kollektsioner i proveryayet kazhduyu monetu.)

  He is a finicky collector and inspects every coin. (Illustrates hobby-related usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations (придирчивый, капризный, требовательный) are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for most cases, though they can be irregular in specifics.

These adjectives follow regular patterns, but always check agreement with the noun. For example, "придирчивый человек" (finicky person) changes based on the noun's gender and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: требовательный (similar but emphasizes demands), привередливый (more playful, like picky eater)
• Antonyms: неприхотливый (unfussy, easygoing), легкий (easy, undemanding; often used in contexts of simplicity)

Related Phrases:

• Придирчивый к деталям - Finicky about details; used in professional contexts to describe meticulous work.
• Капризный ребёнок - A finicky child; common in family discussions about behavior.
• Слишком требовательный босс - A too finicky boss; highlights excessive expectations in employment.

Usage Notes:

"Finicky" translates best to "придирчивый" in formal settings, where precision is key, while "капризный" suits informal, emotional contexts. Be cautious with tone: Russian adjectives like these can imply negativity, so context matters. For example, choose "требовательный" when positive connotations (e.g., high standards) are intended. Grammar-wise, ensure adjective-noun agreement in gender, number, and case to avoid errors.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "придирчивый" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "придирчивый женщина" instead of "придирчивая женщина". Correction: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender (here, feminine). Explanation: Russian requires agreement, unlike English, so this mistake can make sentences sound unnatural.

• Error: Confusing "капризный" with "привередливый", thinking they are identical. Correction: Use "капризный" for whimsical behavior and "привередливый" for picky eating; they overlap but "капризный" is broader. Explanation: Overgeneralization leads to imprecise communication in Russian.

• Error: Overusing in negative contexts, e.g., translating "finicky" as always negative. Correction: In Russian, "требовательный" can be neutral or positive. Explanation: English speakers might not capture the nuance, leading to misinterpretations in social or professional interactions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "придирчивый" or "капризный" often reflect a value on precision and endurance, stemming from historical contexts like the Soviet era's emphasis on quality in manufacturing. However, they can also humorously describe everyday quirks, as seen in Russian literature (e.g., Chekhov's characters), highlighting a cultural tolerance for human imperfections.

Related Concepts:

• тщательный (meticulous)
• привередливый (picky, especially with food)
• строгий (strict)