Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Deficient'

English Word: deficient

Key Russian Translations:

• недостаточный [nʲɪdɐˈstatətɕnɨj] - [Formal, Used for describing lack in quantity or quality]
• дефицитный [dʲɪfʲɪˈtsɨtnɨj] - [Formal, Often used in economic or resource contexts]
• неполноценный [nʲɪpɐlnɐˈtsɛnnɨj] - [Neutral, Often for describing inadequacy in quality or functionality]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts like academic, economic, or descriptive discussions)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies slightly by term, with дефицитный being closer to B2 due to specialized usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

недостаточный: [nʲɪdɐˈstatətɕnɨj]

Note on недостаточный: Stress falls on the third syllable (sta). The "ч" is a soft sound, similar to 'ch' in "church."

дефицитный: [dʲɪfʲɪˈtsɨtnɨj]

Note on дефицитный: Stress on the third syllable (tsi). The "ц" sounds like 'ts' in "cats."

неполноценный: [nʲɪpɐlnɐˈtsɛnnɨj]

Note on неполноценный: Stress on the fourth syllable (tsen). Pay attention to the soft "н" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Lacking in quantity or amount (Insufficient)

Translation(s) & Context:

• недостаточный - Commonly used for insufficient resources, effort, or evidence.

Usage Examples:

• У нас недостаточный бюджет для этого проекта.

  We have an insufficient budget for this project.

• Его знания недостаточны для этой работы.

  His knowledge is insufficient for this job.

• Недостаточный уровень подготовки привел к провалу.

  An insufficient level of preparation led to failure.

2. Lacking in availability or supply (Scarce)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дефицитный - Often used in economic contexts to describe scarce goods or resources.

Usage Examples:

• Этот товар дефицитный в нашем регионе.

  This product is scarce in our region.

• Дефицитные ресурсы требуют особого распределения.

  Scarce resources require special allocation.

• В те годы многие продукты были дефицитными.

  In those years, many products were in short supply.

3. Lacking in quality or completeness (Inadequate)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неполноценный - Used for describing something inferior or not fully functional.

Usage Examples:

• Это неполноценное решение проблемы.

  This is an inadequate solution to the problem.

• Он чувствует себя неполноценным из-за травмы.

  He feels deficient due to his injury.

• Неполноценная диета может навредить здоровью.

  A deficient diet can harm your health.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

недостаточный (Adjective): Declines by gender, number, and case as a standard Russian adjective.

дефицитный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as недостаточный.

неполноценный (Adjective): Follows standard adjective declension rules as well.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for недостаточный:

• нехватка
• скудный
• ограниченный

Note: "нехватка" often implies a shortage, while "скудный" suggests scarcity in a more descriptive sense.

Antonyms for недостаточный:

• достаточный
• избыточный

Related Phrases:

• недостаточный уровень - insufficient level (used in evaluations or assessments)
• дефицитный товар - scarce product (common in economic discussions)
• неполноценное питание - inadequate nutrition (used in health contexts)

Usage Notes:

• "недостаточный" is the most versatile translation for "deficient," applicable to abstract and concrete deficiencies.
• "дефицитный" is more specific to economic or resource scarcity and less common in everyday speech.
• "неполноценный" often carries a negative connotation of inferiority or incompleteness, so use it cautiously in personal contexts.
• Choose the translation based on context: for general lack, use "недостаточный"; for supply issues, use "дефицитный"; for quality issues, use "неполноценный."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "неполноценный" to describe a simple lack of quantity. Incorrect: У нас неполноценное количество денег. Correct: У нас недостаточное количество денег. Explanation: "неполноценный" implies inferiority, not just a lack of quantity.
• Error: Confusing "дефицитный" with general deficiency. Incorrect: Его знания дефицитны. Correct: Его знания недостаточны. Explanation: "дефицитный" is specific to scarce resources or goods, not personal attributes.

Cultural Notes:

The term "дефицитный" carries historical weight in Russian, often evoking memories of Soviet-era shortages of goods. Using it may trigger associations with that period, especially among older speakers.

Related Concepts:

• нехватка (shortage)
• ограничение (limitation)
• недостаток (deficiency/flaw)