Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'perfunctory'

English Word: perfunctory

Key Russian Translations:

• поверхностный /pɐˈvʲɛrxnəstnɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal or Formal, used in everyday contexts to describe superficial actions]
• небрежный /nʲɪˈbrʲɛʐnɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal, often implies carelessness in casual speech]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its variants are commonly encountered in Russian literature, media, and everyday conversations, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and nuanced contexts. For 'поверхностный', it's B2; for 'небрежный', it's also B2 due to similar grammatical features.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

поверхностный: /pɐˈvʲɛrxnəstnɨj/

Note on поверхностный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('vʲɛrx'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'vʲ'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

небрежный: /nʲɪˈbrʲɛʐnɨj/

Note on небрежный: The 'ʐ' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to the 'zh' in 'measure', but ensure it's not confused with a softer 'zh' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Done quickly and without genuine interest or care, often just to fulfill an obligation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• поверхностный - Used in contexts involving superficial efforts, such as in work or daily tasks (e.g., a perfunctory greeting).
• небрежный - Applied to careless or sloppy actions, often with a negative connotation in informal settings (e.g., perfunctory cleaning).

Usage Examples:

• Он выполнил задание поверхностно, не вникая в детали.

  He completed the task perfunctorily, without delving into the details.

• Её улыбка была небрежной, как будто она не хотела тратить время.

  Her smile was perfunctory, as if she didn't want to waste time.

• Встреча прошла поверхностно, без глубокого обсуждения.

  The meeting went perfunctorily, without in-depth discussion.

• Он небрежно кивнул, не посмотрев в мою сторону.

  He nodded perfunctorily without looking my way.

• Проверка документов была поверхностной, и ошибки остались незамеченными.

  The document check was perfunctory, and errors went unnoticed.

Meaning: Lacking enthusiasm or thoroughness in routine activities.

Translation(s) & Context:

• поверхностный - In professional or daily routines, emphasizing a lack of depth (e.g., perfunctory daily routines).
• небрежный - More casual, highlighting negligence in personal interactions (e.g., perfunctory responses in conversations).

Usage Examples:

• Его ежедневные упражнения стали поверхностными из-за усталости.

  His daily exercises became perfunctory due to fatigue.

• Ответы на письма были небрежными и краткими.

  The responses to letters were perfunctory and brief.

• Поверхностный осмотр комнаты не выявил проблем.

  The perfunctory inspection of the room didn't reveal any issues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'поверхностный' and 'небрежный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow the standard first-declension pattern for adjectives.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • формальный (formalnyy) - More neutral, often used for routine actions.
  • механический (mekhanicheskiy) - Implies robotic or automatic behavior, with a subtle difference in connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • тщательный (tshchatel'nyy) - Thorough and detailed.
  • внимательный (vnimatel'nyy) - Attentive and careful.

Related Phrases:

• поверхностный анализ - A superficial analysis; used in academic or professional contexts to describe incomplete evaluations.
• небрежный жест - A careless gesture; common in everyday descriptions of inattentive behavior.
• поверхностное общение - Perfunctory communication; refers to shallow interactions in social settings.

Usage Notes:

'Поверхностный' is a more precise match for 'perfunctory' in formal contexts, while 'небрежный' emphasizes negligence and is better for informal scenarios. Always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in Russian grammar. For English learners, choose 'поверхностный' when the action is routine but lacks depth, and avoid overusing it in positive contexts as it carries a negative undertone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'поверхностный' interchangeably with 'формальный' without considering nuance. Correct: 'Поверхностный' implies superficiality, while 'формальный' means official. Example of error: "Он сделал формально" (incorrect for perfunctory); Correct: "Он сделал поверхностно".

• Error: Forgetting to decline the adjective. Correct: In a sentence like "в поверхностном стиле" (in a perfunctory style), ensure proper case agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'поверхностный' often reflect a value placed on thoroughness and depth in tasks, stemming from historical emphasis on precision in education and work. This can make perfunctory behavior seem more negatively perceived compared to some Western contexts.

Related Concepts:

• тщательный
• внимательный
• механический