Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fussy'

English Word: fussy

Key Russian Translations:

• привередливый /prʲɪvʲɪˈrʲɛdlʲɪvɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal; used to describe someone who is overly particular or demanding in everyday contexts]
• капризный /kɐˈprʲiznɨj/ - [Adjective, Neutral; often implies whimsy or moodiness, slightly less focused on detail than 'привередливый']

Frequency: Medium (Common in casual conversations and literature, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like 'big' or 'small')

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

привередливый: /prʲɪvʲɪˈrʲɛdlʲɪvɨj/

капризный: /kɐˈprʲiznɨj/

Note on привередливый: The stress falls on the third syllable ('rʲɛ'), and the initial 'prʲ' cluster can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalized 'r'. Practice with native audio for accurate rolling.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Overly particular or picky about details, often in a negative sense (e.g., regarding food, clothing, or habits)

Translation(s) & Context:

• привередливый - Used in informal settings to describe someone who is excessively selective, such as in daily life or parenting contexts.
• капризный - Applied in contexts involving mood or whims, like with children or artistic personalities.

Usage Examples:

• Мой сын привередливый в еде; он не ест ничего, кроме макарон.

  My son is fussy about food; he won't eat anything except pasta.

• Она всегда привередливая к одежде, поэтому покупки занимают уйму времени.

  She is always fussy about clothes, so shopping takes forever.

• Капризный ребенок может быть милым, но иногда его поведение раздражает родителей.

  A fussy child can be cute, but sometimes their behavior irritates parents.

• В ресторане он стал привередливым и вернул блюдо обратно.

  At the restaurant, he got fussy and sent the dish back.

• Капризная погода в России делает планы непредсказуемыми.

  The fussy weather in Russia makes plans unpredictable.

Meaning 2: Excessively detailed or perfectionist in work or tasks

Translation(s) & Context:

• привередливый - Common in professional or creative contexts, emphasizing meticulousness that borders on annoyance.
• капризный - Less common here, but used for unpredictable perfectionism.

Usage Examples:

• Его привередливый подход к дизайну проекта замедлил весь процесс.

  His fussy approach to the project design slowed down the entire process.

• Капризный художник отказывается от идей, если они не идеальны.

  The fussy artist rejects ideas if they're not perfect.

• Привередливый редактор всегда находит ошибки, даже в безупречном тексте.

  The fussy editor always finds mistakes, even in flawless text.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'привередливый' and 'капризный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can be irregular in specifics. Below is a table for 'привередливый' as an example; 'капризный' follows similar rules.

Note: 'капризный' inflects similarly (e.g., капризный, капризная, etc.). These are regular adjectives, so learners should memorize the endings based on the standard paradigm.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • требовательный (demanding, but more neutral)
  • выборочный (selective, with a focus on choices)
• Antonyms:
  • неприхотливый (unfussy, easygoing)
  • терпеливый (patient, tolerant)

Note: 'требовательный' is a close synonym but often implies higher standards without the negative connotation of whimsy.

Related Phrases:

• привередничать - To act fussy or picky (e.g., in eating habits); often used with children.
• быть капризным ребенком - To be a fussy child; common in parenting contexts.
• привередливый вкус - Fussy taste; refers to selective preferences in food or art.

Usage Notes:

'Привередливый' directly corresponds to 'fussy' in English, especially in informal contexts, but it carries a slightly more negative tone in Russian, implying annoyance. Use 'капризный' for situations involving mood swings. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, choose 'привередливый' over 'капризный' when emphasizing detail-oriented behavior rather than emotional unpredictability.

• In formal writing, opt for 'требовательный' to avoid sounding judgmental.
• Common in everyday speech but less in professional Russian; pair with verbs like 'быть' (to be) for basic usage.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the inflections, such as using the nominative form in all cases (e.g., saying 'привередливый' in genitive contexts instead of 'привередливого'). Correct example: Wrong - "Я боюсь привередливый еда" (incorrect inflection); Right - "Я боюсь привередливой еды" (proper genitive). Another error is confusing it with 'капризный', using it interchangeably without context, which can alter the meaning—'капризный' implies moodiness, not just pickiness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being 'привередливый' is often seen as a childish or undesirable trait, especially in contexts like Soviet-era literature where resourcefulness was valued. For instance, in folktales, fussy characters like picky eaters are portrayed as spoiled, reflecting historical emphasis on endurance and simplicity in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• требовательность
• выборочность
• неприхотливость