Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inefficient'

English Word: inefficient

Key Russian Translations:

• неэффективный /nʲɪfʲɪkˈtʲivnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, Used in professional or technical contexts]
• неэкономичный /nʲɪkɐˈnɐmʲɪtɕnɨj/ - [Informal, Sometimes used interchangeably, but more focused on wastefulness]

Frequency: Medium (Common in business, technology, and everyday discussions, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "хороший").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and vocabulary related to efficiency, as per CEFR standards. For 'неэффективный', it's B1; for 'неэкономичный', it may vary slightly to B2 due to nuanced usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неэффективный: /nʲɪfʲɪkˈtʲivnɨj/

неэкономичный: /nʲɪkɐˈnɐmʲɪtɕnɨj/

Note on неэффективный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("tʲiv"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants. Pronounce it with a soft 'n' sound at the beginning.

Note on неэкономичный: Similar stress on the third syllable; be aware of the 'ch' sound as in 'church' for 'tɕ'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Not achieving maximum productivity or being wasteful of resources

Translation(s) & Context:

• неэффективный - Used in formal settings like business reports or technical discussions to describe processes or systems that waste time or energy.
• неэкономичный - Applied in everyday contexts, such as personal finance or casual conversations, emphasizing financial waste.

Usage Examples:

• Эта машина неэффективна из-за устаревшей технологии.

  This machine is inefficient due to outdated technology.

• Неэффективный менеджмент привел к потере прибыли.

  Inefficient management led to loss of profit.

• В нашей компании мы избегаем неэкономичных методов работы.

  In our company, we avoid inefficient work methods.

• Неэффективный подход к обучению замедляет прогресс студентов.

  An inefficient approach to learning slows down students' progress.

• Этот маршрут неэкономичный, так как тратит слишком много топлива.

  This route is inefficient because it wastes too much fuel.

Wasteful in terms of effort or time

Translation(s) & Context:

• неэффективный - Often used in educational or productivity contexts to highlight poor use of time.

Usage Examples:

• Неэффективное планирование вызывает стресс на работе.

  Inefficient planning causes stress at work.

• Его неэффективные привычки чтения снижают скорость усвоения информации.

  His inefficient reading habits reduce the speed of information absorption.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'неэффективный' and 'неэкономичный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow the standard first-declension adjective pattern, with no irregularities. Below is a table for 'неэффективный' as an example:

For 'неэкономичный', the inflections are identical in pattern. These adjectives do not change in comparative forms without additional suffixes (e.g., 'более неэффективный' for 'more inefficient').

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: неэффективный (most direct), неэкономичный (emphasizes economy), бесполезный (useless, with a nuance of complete worthlessness)
• Antonyms: эффективный (efficient, direct opposite), экономичный (economical)

Related Phrases:

• неэффективное использование ресурсов - Inefficient use of resources; commonly used in environmental or business discussions.
• неэкономичный расход энергии - Inefficient energy consumption; highlights waste in daily life or industry.
• быть неэффективным в работе - To be inefficient at work; a phrase for performance evaluations.

Usage Notes:

'Неэффективный' directly corresponds to 'inefficient' in formal English contexts, while 'неэкономичный' is better for scenarios involving financial or resource waste. Always consider the gender and case of the noun it modifies in Russian sentences. For example, use the formal version in professional writing, but opt for 'неэкономичный' in casual conversations about personal habits. When choosing between translations, 'неэффективный' is more versatile and aligns closely with efficiency metrics.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: English learners often confuse 'неэффективный' with 'неэффективно' (the adverb form). Incorrect: "Он работает неэффективный" (should be "неэффективно" for adverbial use). Correct: "Он работает неэффективно." Explanation: Adjectives must agree with nouns, while adverbs modify verbs directly.

• Another error: Overusing 'неэффективный' in informal speech; instead, natives might say 'неудобный' (inconvenient) for lighter contexts. Incorrect usage: "Это неэффективный план для пикника." Better: "Это неудобный план для пикника." Explanation: Match the word to the context's formality to sound natural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, especially in business and education, terms like 'неэффективный' carry a strong connotation of criticism, often linked to Soviet-era inefficiencies in planning and resource management. This can evoke historical references to bureaucratic waste, making it a sensitive word in discussions about modern reforms.

Related Concepts:

• эффективность
• экономия
• производительность