Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tortuous'

English Word: tortuous

Key Russian Translations:

• извилистый /ɪzˈvɪlʲɪstɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal, Used for physical or literal twists and turns, e.g., in geography or descriptions]
• сложный /ˈslɔʐnɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal to Formal, Used for figurative complexity, such as in arguments or processes]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are commonly encountered in descriptive texts, literature, and everyday conversation, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of adjective forms and contextual nuances, with 'извилистый' being slightly more challenging due to its specific connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

извилистый: /ɪzˈvɪlʲɪstɨj/

Note on извилистый: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'лʲ' sound is a palatalized 'l', which can be tricky for English speakers—similar to the 'l' in "million". Variations in fast speech may soften the vowels.

сложный: /ˈslɔʐnɨj/

Note on сложный: Stress on the first syllable; the 'ж' sound is like the 's' in "measure". This word is straightforward but pay attention to vowel reductions in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Full of twists and turns (e.g., referring to a path, road, or physical layout)

Translation(s) & Context:

• извилистый - Used in contexts describing geography, roads, or natural formations; common in formal writing or travel descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Эта река извилистая и полна неожиданных поворотов.

  This river is tortuous and full of unexpected turns.

• Извилистый путь через горы занял у нас весь день.

  The tortuous path through the mountains took us the whole day.

• В лесу мы нашли извилистую тропинку, ведущую к озеру.

  In the forest, we found a tortuous trail leading to the lake.

• Извилистые улицы старого города затрудняют навигацию.

  The tortuous streets of the old city make navigation difficult.

Meaning 2: Excessively complex or convoluted (e.g., referring to reasoning, arguments, or processes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сложный - Applied in abstract or intellectual contexts, such as discussions, legal texts, or problem-solving; can be used informally in daily conversations about challenges.

Usage Examples:

• Его объяснение было слишком сложным и запутанным.

  His explanation was too tortuous and convoluted.

• Сложный сюжет романа держит читателя в напряжении.

  The tortuous plot of the novel keeps the reader in suspense.

• Эта процедура имеет сложный процесс, требующий тщательного анализа.

  This procedure has a tortuous process that requires careful analysis.

• Сложные аргументы в дебатах часто приводят к недоразумениям.

  Tortuous arguments in debates often lead to misunderstandings.

• Из-за сложного контракта нам пришлось обратиться к юристу.

  Due to the tortuous contract, we had to consult a lawyer.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'извилистый' and 'сложный' are Russian adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

For 'извилистый' (irregular in some senses due to its root, but follows general rules):

Form	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	извилистый	извилистая	извилистое	извилистые
Genitive	извилистого	извилистой	извилистого	извилистых
Dative	извилистому	извилистой	извилистому	извилистым

For 'сложный' (regular adjective):

Form	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	сложный	сложная	сложное	сложные
Genitive	сложного	сложной	сложного	сложных
Dative	сложному	сложной	сложному	сложным

These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun in all aspects. If the noun is in a specific case, the adjective changes accordingly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for извилистый: кривой (crooked, with a more negative connotation), петляющий (meandering, often for paths)
• Synonyms for сложный: запутанный (entangled, for confusion), интригующий (intriguing, with a positive twist)
• Antonyms: прямой (straight, opposite of winding), простой (simple, opposite of complex)

Note: 'Петляющий' is often used for natural, flowing twists, while 'кривой' implies irregularity or defect.

Related Phrases:

• Извилистая дорога - A winding road; used in travel contexts to describe challenging routes.
• Сложный путь - A tortuous path; refers to metaphorical journeys or processes that are complicated.
• Запутанный сюжет - A tortuous plot; common in literature to indicate intricate storylines.

Usage Notes:

'Извилистый' directly corresponds to the physical aspect of 'tortuous' and is best used in descriptive, literal contexts, while 'сложный' aligns with the figurative sense. Be mindful of formality: 'Извилистый' is more formal and literary, whereas 'сложный' works in everyday speech. In Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun, so always adjust accordingly. When choosing between translations, opt for 'извилистый' for spatial descriptions and 'сложный' for intellectual ones to ensure precision.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'извилистый' with 'кривой', using 'кривой' for neutral twists when it implies something defective. Correct usage: Use 'извилистый' for natural winding; e.g., Error: "Кривая река" (implies the river is crooked or damaged); Correct: "Извилистая река".
• Another error is failing to inflect the adjective properly, such as using 'сложный' with a feminine noun without changing to 'сложная'. Error: "Сложный проблема" (incorrect); Correct: "Сложная проблема" (feminine noun requires feminine form).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'извилистый' often evoke imagery from literature, such as in Tolstoy's works where winding paths symbolize life's complexities. 'Сложный' may reflect the historical depth of Russian philosophy and debates, emphasizing that tortuous reasoning is valued in intellectual discussions, as seen in Dostoevsky's novels.

Related Concepts:

• прямой
• простой
• петля