Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meritorious'

English Word: meritorious

Key Russian Translations:

• заслуживающий [zəsˈluʐɨvəjʂɨj] - [Formal, used in descriptive contexts]
• заслуженный [zəsˈluʐɛnnɨj] - [Formal, often for established merit]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are not everyday vocabulary but appear in formal writing, academic discussions, and official contexts in Russian.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Learners need to understand adjective declension and nuanced formal usage; variations in translations may add slight complexity.

Pronunciation (Russian):

заслуживающий: [zəsˈluʐɨvəjʂɨj]

заслуженный: [zəsˈluʐɛnnɨj]

Note on заслуживающий: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the 'ш' sound, which is a voiceless retroflex fricative, common in Russian but challenging for beginners.

Note on заслуженный: Pronunciation is straightforward, but the ending changes with declension; practice the soft 'н' for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Deserving of praise or reward due to excellence or achievement

Translation(s) & Context:

• заслуживающий - Used in contexts where something is currently worthy of recognition, such as in evaluations or descriptions (e.g., in formal reports or literature).
• заслуженный - Applied to established or proven merit, often in historical or honorary contexts (e.g., titles like "заслуженный артист" for a meritorious artist).

Usage Examples:

• Его действия были заслуживающими высшей похвалы в чрезвычайной ситуации.

  His actions were meritorious and deserving of the highest praise in the emergency situation.

• Эта награда для заслуженного ученого, который посвятил жизнь исследованиям.

  This award is for the meritorious scholar who has dedicated his life to research.

• В школе мы отмечали заслуживающих учеников за их упорный труд.

  At school, we recognized the meritorious students for their hard work.

• Заслуженный ветеран войны получил медаль за свои подвиги.

  The meritorious war veteran received a medal for his feats.

• Ее проект был заслуживающим внимания из-за инновационного подхода.

  Her project was meritorious and worthy of attention due to its innovative approach.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "заслуживающий" and "заслуженный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow the standard adjectival declension patterns, with some irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table for "заслуживающий" as an example; "заслуженный" follows similar rules but may vary slightly in nominative forms.

For "заслуженный," the forms are similar but start with its base: e.g., Nominative Masculine: заслуженный. These adjectives do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • достойный [Used for general worthiness; often interchangeable in formal contexts]
  • заслуженный [Sometimes overlaps but emphasizes proven achievement]
  • выдающийся [Highlights exceptional merit, with a connotation of standing out]
• Antonyms:
  • незаслуженный [Direct opposite, implying unearned or unwarranted]
  • незаслуживающий [Used for something not worthy of praise]

Related Phrases:

• Заслужить уважение - To earn respect; a common phrase in professional or social contexts.
• Заслуживающий доверия - Meritorious and trustworthy; often used in evaluations of character.
• Заслуженный отдых - Well-deserved rest; implies merit after hard work, common in everyday Russian.

Usage Notes:

"Заслуживающий" and "заслуженный" closely align with "meritorious" but are more formal in Russian. Use "заслуживающий" for ongoing or potential merit, and "заслуженный" for established accomplishments. Be mindful of grammatical agreement: always decline the adjective to match the noun's gender, number, and case. In informal speech, simpler synonyms like "достойный" might be preferred, but these translations are ideal for academic or official settings. When choosing between translations, opt for "заслуженный" if referring to honors or titles, as in Russian culture.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget to decline the adjective, e.g., saying "заслуживающий человек" in all cases instead of "заслуживающего человека" in genitive. Correct usage: Always adjust for case, as in "Я видел заслуженного героя" (I saw the meritorious hero).

• Mixing up with similar words: Confusing "заслуживающий" with "заслуженный," leading to misuse in context, e.g., using "заслуживающий" for a veteran when "заслуженный" is more appropriate. Explanation: The former implies potential, while the latter denotes achieved status.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "заслуженный" carry significant weight, often linked to state honors (e.g., "Заслуженный артист России" for a meritorious artist). This reflects a historical emphasis on recognizing individual contributions to society, stemming from Soviet-era traditions, which can add a layer of national pride to the word's usage.

Related Concepts:

• награда (award)
• достижение (achievement)
• почетный (honorary)