Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inexact'

English Word: inexact

Key Russian Translations:

• неточный /nʲɪˈtotɕnɨj/ - [Informal, General use]
• неточный /nʲɪˈtotɕnɨj/ - [Formal, Academic or technical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in discussions involving precision or accuracy)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неточный: /nʲɪˈtotɕnɨj/ (The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh', which can be challenging for non-native speakers)

неточный: /nʲɪˈtotɕnɨj/ (Similar pronunciation to the first; note the stress on the second syllable)

Note on неточный: The initial 'н' is palatalized, making it sound like 'ny'. Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) which affects the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not exact or precise, often referring to measurements, descriptions, or information.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неточный - Used in informal settings, such as casual conversations about inaccuracies in data or estimates.
• неточный - Preferred in formal contexts, like scientific reports or professional discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Эта информация неточная, так как основана на старых данных.

  This information is inexact because it's based on outdated data.

• В его отчёте есть неточные цифры, которые могут ввести в заблуждение.

  In his report, there are inexact figures that could mislead people.

• Неточный перевод может изменить весь смысл текста.

  An inexact translation can alter the entire meaning of the text.

• Его неточный анализ привёл к ошибкам в проекте.

  His inexact analysis led to errors in the project.

• В повседневной речи люди часто используют неточные выражения для упрощения.

  In everyday speech, people often use inexact expressions for simplification.

Meaning 2: Lacking in accuracy due to approximation or vagueness, often in creative or subjective contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неточный - Applied in artistic or informal discussions, such as describing vague artistic interpretations.

Usage Examples:

• Её описание было неточным, но поэтичным.

  Her description was inexact but poetic.

• Неточные детали в рассказе добавляют таинственности.

  Inexact details in the story add an element of mystery.

• В неформальной беседе неточные формулировки допустимы.

  In informal conversation, inexact phrasing is acceptable.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'неточный' and 'неточный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, agreeing with the nouns they modify. Here's a breakdown using a table:

Note: The forms for 'неточный' and 'неточный' are identical in most cases, as they are variants. These adjectives do not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неверный (slightly more emphatic, implying error)
  • приблизительный (used for approximations, e.g., in math)
• Antonyms:
  • точный (exact, precise)
  • верный (accurate, correct)

Related Phrases:

• неточная информация - Inexact information (Refers to data that is not fully reliable.)
• неточный перевод - Inexact translation (Common in linguistic contexts, highlighting errors in rendering.)
• сделать неточным - To make inexact (Used in creative writing to describe blurring details.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'неточный' is often interchangeable with 'неточный', but 'неточный' is preferred in formal writing for its slightly more precise connotation. When translating 'inexact' from English, consider the context: for scientific or technical uses, opt for 'неточный'; for casual speech, 'неточный' works well. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns, as Russian requires gender, number, and case matching. For example, avoid using it in isolation without a noun unless in predicate form.

• Contextual choice: If the English word implies a minor inaccuracy, 'приблизительный' might be a better fit in some cases.
• Grammar tip: Always inflect based on the governing noun to maintain sentence flow.

Common Errors:

One common mistake for English learners is failing to inflect the adjective correctly, e.g., using 'неточный' with a feminine noun without changing it to 'неточная'. Incorrect: "Эта неточный данные" (should be "Эта неточная данные"). Correct: "Эта неточная информация". Another error is confusing it with 'неверный', which implies a falsehood rather than mere imprecision; this can lead to miscommunication in contexts like translations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, precision in language is highly valued, especially in professional and academic settings. Words like 'неточный' often appear in critiques of Soviet-era statistics or modern media, reflecting a cultural emphasis on accuracy in information dissemination. This can stem from historical contexts where imprecise data led to significant consequences.

Related Concepts:

• точность
• ошибка
• приблизительно