Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'painstaking'

English Word: painstaking

Key Russian Translations:

• тщательный [ˈtɕːətʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal, used in precise or professional contexts]
• старательный [stərəˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Informal, everyday conversations about effort]
• усердный [uˈsʲernɨj] - [Formal, emphasizing persistent effort]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in literature, professional settings, and everyday Russian, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "хороший").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of adjective inflections. For 'тщательный' and 'старательный', the difficulty is B1; 'усердный' may be B2 due to its nuance in persistence.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тщательный: [ˈtɕːətʲɪlʲnɨj]

старательный: [stərəˈtʲelʲnɨj]

усердный: [uˈsʲernɨj]

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 accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Careful and thorough in work or effort

Translation(s) & Context:

• тщательный - Used in formal contexts, such as describing meticulous work in professional or academic settings.
• старательный - Applied in informal or educational contexts, emphasizing diligent effort in daily tasks.
• усердный - Employed when highlighting persistent and dedicated effort, often in motivational or historical narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Он провел тщательную проверку документов перед подачей. (He conducted a painstaking review of the documents before submission.)

  He conducted a thorough review of the documents before submission. (Context: Formal business scenario)

• Её старательный подход к учёбе помог ей получить отличные оценки. (Her painstaking approach to studying helped her get excellent grades.)

  Her diligent approach to studying helped her get excellent grades. (Context: Informal educational setting)

• Усердный работник всегда достигает успеха в своей профессии. (A painstaking worker always achieves success in their profession.)

  A dedicated worker always achieves success in their profession. (Context: Motivational or professional advice)

• Тщательный анализ данных выявил скрытые проблемы в проекте. (The painstaking analysis of data revealed hidden issues in the project.)

  The thorough analysis of data revealed hidden issues in the project. (Context: Technical or scientific work)

• Старательный художник уделяет внимание каждой детали в своей картине. (The painstaking artist pays attention to every detail in their painting.)

  The diligent artist pays attention to every detail in their painting. (Context: Creative or artistic process)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ('тщательный', 'старательный', 'усердный') are adjectives, which inflect for gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard first-declension adjective patterns with some irregularities in soft stems.

Note: These adjectives are invariable in terms of stress patterns but change endings based on the noun they modify. For feminine and neuter forms, replace endings accordingly (e.g., тщательная for feminine singular).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • тщательный (similar to 'precise')
  • старательный (focuses on effort, often in learning contexts)
  • усердный (emphasizes persistence, with a connotation of hard work)
• Antonyms:
  • небрежный (careless, hasty)
  • ленивый (lazy, opposite of diligent effort)

Related Phrases:

• тщательная работа - A painstaking job; used for describing detailed tasks in professional settings.
• старательный ученик - A painstaking student; common in educational contexts to praise diligence.
• усердный труд - Painstaking labor; often appears in motivational or historical phrases about hard work.

Usage Notes:

'Тщательный' best matches the formal, meticulous aspect of 'painstaking' and is preferred in written or professional English-Russian translations. 'Старательный' is more casual and suits everyday contexts, while 'усердный' highlights endurance, making it ideal for narratives involving long-term effort. Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian: always match gender, number, and case with the noun (e.g., 'тщательная работа' for feminine noun). In spoken Russian, these words can vary by region, so context guides the best choice.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'тщательный' incorrectly with inanimate objects without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "Я сделал тщательный" instead of "Я сделал тщательную работу."

  Correct: "Я сделал тщательную работу." (Explanation: Adjectives must agree in case; here, it's accusative feminine.)

• Error: Confusing 'старательный' with 'усердный', leading to misuse in intensity, e.g., using 'старательный' for extreme persistence.

  Correct: Use 'усердный' for persistent effort, as in "Он усердный работник," not "Он старательный работник" if emphasizing endurance. (Explanation: 'Старательный' implies carefulness, not necessarily long-term commitment.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'тщательный' and 'усердный' reflect the value placed on meticulousness and hard work, often linked to historical contexts like Soviet-era emphasis on labor. They can carry a positive connotation in professional settings, symbolizing reliability, but overuse might imply unnecessary perfectionism in casual conversations.

Related Concepts:

• точный (accurate)
• внимательный (attentive)
• трудолюбивый (hard-working)