Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'quitter'

English Word: quitter

Key Russian Translations:

• бросающий [ˈbrosəjuʂʲij] - [Informal, used to describe someone who gives up easily]
• слабак [ˈslabək] - [Slang, derogatory term for a weak or quitting person]
• дезертир [dʲɪˈzʲertʲir] - [Formal, specifically for a deserter in military or serious contexts]

Frequency: Low (This term and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; more prevalent in informal or specific contexts like sports or criticism.)

Difficulty: B1 for бросающий and слабак (Intermediate, as it requires understanding participles and slang); B2 for дезертир (Upper Intermediate, due to formal connotations and historical usage).

Pronunciation (Russian):

бросающий: [ˈbrosəjuʂʲij]

Note on бросающий: This is a present active participle of the verb "бросать" (to throw or abandon). The stress falls on the first syllable, and the "щ" sound is soft, which can be challenging for beginners.

слабак: [ˈslabək]

Note on слабак: Pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable; the "a" sounds are open, typical in Russian slang.

дезертир: [dʲɪˈzʲertʲir]

Note on дезертир: Derived from French, it retains a more formal pronunciation with a soft "д" and stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: Someone who gives up or abandons an activity, commitment, or challenge easily.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бросающий - Used in everyday informal contexts, such as describing someone quitting a job or hobby due to minor difficulties.
• слабак - Applied in slang or casual conversations, often with a negative connotation, like in peer criticism or motivational talks.
• дезертир - Reserved for more serious scenarios, such as military desertion or metaphorical abandonment in professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда бросающий, как только事情变得困难。

  He is always a quitter as soon as things get difficult.

• Не будь слабаком и закончи проект до конца!

  Don't be a quitter and finish the project to the end!

• В армии его назвали дезертиром за побег с поста.

  In the army, he was called a quitter for deserting his post.

• Бросающий никогда не добивается успеха в жизни.

  A quitter never achieves success in life.

• Его друзья считают его слабаком из-за того, что он сдается в спорах.

  His friends consider him a quitter because he gives up in arguments.

As a verb-derived noun: Implies habitual quitting behavior.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бросающий - In contexts involving personal development or sports, emphasizing repeated abandonment.
• слабак - Often in informal social settings to mock someone's lack of perseverance.

Usage Examples:

• Бросающий тип не подходит для команды.

  A quitter type doesn't fit in the team.

• Слабак в группе всегда отстает от других.

  The quitter in the group always falls behind the others.

• Дезертир общества – это тот, кто избегает ответственности.

  A quitter from society is someone who avoids responsibility.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "бросающий" (a present active participle, acting as an adjective/noun), it follows standard adjective declension patterns in Russian. It is irregular in some forms due to its verbal origin.

For "слабак" (a noun, masculine), it is indeclinable in most cases but follows basic masculine noun patterns: Nominative: слабак; Genitive: слабака; etc.

"Дезертир" (a masculine noun) is fully declinable: Nominative: дезертир; Genitive: дезертира; Dative: дезертиру; etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Отказывающийся (otkazyvayushchiysya) - More formal synonym, emphasizing refusal.
  • Беглец (beglets) - Specifically for someone fleeing, with a connotation of escape.
• Antonyms:
  • Упорный (upornyy) - Persistent or determined.
  • Стойкий (stoykiy) - Resilient or steadfast.

Related Phrases:

• Бросить всё и уйти (Brosit vsyo i uyti) - To quit everything and leave; used for dramatic abandonment.
• Слабак в бою (Slabak v boyu) - A quitter in battle; implies cowardice in conflict.
• Дезертировать с поста (Dezertirovat s posta) - To desert one's post; formal phrase for military contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Quitter" in English often carries a negative judgment, and its Russian equivalents like "бросающий" or "слабак" do the same. Use "бросающий" in informal settings for general quitting behavior, but avoid it in formal writing. "Слабак" is highly colloquial and can be offensive, so it's best in casual conversations among friends. For precise matches, choose based on context: "дезертир" for abandonment in duty-bound situations. Grammatically, ensure agreement in gender, number, and case when using these words.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "бросающий" as a direct noun without proper declension, e.g., saying "Он бросающий" instead of "Он бросающий человек" for clarity.

  Correct: "Он бросающий в своих делах" (He is a quitter in his affairs). Explanation: Russian participles need contextual integration to avoid ambiguity.

• Error: Confusing "слабак" with "сильный" (strong), leading to misuse in sentences.

  Correct: Avoid calling someone "слабак" if they are persistent; use it only for quitters. Explanation: This slang term can escalate conflicts if used incorrectly.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "дезертир" evoke historical contexts, such as during World War II, where desertion was a serious offense. "Слабак" reflects a cultural emphasis on resilience and endurance, often seen in literature and proverbs that praise perseverance, like in stories by Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• Упорство (uporstvo) - Persistence
• Отступление (otstuplenie) - Retreat
• Сдаться (sdatsya) - To surrender