Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'perfectionist'

English Word: perfectionist

Key Russian Translations:

• перфекционист /pʲɪrfʲɪkʲtsʲɪˈonʲɪst/ - [Formal, Borrowed term; used in psychological or professional contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in educated discussions, literature, and psychology, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with borrowed words and nominal forms, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

перфекционист: /pʲɪrfʲɪkʲtsʲɪˈonʲɪst/

Note on перфекционист: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("onʲɪst"). Pronunciation may vary slightly by region, with softer palatalization in standard Russian. Be mindful of the "ц" sound, which is a voiceless alveolar affricate.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A person who strives for perfection and is overly critical of imperfections.

Translation(s) & Context:

• перфекционист - Used in formal or psychological contexts to describe someone with perfectionist tendencies, often implying both positive and negative traits.

Usage Examples:

• Мой брат — настоящий перфекционист; он переписывает отчеты, пока они не будут идеальными.

  My brother is a true perfectionist; he rewrites reports until they are perfect.

• В дизайне она проявляет себя как перфекционист, уделяя внимание каждой детали.

  In design, she shows herself as a perfectionist, paying attention to every detail.

• Перфекционист в команде может мотивировать других, но иногда создает ненужное напряжение.

  A perfectionist in the team can motivate others but sometimes creates unnecessary tension.

• Ее перфекционизм помог ей добиться успеха, но стоил ей много нервов.

  Her perfectionism helped her achieve success but cost her a lot of nerves.

• Как перфекционист, он редко бывает доволен своей работой.

  As a perfectionist, he is rarely satisfied with his work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Перфекционист is a masculine noun borrowed from English via French, and it follows the standard patterns of third-declension nouns in Russian. It is indeclinable in most cases due to its foreign origin, meaning it does not change form in different grammatical contexts. However, it can take standard agreement for gender, number, and case when necessary.

Note: While the base form is often used without inflection in modern Russian, the plural forms are used when referring to multiple individuals.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • идеалист (idealist; implies a focus on ideals rather than perfection)
  • требовательный человек (demanding person; more general and less specific to perfectionism)
• Antonyms:
  • ленивец (lazy person; suggests the opposite lack of effort)
  • небрежный (careless; focuses on a lack of attention to detail)

Related Phrases:

• Завзятый перфекционист - A die-hard perfectionist; used to emphasize extreme dedication.
• Синдром перфекциониста - Perfectionist syndrome; refers to the psychological condition in a clinical context.
• Быть перфекционистом в работе - To be a perfectionist at work; highlights professional application.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "перфекционист" directly corresponds to the English "perfectionist" and is often used in formal, professional, or psychological discussions. It carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation, emphasizing the potential downsides like stress or inefficiency. When choosing between translations, opt for "перфекционист" in contexts involving personality traits, but consider "идеалист" if the focus is more on ideals. Be aware of grammatical agreement: always use masculine forms unless specifying gender, and inflect for case as shown in the table above.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing as /pɛrfɛkʃənɪst/ without Russian palatalization. Correct: Use /pʲɪrfʲɪkʲtsʲɪˈonʲɪst/ to reflect native Russian phonetics. Explanation: English speakers often overlook the soft consonants, which can make the word sound unnatural.

• Error: Overusing in casual speech, e.g., saying "Он перфекционист" in everyday talk. Correct: Reserve for formal contexts; in casual speech, say "Он слишком придирчив" (He is too picky). Explanation: This borrowed term can sound pretentious if not used appropriately.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, perfectionism is often linked to the historical emphasis on excellence in arts, sciences, and education, as seen in figures like Tolstoy or in Soviet-era standards. However, it can also reflect the pressures of modern life, where "перфекционист" might symbolize the struggle between aspiration and burnout, especially in professional settings.

Related Concepts:

• идеалист
• амбициозный
• профессионализм