Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Demerit'

English Word: Demerit

Key Russian Translations:

• недостаток [nʲɪdɐˈstatək] - [Formal, Neutral]
• минус [ˈmʲinus] - [Informal, Colloquial]
• порицание [pərʲɪˈtsanʲɪjə] - [Formal, Often in Academic or Disciplinary Contexts]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "недостаток" and "минус"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "порицание"

Pronunciation (Russian):

недостаток: [nʲɪdɐˈstatək]

Note on недостаток: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "о" in the stressed syllable is pronounced as a clear "o."

минус: [ˈmʲinus]

Note on минус: Stress on the first syllable. Simple pronunciation, often used in everyday speech.

порицание: [pərʲɪˈtsanʲɪjə]

Note on порицание: Stress on the third syllable. The soft "р" and "ц" sounds may be challenging for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A fault or disadvantage

Translation(s) & Context:

• недостаток - Used to describe a flaw, shortcoming, or disadvantage in a person, object, or situation (neutral or formal tone).
• минус - Informal, often used colloquially to point out a negative aspect or downside.

Usage Examples:

• У этой машины есть один недостаток — высокий расход топлива.

  This car has one demerit — high fuel consumption.

• Главный недостаток его характера — излишняя импульсивность.

  The main demerit of his character is excessive impulsiveness.

• Минус этого плана в том, что он требует слишком много времени.

  The demerit of this plan is that it takes too much time.

2. A mark or penalty for misconduct (e.g., in school or military contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• порицание - Refers to formal criticism or a penalty, often in disciplinary or academic settings.

Usage Examples:

• Ученик получил порицание за нарушение школьных правил.

  The student received a demerit for breaking school rules.

• Его поведение заслужило порицание со стороны начальства.

  His behavior earned a demerit from the management.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

недостаток (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	недостаток	недостатки
Genitive	недостатка	недостатков
Dative	недостатку	недостаткам
Accusative	недостаток	недостатки
Instrumental	недостатком	недостатками
Prepositional	о недостатке	о недостатках

минус (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate): Follows a similar declension pattern to "недостаток."

порицание (Noun, Neuter, Inanimate): Follows the standard neuter noun declension pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for недостаток:

• изъян
• дефект
• слабость (in the sense of a personal flaw)

Note: "изъян" often implies a visible or tangible flaw, while "слабость" is more abstract, often referring to character.

Antonyms for недостаток:

• достоинство
• преимущество

Related Phrases:

• указать на недостаток - to point out a demerit/flaw (used when critiquing something).
• минус в том, что... - the demerit is that... (common in casual speech to introduce a downside).
• выразить порицание - to express a demerit/condemnation (formal, often in official or disciplinary contexts).

Usage Notes:

• "недостаток" is the most versatile and neutral term for "demerit" in the sense of a flaw or disadvantage. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• "минус" is more colloquial and often used in spoken language to casually mention a downside. It is less formal than "недостаток."
• "порицание" is specific to formal criticism or penalties, often in academic, professional, or disciplinary settings. It does not fit contexts where "demerit" means a general flaw.
• When choosing between these translations, consider the tone and context of your sentence. For general flaws, use "недостаток"; for informal discussions, "минус"; for formal penalties, "порицание."

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "минус" in formal writing or speech. While it is common in casual conversation, it can sound out of place in professional contexts.

Incorrect: В докладе указан минус нашей стратегии. (Sounds too informal)

Correct: В докладе указан недостаток нашей стратегии.

Error 2: Misusing "порицание" to describe a general flaw or disadvantage. It strictly refers to formal criticism or penalty.

Incorrect: У этого устройства есть порицание в дизайне. (Incorrect usage)

Correct: У этого устройства есть недостаток в дизайне.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, pointing out a "недостаток" (demerit/flaw) is often done tactfully in personal or professional settings to avoid offense. Direct criticism may be softened with phrases like "есть небольшой недостаток" (there is a small demerit). Additionally, "порицание" carries a strong formal or moral connotation, often associated with Soviet-era disciplinary language in schools or workplaces.

Related Concepts:

• критика (criticism)
• оценка (evaluation)
• замечание (remark, often negative)