Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'improvident'

English Word: improvident

Key Russian Translations:

• непредусмотрительный /nʲɪprʲɪdusmɐˈtʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• расточительный /rɐstɐˈt͡ɕitʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Informal, often in financial contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in formal writing or discussions about finance and planning.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and formal vocabulary. For 'непредусмотрительный', it's B2; for 'расточительный', it's A2 due to simpler structure.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

непредусмотрительный: /nʲɪprʲɪdusmɐˈtʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/

Note on непредусмотрительный: This adjective has a long structure with stress on the fourth syllable ("-мо-"). Pronounce it carefully to avoid confusion with similar words; common misstress can alter meaning.

расточительный: /rɐstɐˈt͡ɕitʲɪlʲnɨj/

Note on расточительный: The "щ" sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' (/ʃʲ/), which may be challenging for beginners; stress falls on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Not providing for the future; thriftless or financially irresponsible

Translation(s) & Context:

• непредусмотрительный - Used in formal contexts, such as legal or financial discussions, to describe someone who fails to plan ahead.
• расточительный - Applied in everyday or informal settings to denote wasteful spending or behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Его непредусмотрительные решения в бизнесе привели к банкротству.

  His improvident decisions in business led to bankruptcy.

• Из-за расточительного образа жизни она быстро потратила все сбережения.

  Due to her improvident lifestyle, she quickly spent all her savings.

• Не будь непредусмотрительным; подумай о будущем прежде, чем тратить деньги.

  Don't be improvident; think about the future before spending money.

• Расточительный подход к ресурсам часто приводит к экологическим проблемам.

  An improvident approach to resources often leads to environmental issues.

• В семье они считали его непредусмотрительным из-за отсутствия сберегательного плана.

  In the family, they considered him improvident due to the lack of a savings plan.

Wasteful or extravagant in a broader sense

Translation(s) & Context:

• расточительный - Common in contexts involving personal habits or emotions, implying extravagance without foresight.

Usage Examples:

• Её расточительные покупки во время отпуска удивили друзей.

  Her improvident purchases during the vacation surprised her friends.

• Не стоит быть расточительным с временем; оно не восполнимо.

  Don't be improvident with time; it's irreplaceable.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Непредусмотрительный' follows standard adjective patterns with irregularities in certain forms, while 'Расточительный' is more regular.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: небрежный (nebrezhnyy) - More about carelessness; благоразумный (blagorazumnyy) - Prudent, but with a positive connotation in planning.
• Antonyms: предусмотрительный (predusmotritel'nyy) - Forethoughtful, directly opposite in financial contexts; бережливый (berezhlivyy) - Thrifty, emphasizing careful resource management.

Related Phrases:

• непредусмотрительное поведение - Improvident behavior; refers to actions lacking foresight in daily life.
• расточительный образ жизни - Improvident lifestyle; commonly used to describe excessive spending habits.
• быть непредусмотрительным в расходах - To be improvident with expenses; highlights financial irresponsibility.

Usage Notes:

'Непредусмотрительный' is a formal adjective best used in written contexts like essays or reports, directly corresponding to 'improvident' in English when emphasizing future planning. 'Расточительный' is more versatile and informal, often implying wastefulness without the same level of foresight. Choose 'непредусмотрительный' for legal or professional scenarios, and 'расточительный' for everyday discussions. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the nouns they describe.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'непредусмотрительный' with 'небрежный' (careless), leading to incorrect usage. For example: Incorrect: "Он небрежный с деньгами" (implying sloppy, not financially improvident). Correct: "Он непредусмотрительный с деньгами" – This specifies the lack of planning. Explanation: 'Небрежный' focuses on sloppiness, while 'непредусмотрительный' targets foresight.

• Another error is forgetting inflections: Incorrect: "Её непредусмотрительный план" (should be 'непредусмотрительная' for feminine noun). Correct: "Её непредусмотрительная план". Explanation: Always adjust the adjective to match the noun's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being improvident, as in 'непредусмотрительный', is often viewed negatively, especially in the context of economic stability. This stems from historical experiences like the Soviet era shortages, where planning and thrift were highly valued. Words like this carry a moral undertone, emphasizing the importance of foresight in family and community life.

Related Concepts:

• экономия (economy)
• планирование (planning)
• бережливость (thriftiness)