Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'laboured'

English Word: laboured

Key Russian Translations:

• трудный [ˈtrudnɨj] - [Formal; used to describe something requiring significant effort or difficulty]
• напряженный [nəˈprʲaʐənnɨj] - [Informal; often implies emotional or physical strain]
• утомительный [ʊtəmʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal; emphasizes exhaustion or weariness]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations, literature, and professional contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; according to CEFR, as it involves understanding nuanced adjectives and their inflections, which may require familiarity with Russian grammar. For 'трудный', it's B1; for 'напряженный', it might lean towards B2 due to subtle connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

трудный: [ˈtrudnɨj]

напряженный: [nəˈprʲaʐənnɨj]

утомительный: [ʊtəmʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj]

Note on напряженный: The 'ж' sound is a soft fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Pronounce it with a stressed second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Effortful or strained in execution (e.g., describing work or speech that is laborious)

Translation(s) & Context:

• трудный - Used in formal contexts like academic or professional discussions to indicate something is challenging or requires hard work.
• напряженный - Applied in informal or emotional contexts, such as describing tense situations or strained relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь была трудной и неуклюжей, как будто он старался слишком сильно. (His speech was laboured and awkward, as if he was trying too hard.)

  English: His speech was laboured and awkward, as if he was trying too hard.

• Эта работа напряженная, но она помогает развивать навыки. (This work is laboured, but it helps develop skills.)

  English: This work is laboured, but it helps develop skills. (Here, 'напряженная' highlights the strain in a daily context.)

• Утомительный день в офисе оставил его полностью измотанным. (The laboured day at the office left him completely exhausted.)

  English: The laboured day at the office left him completely exhausted.

• Трудный путь к успеху требует постоянных усилий и терпения. (The laboured path to success requires constant efforts and patience.)

  English: The laboured path to success requires constant efforts and patience. (Demonstrates use in metaphorical contexts.)

• Напряженный разговор с начальником сделал его день тяжелым. (The laboured conversation with the boss made his day tough.)

  English: The laboured conversation with the boss made his day tough. (Shows interpersonal usage.)

Secondary Meaning: Artificial or overly elaborate (e.g., in artistic or literary contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• утомительный - Used when something feels forced or excessively detailed, often in cultural or creative settings.

Usage Examples:

• Его письмо было утомительным, с излишними метафорами. (His writing was laboured, with unnecessary metaphors.)

  English: His writing was laboured, with unnecessary metaphors.

• Утомительный стиль живописи не привлекал зрителей. (The laboured style of painting didn't attract viewers.)

  English: The laboured style of painting didn't attract viewers. (Illustrates artistic application.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. Below is a table for 'трудный' as an example; similar patterns apply to others with slight variations.

For 'напряженный', it follows a similar adjectival pattern but may have stress shifts in certain forms. 'Утомительный' is also an adjective with regular inflections as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сложный (slozhnyj) - More general for 'complex'; often used interchangeably but implies intellectual challenge.
  • тяжелый (tyazhelyj) - Emphasizes physical weight or burden.
• Antonyms:
  • легкий (legkij) - Easy or light.
  • простой (prostoj) - Simple or straightforward.

Related Phrases:

• Трудный путь (trudnyj put') - A difficult path; used metaphorically for life's challenges.
• Напряженная атмосфера (napryazhennaya atmosfera) - A tense atmosphere; refers to stressful environments.
• Утомительный процесс (utomitelynyj protsess) - A laboured process; describes tedious procedures.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'трудный' directly corresponds to 'laboured' in contexts of effort, but it's more commonly used for intellectual or physical challenges. Choose 'напряженный' for emotional strain to better match informal English usage. Be mindful of gender and case agreements, as Russian adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify. For example, if describing a feminine noun like 'работа' (work), use 'трудная работа'. Multiple translations allow flexibility based on context: use 'утомительный' for exhaustive scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'трудный' without proper declension, e.g., saying 'трудный работа' instead of 'трудная работа'.

  Correct: 'трудная работа' - Explanation: Adjectives in Russian must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun. English learners often forget this, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing 'напряженный' with 'нервный' (nervnyj, meaning nervous), as both relate to stress.

  Correct: Use 'напряженный' for sustained effort; 'нервный' for anxiety. Example of error: Saying 'напряженный человек' when meaning 'anxious person', which should be 'нервный человек'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'трудный' often reflect the historical emphasis on perseverance and hard work, as seen in literature such as Tolstoy's works, where characters face 'laboured' struggles. This can evoke themes of resilience in the face of adversity, common in Russian folklore and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• сложность (slozhnost') - Complexity
• усилие (usilie) - Effort
• напряжение (napryazhenie) - Tension