Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'functionary'

English Word: functionary

Key Russian Translations:

• чиновник [tɕɪˈnovnʲɪk] - [Formal, often used in administrative or historical contexts]
• служащий [sluˈʐaɕːɪj] - [Informal, broader usage for any employee or official]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, government discussions, and historical texts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and formal vocabulary; for 'чиновник', it's B2, while 'служащий' might be B1 due to its versatility)

Pronunciation (Russian):

чиновник: [tɕɪˈnovnʲɪk]

служащий: [sluˈʐaɕːɪj]

Note on чиновник: The 'ч' sound is a palatalized 'ch' as in 'church', which can be tricky for English speakers; stress is on the second syllable.

Note on служащий: The 'щ' sound is a soft, prolonged 'sh' as in 'fresh sheep'; it remains consistent across inflections.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who holds a position in a government or organization, often implying bureaucracy

Translation(s) & Context:

• чиновник - Used in formal or historical contexts, such as referring to civil servants in Russia.
• служащий - Applied in modern, everyday settings for any official or employee, with a less rigid connotation.

Usage Examples:

• В министерстве работает много чиновников, которые обрабатывают документы.

  In the ministry, many functionaries work who process documents.

• Этот служащий в банке помог мне с оформлением кредита.

  This functionary at the bank helped me with arranging the loan.

• Чиновники часто сталкиваются с бюрократическими препятствиями в своей работе.

  Functionaries often face bureaucratic obstacles in their work.

• Как служащий государственной компании, он обязан соблюдать строгие правила.

  As a functionary in a state company, he is required to follow strict rules.

Meaning 2: Someone performing a specific role in a ceremonial or procedural capacity

Translation(s) & Context:

• чиновник - In contexts like legal or ceremonial events, emphasizing authority.

Usage Examples:

• На церемонии присутствовал главный чиновник, который зачитал официальное заявление.

  At the ceremony, the chief functionary was present who read the official statement.

• В суде чиновник отвечает за ведение протокола.

  In court, the functionary is responsible for keeping the record.

• Молодой чиновник быстро продвигается по карьерной лестнице.

  The young functionary is advancing quickly up the career ladder.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'чиновник' and 'служащий' are masculine nouns, which inflect according to Russian grammatical cases. 'Чиновник' follows the standard second declension pattern for masculine nouns, while 'служащий' is also a masculine noun but can vary slightly in usage.

Note: These nouns do not change for gender but must agree in case and number with other elements in the sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • должностное лицо (dolʐnɔstnɔe lʲɪtsɔ) - More formal, emphasizing official position.
  • бюрократ (bʲurɔkrat) - Implies a negative connotation of inefficiency.
• Antonyms:
  • гражданин (ɡraʐdanʲɪn) - A regular citizen, not in an official role.
  • независимый (nʲɪzavʲɪsʲɪmɨj) - Independent person, contrasting with structured authority.

Related Phrases:

• Государственный чиновник (ɡɔsʊdarstvʲɪnnɨj tɕɪˈnovnʲɪk) - State functionary; refers to a government employee.
• Муниципальный служащий (mʊnʲɪtsʲɪpalʲnɨj sluˈʐaɕːɪj) - Municipal functionary; used for local administration roles.
• Высший чиновник (vɨsʲːɪj tɕɪˈnovnʲɪk) - High-ranking functionary; indicates senior positions.

Usage Notes:

'Чиновник' directly corresponds to 'functionary' in formal English contexts, often carrying historical or bureaucratic undertones from Russian literature (e.g., in works by Gogol). It is typically used in written or official language. 'Служащий' is more versatile and can translate to 'employee' or 'functionary' in informal settings. Choose 'чиновник' for government-related discussions and 'служащий' for broader professional contexts. Always ensure agreement in case and number, as Russian nouns inflect based on sentence structure.

• In formal writing, pair with adjectives like 'государственный' for precision.
• Avoid using in casual conversation, as it may sound overly formal or archaic.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'чиновник' with 'служащий' and use them interchangeably, but 'чиновник' implies a specific bureaucratic role, while 'служащий' is more general. For example:

• Error: Saying "Я служащий в офисе" when meaning a government role, which should be "Я чиновник в министерстве" to convey the precise bureaucratic sense.
• Correct: Use 'чиновник' for official positions and explain the context to avoid implying negativity (e.g., don't use 'бюрократ' unless intending criticism).
• Another common mistake is incorrect declension, such as using nominative in all cases: Error - "Я разговаривал с чиновник" (wrong); Correct - "Я разговаривал с чиновником" (genitive case).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'чиновник' often evokes images from 19th-century literature, like in Nikolai Gogol's works, where it symbolizes the inefficiencies of the Tsarist bureaucracy. This word carries a somewhat negative connotation of red tape and corruption, reflecting historical frustrations with government systems, which can influence its modern usage in discussions about contemporary politics.

Related Concepts:

• бюрократия (bʲurɔkratʲɪa)
• администрация (adʲmʲɪnʲɪstratɕɪja)
• государственная служба (ɡɔsʊdarstvʲɪnnaja sluʐba)