Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'minutia'

English Word: minutia

Key Russian Translations:

• мелочь [ˈmʲelətɕ] - [Informal, Plural]
• подробность [pədrɐˈbnoɕʲtʲ] - [Formal, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and written texts, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage; for "мелочь", it's straightforward, but "подробность" may vary slightly in formality).

Pronunciation (Russian):

мелочь: [ˈmʲelətɕ]

Note on мелочь: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'л' is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'l' sound, similar to the 'l' in "million".

подробность: [pədrɐˈbnoɕʲtʲ]

Note on подробность: Stress on the third syllable; the 'щ' is a soft, hissing sound, often compared to 'shch' in "fresh cheese".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Small, trivial details or minor aspects of something

Translation(s) & Context:

• мелочь - Used in informal contexts to refer to unimportant or petty details, such as in casual discussions or everyday life.
• подробность - Used in formal or technical contexts, like reports or descriptions, to denote specific but non-essential details.

Usage Examples:

• Не стоит беспокоиться о мелочах, когда есть более важные проблемы.

  Don't worry about the minutia when there are more important issues.

• В его рассказе были интересные подробности, но они не изменили общего смысла.

  In his story, there were interesting minutia, but they didn't change the overall meaning.

• Мелочь жизни, вроде погоды, может повлиять на наше настроение.

  The minutia of life, like the weather, can affect our mood.

• Изучая историю, важно не упускать даже мелкие подробности.

  When studying history, it's important not to overlook even the minutia.

• Подробности контракта включают мелочь, которая может быть критичной.

  The contract details include minutia that could be critical.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Мелочь" is a feminine noun in the plural form by default, while "подробность" is a feminine singular noun. Both follow standard Russian declension patterns for nouns.

Note: "Мелочь" is irregular in that it's often used in plural form and doesn't change much, while "подробность" follows the standard first declension for feminine nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мелкие детали (melykie detali) - More literal, often used interchangeably with мелочь in informal speech.
  • тривиальности (trivyalnosti) - Emphasizes triviality, with a slight formal connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • суть (sut') - The essence or main point, contrasting with unimportant details.
  • основное (osnovnoe) - The core or fundamental aspects.

Related Phrases:

• Не обращать внимания на мелочи - Don't pay attention to minutia; used to advise focusing on bigger issues.
• В деталях и мелочах кроется истина - The truth lies in the minutia; a phrase emphasizing the importance of small details in revealing facts.
• Подробности дела - Details of the case; common in legal or investigative contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Minutia" in English often refers to trivial details in a plural sense, which aligns closely with "мелочь" in Russian for informal use. However, "подробность" is better for singular or formal contexts. Be cautious with gender and case agreements; for example, always decline nouns based on their role in the sentence. When choosing between translations, opt for "мелочь" in everyday conversation and "подробность" in professional writing. Note that Russian speakers might use diminutives or intensifiers to soften or emphasize the triviality.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "мелочь" in a formal document without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я игнорирую мелочь" instead of "Я игнорирую мелочи" in contexts where plural is needed.

  Correct: Я игнорирую мелочи. Explanation: "Мелочь" requires correct case; here, accusative plural is "мелочи". This mistake can make the sentence sound unnatural.

• Error: Confusing "мелочь" with "мелкий" (adjective meaning small), leading to misuse like "Это мелочь дом" instead of "Это мелкий дом".

  Correct: Это мелочь в деталях. Explanation: "Мелочь" is a noun, not an adjective, so ensure it's used as a standalone word for details, not to describe something directly.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, paying attention to "мелочи" (minutia) is often seen as a sign of thoroughness or perfectionism, especially in literature and arts, where authors like Tolstoy delve into minute details to build realism. However, in daily life, Russians might dismiss "мелочи" as unimportant, reflecting a cultural value on practicality over nitpicking.

Related Concepts:

• детали (detali)
• тривиальность (trivyalnost')
• суть (sut')