Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'insignificant'

English Word: insignificant

Key Russian Translations:

• незначительный /nʲɪzˈnaʧʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal; used in written or academic contexts]
• неважный /nʲɪˈvaʒnɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal; commonly used in everyday speech for something unimportant]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in Russian literature, news, and conversation, but not as frequently as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners need to understand adjective declensions and context, as per CEFR standards. For 'незначительный', it's B1; for 'неважный', it's A2 due to simpler usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

незначительный: /nʲɪzˈnaʧʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/

неважный: /nʲɪˈvaʒnɨj/

Note on незначительный: The pronunciation includes a palatalized 'н' (/nʲ/), which can be tricky for English speakers; practice the soft consonant sound as in "news" in some accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not important or noteworthy

Translation(s) & Context:

• незначительный - Used in formal contexts, such as academic writing or professional discussions, to describe something that lacks significance.
• неважный - Applied in casual conversations to downplay the importance of an event or detail.

Usage Examples:

• Этот факт незначительный и не повлияет на исход. (This fact is insignificant and won't affect the outcome.)

  English: This fact is insignificant and won't affect the outcome.

• В повседневной жизни такие детали неважны. (In everyday life, such details are insignificant.)

  English: In everyday life, such details are insignificant.

• Не тратьте время на незначительные проблемы. (Don't waste time on insignificant problems.)

  English: Don't waste time on insignificant problems.

• Для меня это неважный вопрос. (For me, this is an insignificant matter.)

  English: For me, this is an insignificant matter.

• В контракте есть незначительные изменения, но они не критичны. (The contract has insignificant changes, but they aren't critical.)

  English: The contract has insignificant changes, but they aren't critical.

Meaning 2: Very small or minor

Translation(s) & Context:

• незначительный - Often used in quantitative contexts, like statistics or measurements, to indicate something minor in scale.

Usage Examples:

• Разница в цене незначительная, всего несколько рублей. (The price difference is insignificant, just a few rubles.)

  English: The price difference is insignificant, just a few rubles.

• Эти незначительные ошибки не повредят общему результату. (These insignificant errors won't harm the overall result.)

  English: These insignificant errors won't harm the overall result.

• В отчете упомянуты незначительные улучшения. (The report mentions insignificant improvements.)

  English: The report mentions insignificant improvements.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'незначительный' and 'неважный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with the nouns they modify.

For 'незначительный' (as it is more common):

'неважный' follows a similar pattern but is less commonly used in formal writing. It does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мелкий (minor, petty; often used for small size or trivial matters)
  • тривиальный (trivial; implies something commonplace)
  • непринципиальный (unimportant in principle; with a nuance of not affecting core issues)
• Antonyms:
  • значительный (significant)
  • важный (important)
  • существенный (essential)

Related Phrases:

• незначительные детали - Minor details (Used in contexts where small aspects are overlooked in favor of the bigger picture.)
• неважные вопросы - Unimportant matters (Common in casual discussions to dismiss trivial topics.)
• Это незначительно, но... - It's insignificant, but... (A phrase used to introduce a minor point while acknowledging its lack of importance.)

Usage Notes:

'Незначительный' is the most direct translation for 'insignificant' in formal English-Russian correspondence, especially in written contexts like reports or essays. It aligns closely with the idea of something not carrying weight or impact. In contrast, 'неважный' is more informal and conversational, often used in spoken Russian to express that something doesn't matter much. When choosing between translations, consider the context: opt for 'незначительный' in professional settings and 'неважный' in everyday talk. Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian sentences, as it must match the noun's gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'незначительный' without proper declension, e.g., saying "в незначительный проблем" instead of "в незначительной проблеме". Correct: Ensure the adjective agrees with the noun (e.g., "в незначительной проблеме" for feminine genitive). Explanation: Russian requires full agreement, which English speakers might overlook due to English's lack of cases.

• Error: Confusing 'незначительный' with 'небольшой' (small in size), leading to misuse in contexts of importance. Correct: Use 'незначительный' for lack of significance, not physical size. Explanation: These words overlap in some contexts but differ; 'небольшой' focuses on quantity, not importance.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, emphasizing the 'insignificance' of certain matters can reflect a pragmatic approach to life, as seen in literature like Chekhov's works, where trivial details are often highlighted to underscore deeper human experiences. However, this word itself doesn't carry strong cultural connotations beyond standard usage.

Related Concepts:

• значимый (significant)
• трудный (difficult)
• критический (critical)