Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inadequate'

English Word: inadequate

Key Russian Translations:

• Неадекватный [nʲɪdɐˈkatnɨj] - [Formal, often used in psychological or behavioral contexts]
• Недостаточный [nʲɪdɐˈstatətɕnɨj] - [General, everyday usage for insufficiency]

Frequency: Medium (These words are commonly encountered in written and spoken Russian, particularly in professional or educational settings, but not as frequent as basic everyday vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced contexts. For 'Неадекватный', it may lean towards B2 due to its formal connotations, while 'Недостаточный' is also B2 but more straightforward.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Неадекватный: [nʲɪdɐˈkatnɨj]

Note on Неадекватный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("kat"), which can be tricky for learners due to the palatalized 'n' sound; practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Недостаточный: [nʲɪdɐˈstatətɕnɨj]

Note on Недостаточный: The 'щ' sound (as in [tɕ]) is a soft, hissing sound; common in Russian but may require focused practice for non-Slavic speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not sufficient or enough (referring to quantity, quality, or capability)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Недостаточный - Used in general contexts to describe something lacking in amount or adequacy, such as resources or performance.
• Неадекватный - Applied in more formal or evaluative contexts, like assessing behavior or responses that do not meet expectations.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Этот отчет недостаточен для принятия решения. (Etot otchet nedostatochen dlya prinyatiya resheniya.)

  English: This report is inadequate for making a decision. (Shows usage in a professional context with a noun.)

• Русский: Вода в кране недостаточна для ежедневного использования. (Voda v krane nedostatochna dlya ezhednevnogo ispolzovaniya.)

  English: The water in the tap is inadequate for daily use. (Illustrates usage with a concrete noun in a practical scenario.)

• Русский: Его неадекватный ответ вызвал недоразумение. (Yego neadequatnyy otvet vyzval nedorazumenie.)

  English: His inadequate response caused a misunderstanding. (Demonstrates usage in interpersonal communication, highlighting behavioral inadequacy.)

• Русский: Недостаточная подготовка студента привела к провалу экзамена. (Nedostatochnaya podgotovka studenta privela k provalu ekzamena.)

  English: The student's inadequate preparation led to exam failure. (Shows adjectival form in an educational context.)

Meaning 2: Not appropriate or suitable (implying a mismatch or poor fit)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неадекватный - Common in contexts involving standards, expectations, or psychological evaluations.
• Недостаточный - Less common for this meaning but can be used when suitability ties back to insufficiency.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Неадекватная реакция на критику может ухудшить отношения. (Neadequatnaya reaktsiya na kritikyu mozhet ukhudshit otnosheniya.)

  English: An inadequate reaction to criticism can worsen relationships. (Emphasizes emotional or social inadequacy.)

• Русский: Это оборудование неадекватно для современных стандартов. (Eto oborudovanie neadequatno dlya sovremennykh standartov.)

  English: This equipment is inadequate for modern standards. (Illustrates usage in technical or evaluative contexts.)

• Русский: Недостаточная защита данных вызывает риски. (Nedostatochnaya zashchita dannykh vyzivaet riski.)

  English: Inadequate data protection causes risks. (Links back to insufficiency in a digital context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Неадекватный' and 'Недостаточный' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can have irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table outlining the key inflections for these words in the nominative case; full paradigms vary by case.

Note: These adjectives decline according to the standard first-declension pattern. For example, in the genitive case, masculine singular becomes 'Неадекватного' and 'Недостаточного'. They do not have irregular forms, making them relatively predictable for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Неподходящий (nepodkhodyashchiy) - Similar to 'inadequate' in terms of unsuitability, but often implies a poor fit rather than insufficiency.
  • Несоответствующий (nesootvetstvuyushchiy) - Emphasizes a lack of correspondence, with a more formal tone.
• Antonyms:
  • Адекватный (adequatnyy) - Directly opposite, meaning suitable or appropriate.
  • Достаточный (dostatochnyy) - Meaning sufficient or adequate in quantity.

Related Phrases:

• Неадекватное поведение (Neadequatnoe povedenie) - Inadequate behavior; used in psychological or social discussions to describe inappropriate actions.
• Недостаточная информация (Nedostatochnaya informatsiya) - Inadequate information; common in contexts like research or decision-making, implying a lack of data.
• Неадекватная реакция (Neadequatnaya reaktsiya) - Inadequate response; often in emotional or crisis situations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'Неадекватный' is more precise for contexts involving mismatch or inappropriateness, akin to the English 'inadequate' in behavioral or evaluative senses, while 'Недостаточный' aligns better with quantitative shortages. Always consider the gender and case of the noun it modifies for correct inflection. For English speakers, note that Russian adjectives don't have degrees like 'inadequate' vs. 'very inadequate'; instead, use adverbs like 'очень' (ochen', meaning 'very') for emphasis, e.g., 'очень неадекватный'. Choose between translations based on context: use 'Неадекватный' for formal writing and 'Недостаточный' for everyday conversation.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'Неадекватный' interchangeably with 'Недостаточный' without considering context. For example, saying 'Недостаточный поведение' instead of 'Неадекватное поведение'.
  Correct: 'Неадекватное поведение' – Explanation: 'Неадекватный' is the appropriate adjective for behavioral contexts, as 'Недостаточный' implies a lack of sufficiency, not unsuitability.
• Mistake: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., using 'Неадекватный' with a feminine noun without changing to 'Неадекватная'.
  Correct: 'Неадекватная реакция' – Explanation: Russian requires agreement in gender, number, and case, which English speakers might overlook due to the lack of similar rules in English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'Неадекватный' can carry a strong connotation in social or psychological discussions, often linked to mental health awareness or criticism of behavior in public spheres. For instance, it's frequently used in media to describe public figures' responses, reflecting a cultural emphasis on social harmony and appropriateness.

Related Concepts:

• Адекватный (adequatnyy)
• Достаточный (dostatochnyy)
• Несоответствие (nesootvetstvie)