Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'embezzlement'

English Word: embezzlement

Key Russian Translations:

• растрата (/rɐˈstratə/) - [Formal, Legal context]
• хищение (/xʲɪˈɕːenʲje/) - [Formal, Often in official or financial reports]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, financial, and news contexts but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; Requires understanding of legal terminology and Russian case systems)

Pronunciation (Russian):

растрата: /rɐˈstratə/

хищение: /xʲɪˈɕːenʲje/

Note on растрата: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the rolled 'r' sound, which can be challenging for non-native speakers.

Note on хищение: The initial 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish "loch"; this sound has no direct English equivalent.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The act of dishonestly taking or using money or property entrusted to one's care, especially in a professional or official capacity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• растрата - Used in formal legal contexts, such as court proceedings or financial audits, to denote misappropriation of funds.
• хищение - Applied in broader contexts involving theft from an organization, often emphasizing the secretive nature of the act.

Usage Examples:

• Он был осуждён за растрату государственных средств.

  He was convicted of embezzlement of state funds.

• Руководитель компании совершил хищение из кассы, что привело к банкротству.

  The company manager committed embezzlement from the cash register, leading to bankruptcy.

• В отчёте указано, что растрата произошла из-за слабого внутреннего контроля.

  The report states that the embezzlement occurred due to weak internal controls.

• Хищение корпоративных активов часто маскируется под legitimate расходы.

  Embezzlement of corporate assets is often disguised as legitimate expenses.

• Суд доказал, что растрата была premeditated и систематической.

  The court proved that the embezzlement was premeditated and systematic.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. Russian nouns change based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table outlining their inflections:

Note: These follow regular declension patterns, but always check context for correct case usage, as Russian requires agreement with other sentence elements.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • воровство (vorovstvo) - More general term for theft, often interchangeable in informal legal contexts.
  • мошенничество (moshennichestvo) - Emphasizes fraud; used when deceit is a key element.
• Antonyms:
  • возврат (vozvrat) - Return or restitution of funds.
  • честность (chestnost') - Honesty, implying the opposite ethical behavior.

Related Phrases:

• растрата средств - Embezzlement of funds; Commonly used in financial reports to describe misuse of money.
• хищение имущества - Embezzlement of property; Refers to stealing tangible assets in a professional setting.
• коррупционная растрата - Corrupt embezzlement; A phrase highlighting embezzlement linked to bribery or official misconduct.

Usage Notes:

Use растрата when the context involves public or entrusted funds, as it directly mirrors the legal definition of embezzlement in English. Opt for хищение in cases of broader theft from organizations, where the act is more covert. Both terms are formal and should be avoided in casual conversation; they are prevalent in legal documents or news. Grammatically, ensure the noun agrees in case with its modifiers, e.g., "в растрате" (in embezzlement). When choosing between translations, consider the specific legal nuances: растрата often implies internal betrayal, while хищение can involve external elements.

Common Errors:

• Confusing растрата with simple theft: Learners might use "кража" (theft) instead, which is less specific. Error example: "Он сделал кража денег" (incorrect). Correct: "Он совершил растрату денег" – This distinguishes embezzlement as a breach of trust, not just any theft.

• Incorrect case usage: For instance, using nominative in all contexts, e.g., "Обвинить в растрата" (wrong; should be genitive: "Обвинить в растрате"). Explanation: Russian requires precise case agreement, so always adjust based on prepositions or verbs.

• Overgeneralizing synonyms: Mistakenly equating хищение with "мошенничество," leading to imprecise language. Correct approach: Use хищение for property-related embezzlement and мошенничество for pure fraud without physical assets.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal systems, terms like растрата are often associated with widespread issues of corruption and economic mismanagement, especially in post-Soviet history. For example, high-profile cases of embezzlement in government or state-owned enterprises have fueled public distrust, reflecting broader themes of accountability in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• коррупция (korruptsiya)
• мошенничество (moshennichestvo)
• взятка (vzyatka)