Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'onerous'

English Word: onerous

Key Russian Translations:

• тягостный [tʲɪˈɡostnɨj] - [Formal, used in written or official contexts]
• обременительный [ɐbrʲɪmʲɪˈnʲatʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal, often in legal or contractual language]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal texts, literature, and discussions about obligations, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary, though basic forms can be grasped at A2 level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тягостный: [tʲɪˈɡostnɨj]

Note on тягостный: The stress is on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft 'tʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels slightly.

обременительный: [ɐbrʲɪmʲɪˈnʲatʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on обременительный: Pronounce with emphasis on the fourth syllable; the 'ʲ' indicates palatalization, which can be tricky for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Burdensome or oppressive, referring to something that imposes a heavy load or is troublesome.

Translation(s) & Context:

• тягостный - Used in contexts involving emotional or physical strain, such as duties or responsibilities in formal writing or speech.
• обременительный - Applied in legal or contractual scenarios, emphasizing obligations that restrict freedom.

Usage Examples:

• Эта работа тягостна для меня, так как требует много времени и усилий.

  This work is onerous for me, as it requires a lot of time and effort.

• Обременительный договор не позволяет нам свободно распоряжаться ресурсами.

  The onerous contract does not allow us to freely manage our resources.

• Тягостные обязанности часто приводят к стрессу в повседневной жизни.

  Onerous duties often lead to stress in everyday life.

• В контракте есть обременительные условия, которые усложняют сделку.

  The contract has onerous conditions that complicate the deal.

• Для студентов экзамены могут быть тягостными из-за высокого давления.

  For students, exams can be onerous due to high pressure.

Meaning 2: Involving excessive demands or impositions, often in a figurative sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• тягостный - Common in literary or emotional contexts, such as describing relationships or tasks.
• обременительный - Used in professional or bureaucratic settings to highlight restrictive policies.

Usage Examples:

• Тягостная атмосфера в офисе снижает продуктивность сотрудников.

  The onerous atmosphere in the office reduces employees' productivity.

• Обременительные правила импорта делают бизнес менее выгодным.

  Onerous import rules make business less profitable.

• Эта тягостная традиция сохраняется в семье из поколения в поколение.

  This onerous tradition is maintained in the family from generation to generation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "тягостный" and "обременительный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow regular patterns for most cases, but they must agree with the nouns they modify.

Note: These adjectives follow the standard first-declension pattern and do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • трудный (trudnyy) - Similar but emphasizes difficulty more than burden; used in everyday contexts.
  • сложный (slozhnyy) - Implies complexity; less emotional than тягостный.
• Antonyms:
  • лёгкий (lyokhkiy) - Easy or light, contrasting with the burdensome nature.
  • простой (prostoy) - Simple, often used for uncomplicated tasks.

Related Phrases:

• тягостная ноша - A burdensome load; refers to emotional or physical weights in life.
• обременительные обязательства - Onerous obligations; common in legal or financial contexts, implying restrictive commitments.
• тягостные воспоминания - Onerous memories; used to describe painful or oppressive recollections in literature.

Usage Notes:

"Тягостный" is the most direct equivalent to "onerous" in everyday formal Russian, capturing the emotional weight, while "обременительный" is better for legal or contractual scenarios. Always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For English speakers, note that Russian adjectives don't have comparative forms like English; use adverbs like "очень" (very) for emphasis. Choose "тягостный" for personal or narrative contexts and "обременительный" for objective, professional ones to maintain precision.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "тягостный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "тягостный женщина" instead of "тягостная женщина" (for feminine noun).

  Correct: "Тягостная женщина" means "an onerous woman." Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun's gender; this mistake often stems from English's lack of gender agreement.

• Error: Confusing with synonyms, e.g., using "трудный" when "тягостный" is needed for emotional connotation.

  Correct: Use "тягостный" for burdensome feelings; "трудный" is more neutral. Explanation: This can lead to understating the emotional aspect, as in "Эта задача тягостная, а не просто трудная."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "тягостный" often reflect the historical emphasis on endurance and resilience, stemming from literature like Tolstoy's works, where burdensome duties symbolize life's struggles. This can evoke a sense of fatalism, reminding English users of Russia's collective experience with hardships, such as in wartime or economic challenges.

Related Concepts:

• труд (trud) - Labor or effort
• обязанность (obyazannost') - Duty or obligation
• нагрузка (nagruzka) - Load or burden