Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inferiority'

English Word: inferiority

Key Russian Translations:

• неполноценность [nʲɪˈpolnətsənnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, used in psychological or abstract contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal, psychological, or academic discussions, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level, as it involves abstract concepts and requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and psychological terminology)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неполноценность: [nʲɪˈpolnətsənnəsʲtʲ]

Note on неполноценность: The stress falls on the third syllable ("pol"), and the initial "нʲ" is a palatalized 'n' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state of being inferior in quality, status, or self-perception (e.g., psychological inferiority complex)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неполноценность - Used in formal or psychological contexts to describe a sense of inadequacy or lower status, such as in discussions of self-esteem or social hierarchy.

Usage Examples:

• Он страдает от комплекса неполноценности из-за своего социального положения.

  He suffers from an inferiority complex due to his social status.

• В психологии неполноценность часто связывают с детскими травмами.

  In psychology, inferiority is often linked to childhood traumas.

• Эта неполноценность продукта делает его менее конкурентоспособным на рынке.

  This inferiority of the product makes it less competitive in the market.

• Не осознавая своей неполноценности, она продолжала конкурировать с лучшими.

  Unaware of her inferiority, she continued to compete with the best.

• Комплекс неполноценности может привести к изоляции в обществе.

  An inferiority complex can lead to isolation in society.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"неполноценность" is a feminine abstract noun in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows regular patterns for feminine nouns ending in -ость, which means it inflects based on case, number, and gender. However, as an abstract concept, it is often used in singular form and does not change in most everyday contexts.

Note: Plural forms are uncommon for this word, as it typically refers to an abstract state.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неполнота (nepolnota) - Emphasizes incompleteness or lack, often in a less psychological context.
  • недостаточность (nedostatochnost') - Highlights deficiency, with a focus on insufficiency.
• Antonyms:
  • полноценность (polnotsennost') - Fullness or completeness, directly opposing the idea of inferiority.
  • самодостаточность (samodostatochnost') - Self-sufficiency, implying no need for external validation.

Related Phrases:

• комплекс неполноценности - A fixed phrase meaning "inferiority complex"; used in psychological discussions to describe deep-seated feelings of inadequacy.
• чувство неполноценности - Meaning "feeling of inferiority"; often in emotional or self-reflection contexts.
• неполноценность в сравнении - Translates to "inferiority in comparison"; used when discussing relative status or quality.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "неполноценность" is most commonly used in formal, academic, or psychological contexts to mirror the English concept of "inferiority," particularly in phrases like "inferiority complex." It is a feminine noun and should agree in gender, number, and case with other words in the sentence. English speakers should note that Russian often pairs this word with verbs like "страдать от" (to suffer from) in emotional contexts or "иметь" (to have) in descriptive ones. When choosing between synonyms like "неполнота" or "недостаточность," opt for "неполноценность" if the focus is on psychological or inherent inferiority, as it provides a more precise match to the English term.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "неполноценность" with "неполнота," using the latter incorrectly in psychological contexts. Incorrect: "Он имеет неполнота." (Wrong because "неполнота" implies mere incompleteness, not deep-seated inferiority.) Correct: "Он имеет неполноценность." Explanation: Always use "неполноценность" for inferiority in a personal or emotional sense to maintain accuracy.

• Another common mistake is failing to decline the noun properly, e.g., saying "страдать от неполноценность" instead of "страдать от неполноценности" in the genitive case. Correct form: "страдать от неполноценности." Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so pay attention to the preposition governing the case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "неполноценность" is frequently associated with psychological theories, such as those from Alfred Adler, who popularized the concept of the "inferiority complex." This term gained prominence in Soviet and post-Soviet psychology, often linked to discussions of personal development and societal pressures, reflecting a cultural emphasis on overcoming perceived weaknesses through collective or individual effort.

Related Concepts:

• самодостаточность (self-sufficiency)
• комплекс превосходства (superiority complex)
• недостаток (deficiency)