Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'intricate'

English Word: intricate

Key Russian Translations:

• сложный (slozhnyy) - [ˈslɔʐnɨj] - [Formal, commonly used in descriptive contexts]
• запутанный (zaputannyj) - [zəˈputənɨj] - [Informal, used for something tangled or confusing]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations, literature, and technical descriptions)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjectives and their inflections, though basic forms are accessible to learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сложный: [ˈslɔʐnɨj]

Note on сложный: The "ж" sound is a soft, voiced fricative similar to the "s" in "measure"; stress falls on the first syllable, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the rolled "r" variant in some dialects.

запутанный: [zəˈputənɨj]

Note on запутанный: Pay attention to the unstressed vowels, which reduce to schwa sounds; the word has a secondary stress that might vary in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Complex or detailed in design or structure (e.g., referring to patterns, systems, or ideas)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сложный - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing machinery or artwork.
• запутанный - Applied in informal settings for something confusing or entangled, like a plot in a story.

Usage Examples:

• Эта схема очень сложная и требует тщательного изучения.

  This scheme is very intricate and requires careful study.

• В узорах ковра заметны запутанные линии, делающие его уникальным.

  The intricate lines in the carpet's patterns make it unique.

• Сложный механизм часов был создан мастером в XIX веке.

  The intricate mechanism of the watch was created by a master in the 19th century.

• Запутанный сюжет романа держит читателя в напряжении до конца.

  The intricate plot of the novel keeps the reader in suspense until the end.

• Дизайн здания включает сложные архитектурные элементы, вдохновленные природой.

  The building's design includes intricate architectural elements inspired by nature.

Meaning 2: Involved or complicated in a way that is difficult to understand (e.g., relationships or processes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сложный - Often used in professional or academic contexts for abstract concepts.
• запутанный - More common in everyday speech for interpersonal or emotional matters.

Usage Examples:

• Его личная жизнь всегда была сложной из-за множества связей.

  His personal life has always been intricate due to numerous connections.

• Запутанный контракт требует консультации с юристом.

  The intricate contract requires consultation with a lawyer.

• Сложные отношения между странами требуют дипломатических усилий.

  The intricate relationships between countries require diplomatic efforts.

• В запутанном лабиринте идей философа легко потеряться.

  In the intricate maze of the philosopher's ideas, it's easy to get lost.

• Сложный процесс обучения включает множество этапов.

  The intricate learning process involves many stages.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "сложный" and "запутанный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with nouns. "сложный" is a regular adjective, while "запутанный" can vary slightly in informal use.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form but must agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сложный: сложеный (slozhenyy) - more archaic, used in literary contexts.
  • запутанный: заплутанный (zaplytannyj) - informal variant, implying being lost.
• Antonyms:
  • простой (prostoy) - simple, straightforward.
  • ясный (yasnyy) - clear, uncomplicated.

Related Phrases:

• Сложная ситуация (slozhnaya situatsiya) - A complicated situation; refers to tricky circumstances in daily life.
• Запутанная история (zaputannaya istoriya) - A tangled story; often used for mysteries or convoluted narratives.
• Сложный узор (slozhnyy uzor) - Intricate pattern; common in discussions of art or design.

Usage Notes:

"Сложный" is the most direct translation for "intricate" in formal contexts, aligning closely with its English meaning of complexity without implying confusion. Use "запутанный" when emphasizing entanglement or difficulty in unraveling, which is more informal. Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian sentences, as it must match the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, choose "сложный" for technical topics and "запутанный" for interpersonal ones. Learners should practice inflections to avoid errors in written Russian.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сложный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "сложный книга" instead of "сложная книга" for "intricate book". Correct: Always inflect to match the noun (feminine accusative). Explanation: Russian requires adjective-noun agreement, unlike English, so this mistake can make sentences grammatically incorrect.

• Error: Confusing "сложный" with "трудный" (hard/difficult), e.g., translating "intricate puzzle" as "трудный пазл" instead of "сложный пазл". Correct: "трудный" implies effort, while "сложный" means structurally complex. Explanation: These words are not interchangeable; context matters to convey the right nuance.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "сложный" often appear in discussions of literature and art, reflecting the value placed on intricate storytelling in works by authors like Tolstoy. "Запутанный" might evoke themes of mystery in folklore, where complex plots symbolize life's unpredictability, helping users appreciate the depth of Russian narrative traditions.

Related Concepts:

• усложненный (uslozhnennyy) - Complicated or made more complex.
• интригующий (intriguyushchiy) - Intriguing, often linked to suspenseful elements.
• загадочный (zagadochnyy) - Mysterious, relating to enigmatic or puzzling aspects.