Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'selective'

English Word: selective

Key Russian Translations:

• выборочный [vɨ.bɐ.'ra.t͡ɕ.nɨj] - [Formal, used in academic or official contexts]
• селективный [sʲɪ.lʲɛk.'tʲiv.nɨj] - [Technical, often in scientific or specialized fields]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal writing and professional discussions, but less in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and context-specific vocabulary; селективный may be C1 for technical learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

выборочный: [vɨ.bɐ.'ra.t͡ɕ.nɨj]

Note on выборочный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ra'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronounce the 't͡ɕ' as a soft 'ch' sound, similar to in 'church'.

Audio: []

селективный: [sʲɪ.lʲɛk.'tʲiv.nɨj]

Note on селективный: The initial 'sʲ' is a soft 's' sound, common in Russian loanwords; stress on the third syllable ('tʲiv'). This word often retains a more English-like rhythm due to its borrowed origin.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Choosing carefully or with discrimination (e.g., in selection processes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• выборочный - Used in formal contexts like education or recruitment, implying a process of careful selection.
• селективный - Applied in technical fields like biology or engineering, emphasizing precision and specificity.

Usage Examples:

• Этот университет проводит выборочный отбор абитуриентов на основе их достижений.

  This university conducts a selective admission process based on applicants' achievements.

• В её подходе к покупкам всегда выборочный вкус, она выбирает только лучшее.

  In her approach to shopping, she has a selective taste and chooses only the best.

• Селективный процесс отбора кандидатов помог компании нанять высококвалифицированных специалистов.

  The selective recruitment process helped the company hire highly qualified specialists.

• Выборочный анализ данных показал, что только 20% образцов соответствуют критериям.

  The selective analysis of data showed that only 20% of samples meet the criteria.

• Её селективное внимание к деталям делает её идеальным редактором.

  Her selective attention to detail makes her an ideal editor.

Meaning 2: Tending to select or choose specifically (e.g., in preferences or filters)

Translation(s) & Context:

• выборочный - In everyday contexts, such as preferences in media or consumer choices.
• селективный - In more abstract or technological contexts, like software filters.

Usage Examples:

• У него выборочный круг друзей, состоящий из людей с похожими интересами.

  He has a selective circle of friends consisting of people with similar interests.

• Селективный фильтр в приложении позволяет пользователям выбирать контент по темам.

  The selective filter in the app allows users to choose content by topics.

• Выборочный подход к чтению книг помогает ей сосредоточиться на жанрах, которые ей нравятся.

  A selective approach to reading books helps her focus on genres she enjoys.

• Эта селективная диета включает только определённые продукты для оптимального здоровья.

  This selective diet includes only certain foods for optimal health.

• В её выборочном меню ресторана всегда есть опции для вегетарианцев.

  In her selective restaurant menu, there are always options for vegetarians.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "выборочный" and "селективный" are adjectives in Russian, which typically follow standard adjectival inflections based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and can be regular or irregular. These are regular adjectives.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms, but always inflect to match the noun's gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • селективный (for technical contexts; similar but more precise)
  • требовательный (demanding; implies a stricter selection process)
• Antonyms:
  • общий (general; used when something is not selective)
  • массовый (mass; opposite in contexts like recruitment)

Related Phrases:

• Выборочный отбор - Selective selection; used in hiring or educational contexts to mean a careful picking process.
• Селективный процесс - Selective process; common in scientific or business discussions for filtered procedures.
• Выборочный анализ - Selective analysis; refers to examining only specific data points.

Usage Notes:

"Выборочный" is more versatile for everyday English users learning Russian, as it directly translates 'selective' in general contexts without needing specialized knowledge. In contrast, "селективный" is a loanword often reserved for technical fields, so choose it when discussing science or technology. Be mindful of adjective agreement: always inflect to match the noun (e.g., "выборочный процесс" for masculine singular). In formal writing, "выборочный" might sound more natural, while "селективный" adds a modern, international flavor.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "выборочный" in technical contexts where "селективный" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "выборочный фильтр" instead of "селективный фильтр" for a software filter. Correct: "селективный фильтр" means a precise, targeted filter; explanation: "выборочный" implies general selection, which can dilute the meaning in tech scenarios.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "выборочный женщина" instead of "выборочная женщина" (for feminine noun). Correct: Always adjust for gender and case; explanation: Russian requires agreement, so this can make sentences grammatically incorrect and confusing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "selective" (e.g., выборочный) often reflects the value placed on precision and efficiency in education and professional settings, stemming from historical influences like Soviet-era standardization. For instance, university admissions in Russia are highly selective, emphasizing merit and competition, which can highlight social mobility themes in literature and media.

Related Concepts:

• Отборочный
• Фильтрационный
• Дифференцированный