Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inaccurate'

English Word: inaccurate

Key Russian Translations:

• Неточный (/nʲɪˈtotɕnɨj/) - [Informal, used in general contexts]
• Неправильный (/nʲɪˈprɐvʲɪlʲnɨj/) - [Formal, often in technical or legal contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language, especially in discussions, media, and education)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level, as it involves understanding adjective inflections; for "Неточный" it's B1, while "Неправильный" might be A2 due to its regularity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Неточный: /nʲɪˈtotɕnɨj/

Note on Неточный: The soft 'н' (/nʲ/) can be tricky for English speakers; it's pronounced with a palatalized 'n' sound, similar to the 'n' in "news" but softer. Stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Неправильный: /nʲɪˈprɐvʲɪlʲnɨj/

Note on Неправильный: Pay attention to the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables, common in Russian; the 'а' in the second syllable is reduced to a schwa-like sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not accurate or precise in facts, measurements, or details

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неточный - Used in informal conversations about errors in data or descriptions, e.g., in scientific or everyday contexts.
• Неправильный - Preferred in formal settings like legal documents or technical reports for emphasizing incorrectness.

Usage Examples:

• Эта информация была неточной, потому что источники устарели.

  This information was inaccurate because the sources were outdated.

• В отчёте несколько данных оказались неправильными из-за опечаток.

  In the report, several data points turned out to be inaccurate due to typos.

• Его описание события было неточным, что вызвало путаницу.

  His description of the event was inaccurate, which caused confusion.

• Неправильные измерения могут привести к серьёзным ошибкам в эксперименте.

  Inaccurate measurements can lead to serious errors in the experiment.

• Неточный перевод книги исказил оригинальный смысл автора.

  The inaccurate translation of the book distorted the author's original meaning.

Meaning 2: Not exact or faithful to the truth

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неточный - Applied in narrative or storytelling contexts, where precision is lacking but not maliciously.
• Неправильный - Used when implying a more deliberate or systemic inaccuracy, such as in ethical or professional scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Её воспоминания о поездке оказались неточными после многих лет.

  Her memories of the trip turned out to be inaccurate after many years.

• Неправильное толкование закона может привести к судебным разбиратствам.

  An inaccurate interpretation of the law can lead to legal proceedings.

• Неточный отчёт о финансах вызвал недоверие инвесторов.

  The inaccurate financial report caused distrust among investors.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Неточный" and "Неправильный" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow the standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives. They do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Ошибочный (oshibochnyy) - Similar to "Неточный" but implies a mistake; often used interchangeably in informal contexts.
  • Недостоверный (nedostovernyy) - Closer to "Неправильный" but emphasizes unreliability.
• Antonyms:
  • Точный (tochnyy) - Exact or precise.
  • Правильный (pravilnyy) - Correct or accurate.

Related Phrases:

• Неточная информация - Inaccurate information; often used in news or data contexts.
• Неправильный подход - Inaccurate approach; refers to flawed methods in problem-solving.
• Быть неточным в деталях - To be inaccurate in details; highlights minor errors in descriptions.

Usage Notes:

"Неточный" is a more neutral and common choice for everyday inaccuracies, while "Неправильный" carries a stronger connotation of error or fault, making it suitable for formal or critical contexts. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which has no direct equivalent in English. For example, choose "Неточный" for informal speech and "Неправильный" in professional settings to align with the precise nuance of "inaccurate". Avoid overusing these without context, as Russian often prefers specific phrases for clarity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Неточный" in formal documents where "Неправильный" is more appropriate. Correct: Неправильный отчёт (Inaccurate report). Explanation: "Неточный" sounds too casual and may understate the severity.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "Неточный книга" instead of "Неточная книга". Correct: Неточная книга. Explanation: Russian requires adjectives to match the noun's gender (feminine in this case), which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, accuracy in information is highly valued, especially in education and media, due to historical emphasis on precision in Soviet-era sciences. Words like "Неточный" can carry implications of unreliability, which might affect social trust, as seen in public discourse around fake news.

Related Concepts:

• Ошибочный
• Недостоверный
• Точный