Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'toil'

English Word: toil

Key Russian Translations:

• труд [trud] - [Formal, Noun; used in contexts of hard physical or mental work]
• трудиться [truˈdʲit͡ɕɪsʲt͡sə] - [Formal, Verb; used to describe engaging in strenuous effort or labor]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literary, professional, and everyday discussions of work ethic, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "work").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun and verb inflections; for "трудиться", it may be B2 due to irregular verb aspects).

Pronunciation (Russian):

труд: [trud]

трудиться: [truˈdʲit͡ɕɪsʲt͡sə]

Note on труд: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the final "д" sound, which can be softened in rapid speech.

Note on трудиться: This verb has a reflexive form; the "иться" ending indicates ongoing action, which might be tricky for beginners. Pronunciation can vary slightly in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Hard, laborious work (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• труд - Used in formal or literary contexts to emphasize strenuous effort, such as in work or daily struggles; common in philosophical or historical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Его ежедневный труд на ферме был изнурительным. (His daily toil on the farm was exhausting.)

  Translation: His daily toil on the farm was exhausting. This example shows "труд" in a singular, nominative context, highlighting physical labor.

• Труд ученых привел к важным открытиям. (The toil of scientists led to important discoveries.)

  Translation: The toil of scientists led to important discoveries. Here, "труд" is used in the genitive case to denote collective effort in an intellectual setting.

• В этой книге описывается тяжелый труд рабочих в XIX веке. (This book describes the hard toil of workers in the 19th century.)

  Translation: This book describes the hard toil of workers in the 19th century. Demonstrates "труд" in a prepositional phrase, emphasizing historical context.

• Труд – это основа любого успеха. (Toil is the foundation of any success.)

  Translation: Toil is the foundation of any success. This illustrates "труд" in a proverbial or motivational context.

Meaning 2: To work hard or labor intensively (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• трудиться - Used in formal or narrative contexts to describe ongoing, effortful activity; often implies dedication and perseverance, such as in professional or artistic pursuits.

Usage Examples:

• Он трудился над проектом всю ночь. (He toiled over the project all night.)

  Translation: He toiled over the project all night. This shows "трудиться" in the imperfective aspect, indicating continuous action.

• Молодые художники трудятся, чтобы достичь совершенства. (Young artists toil to achieve perfection.)

  Translation: Young artists toil to achieve perfection. Here, "трудиться" is used with an infinitive, demonstrating purpose in creative contexts.

• В жару фермеры продолжают трудиться на полях. (In the heat, farmers continue to toil in the fields.)

  Translation: In the heat, farmers continue to toil in the fields. Illustrates "трудиться" with an adverbial phrase for environmental challenges.

• Она неустанно трудилась, чтобы поддержать семью. (She tirelessly toiled to support her family.)

  Translation: She tirelessly toiled to support her family. This example highlights emotional and familial contexts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "труд" (a masculine noun), it follows the standard third-declension pattern with some irregularities. It is invariant in the plural for certain cases. Below is a table of its inflections:

For "трудиться" (a verb), it is imperfective and follows the first conjugation pattern. It conjugates as follows in the present tense:

Note: This verb is reflexive, so it always includes the "-ся" particle, which does not change.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • работа (rabota) - More general term for work, often interchangeable in everyday contexts but less emphatic on hardship.
  • усилия (usiliya) - Focuses on effort, suitable for abstract or motivational uses.
• Antonyms:
  • праздность (prazdnost') - Idleness or leisure.
  • бездействие (bezdeystvie) - Inaction or passivity.

Related Phrases:

• Тяжёлый труд (Tyazhelyy trud) - Hard toil; used to describe physically demanding work, often in labor contexts.
• Трудиться не напрасно (Trudit'sya ne naprasno) - To toil not in vain; a phrase implying purposeful effort with expected rewards.
• Ежедневный труд (Ezhednevnyy trud) - Daily toil; refers to routine, repetitive work in everyday life.

Usage Notes:

"Труд" directly corresponds to the noun form of "toil" in English, emphasizing hardship, while "трудиться" aligns with the verb form, focusing on the act of working hard. Use "труд" in formal or written contexts to convey depth, such as in literature or speeches. For "трудиться", it's ideal for describing ongoing actions and pairs well with adverbs like "неустанно" (tirelessly). Be mindful of grammatical gender and case agreements in sentences; "труд" is masculine, affecting adjectives and verbs. When choosing between translations, opt for "труд" for static concepts and "трудиться" for dynamic ones.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "труд" with "работа": Learners might use "работа" (work) interchangeably, but it lacks the connotation of hardship. Error: "Я делаю работа" (incorrect). Correct: "Я занимаюсь трудом" (I am engaged in toil). Explanation: "Труд" implies struggle, so use it for contexts involving effort.
• Misconjugating "трудиться": Beginners often forget the reflexive "-ся" ending. Error: "Я тружу" (incorrect). Correct: "Я тружусь". Explanation: This verb requires the reflexive particle to indicate self-directed action.
• Overusing in informal speech: "Трудиться" sounds formal; in casual talk, Russians might say "пачкать руки" (get hands dirty) instead. Error: Using it in everyday chit-chat. Correct: Reserve for professional or narrative contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "труд" carries a deep historical and ideological weight, especially from Soviet times, where it symbolized the valor of the working class and was glorified in propaganda and literature (e.g., in works by Maxim Gorky). It reflects the cultural emphasis on perseverance and collectivism, often linked to themes of resilience in the face of adversity, such as during industrialization or wartime efforts.

Related Concepts:

• усилие (usilie) - Effort
• трудоголизм (trudogolizm) - Workaholism
• подвиг (podvig) - Feat or heroic labor