Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'expendable'

English Word: expendable

Key Russian Translations:

• Расходный [rɐˈʂodnɨj] - [Formal, used for consumable items or resources]
• Жертвуемый [ʐɨrtvʊˈemɨj] - [Informal, often in military or strategic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in technical, military, or business contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and their declensions; for 'Расходный', it's B1, while 'Жертвуемый' may reach B2 due to its less frequent use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Расходный: [rɐˈʂodnɨj]

Note on Расходный: The 'щ' sound (as in [ʂ]) is a voiceless palatalized fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'ship' but softer and more hissing; beginners often confuse it with 'sh' in English.

Жертвуемый: [ʐɨrtvʊˈemɨj]

Note on Жертвуемый: The 'ж' sound (as in [ʐ]) is a voiced palatal fricative, like the 's' in 'measure'; pay attention to the stress on the third syllable for natural pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Something that is consumable or can be used up without significant loss (e.g., resources or supplies).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Расходный - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as inventory management or logistics, to describe items that are routinely depleted.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: В офисе мы всегда держим запас расходных материалов, таких как бумага и чернила.

  English: In the office, we always keep a stock of expendable materials, such as paper and ink.

• Русский: Эти расходные детали автомобиля нужно заменять каждые 10 000 километров.

  English: These expendable parts of the car need to be replaced every 10,000 kilometers.

• Русский: В военной логистике расходные товары имеют приоритет в поставках.

  English: In military logistics, expendable goods have priority in supplies.

• Русский: Компания инвестирует в расходные ресурсы для повышения эффективности производства.

  English: The company invests in expendable resources to increase production efficiency.

Meaning 2: Something or someone that can be sacrificed or considered dispensable (e.g., in strategic or human contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Жертвуемый - Often used in informal or dramatic contexts, such as military strategy or ethical discussions, to imply something can be given up for a greater purpose.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: В этой операции некоторые жертвуемые элементы плана были исключены для снижения рисков.

  English: In this operation, some expendable elements of the plan were excluded to reduce risks.

• Русский: Во время войны солдаты иногда рассматриваются как жертвуемые, что вызывает этические споры.

  English: During war, soldiers are sometimes viewed as expendable, which sparks ethical debates.

• Русский: В бизнес-стратегиях жертвуемые активы могут быть проданы для финансирования основных проектов.

  English: In business strategies, expendable assets can be sold to fund core projects.

• Русский: Фильм показывает, как жертвуемые персонажи жертвуют собой ради общей цели.

  English: The film depicts how expendable characters sacrifice themselves for the greater goal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Расходный' and 'Жертвуемый' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives, but they can be irregular in certain forms.

For 'Расходный' (a standard adjective):

For 'Жертвуемый' (similar pattern, but less common and can vary slightly in passive forms):

These adjectives do not change in short forms but must agree with the noun they modify. If the word is used as a participle, it may have verbal inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Расходуемый (similar to расходный, but more active voice, often used in technical contexts)
  • Вспомогательный (auxiliary, implying secondary and dispensable role)
• Antonyms:
  • Необходимый (necessary, essential)
  • Незаменимый (irreplaceable, highlighting permanence)

Related Phrases:

• Расходный материал - Refers to consumable materials or supplies in industrial settings.
• Жертвуемый элемент - Means an expendable element in a plan or strategy, often in military or project management.
• Быть расходным - To be treated as expendable, implying disposability in a broader context.

Usage Notes:

'Expendable' translates to Russian adjectives like 'Расходный' for material contexts and 'Жертвуемый' for human or strategic ones. Use 'Расходный' in formal, professional scenarios (e.g., business or logistics) due to its precision. 'Жертвуемый' is better for emotional or ethical discussions, as it carries a connotation of sacrifice. Be mindful of gender and case agreement in sentences. When choosing between translations, consider the context: if it's about resources, opt for 'Расходный'; for people or ideas, 'Жертвуемый' fits better.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'Расходный' interchangeably with 'Вспомогательный' without context, leading to imprecise meaning. Correct: 'Расходный' implies something is used up, while 'Вспомогательный' means supportive. Example of error: "Этот солдат расходный" (incorrect if not emphasizing consumption); Correct: "Этот солдат жертвуемый" in strategic contexts.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "расходный машина" instead of "расходная машина" for feminine nouns. Explanation: Always match the adjective's ending to the noun's gender, number, and case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'Жертвуемый' often evoke historical contexts such as World War II, where sacrifices were glorified in literature and media. This can add a layer of patriotism or melancholy to discussions, differing from the more neutral English usage.

Related Concepts:

• Логистика (logistics)
• Ресурсы (resources)
• Стратегия (strategy)