Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meticulous'

English Word: meticulous

Key Russian Translations:

• тщательный [ˈtɕːətʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal, often used in professional or academic contexts]
• аккуратный [ɐˈkʊrətnɨj] - [Informal, everyday usage for neatness and precision]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in written Russian, such as in literature, business, and technical texts, but not as frequent in casual spoken language)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and contextual usage; for 'тщательный', it's B2 due to formal connotations, while 'аккуратный' might be slightly easier at B1 for informal settings)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тщательный: [ˈtɕːətʲɪlʲnɨj]

аккуратный: [ɐˈkʊrətnɨj]

Note on тщательный: The initial 'тщ' sound is a soft, palatalized 't' followed by 'shch', which can be challenging for English speakers; practice with native audio for the precise affricate.

Note on аккуратный: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful not to overemphasize the first, as in some English loanwords.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Careful and precise in work or detail (primary meaning of 'meticulous')

Translation(s) & Context:

• тщательный - Used in formal contexts, such as describing detailed research or meticulous planning in professional settings.
• аккуратный - Applied in informal or everyday situations, like organizing personal tasks or describing someone's habits.

Usage Examples:

• Он выполняет свою работу очень тщательно, проверяя каждый detail.

  He performs his work very meticulously, checking every detail.

• Эта книга написана с аккуратным вниманием к историческим фактам.

  This book is written with meticulous attention to historical facts.

• В лаборатории ученые проводят тщательные эксперименты, чтобы избежать ошибок.

  In the laboratory, scientists conduct meticulous experiments to avoid errors.

• Она всегда аккуратна в своих повседневных делах, что делает ее надежным коллегой.

  She is always meticulous in her daily tasks, making her a reliable colleague.

• Тщательный анализ данных показал скрытые закономерности в исследовании.

  The meticulous analysis of data revealed hidden patterns in the study.

Excessively detailed or overly precise (secondary, nuanced meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тщательный - In contexts implying over-precision, such as in criticism of perfectionism.
• аккуратный - Less common for this nuance, but can imply neatness bordering on obsession in informal speech.

Usage Examples:

• Его тщательный подход к мелочам иногда замедляет прогресс команды.

  His meticulous approach to minor details sometimes slows down the team's progress.

• Аккуратный перебор вариантов в этом случае был излишним.

  The meticulous consideration of options in this case was excessive.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

For 'аккуратный', the inflections are similar: e.g., Nominative: аккуратный (m), аккуратная (f), аккуратное (n), аккуратные (pl). These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners at B2 level.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • внимательный (more focused on attention, with a subtle difference in implying watchfulness)
  • детальный (specifically for detailed descriptions, often in technical contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • небрежный (careless, sloppy; used when contrasting with meticulous behavior)
  • поверхностный (superficial, lacking depth)

Related Phrases:

• тщательный анализ - A thorough analysis; used in academic or scientific contexts to describe detailed examination.
• аккуратный порядок - Neat order; refers to organized arrangements in everyday life, like in a home or office.
• тщательно подготовленный - Meticulously prepared; common in project management or event planning.

Usage Notes:

'Тщательный' is the closest direct equivalent to 'meticulous' in formal English-Russian translation, emphasizing thoroughness and precision, while 'аккуратный' leans towards neatness and is better for informal or practical scenarios. Choose 'тщательный' for professional contexts like business reports, and 'аккуратный' for personal descriptions. Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian sentences, as they must match the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, if describing a female subject, use 'тщательная'. This vocabulary often appears in written Russian more than spoken, so practice in reading contexts first.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'тщательный' interchangeably with 'внимательный' without considering context. Correct: 'Внимательный' implies being attentive to people, while 'тщательный' focuses on tasks or details. Example of error: Saying "Он тщательный к друзьям" (incorrect, as it doesn't fit); Correct: "Он внимательный к друзьям".

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective. Correct: Always adjust for case, e.g., "в тщательном исследовании" (in a meticulous study) instead of the uninflected form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being 'тщательный' or meticulous is highly valued in professions like engineering, science, and education, reflecting a broader emphasis on precision in Slavic traditions. However, it can sometimes be seen as overly perfectionistic in casual settings, contrasting with the more relaxed attitudes in everyday interactions.

Related Concepts:

• точный (accurate)
• подробный (detailed)
• систематический (systematic)