Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'intermittent'

English Word: intermittent

Key Russian Translations:

• прерывистый [prʲɪˈrɨvʲɪstɨj] - [Adjective, General, used in technical or everyday contexts]
• непостоянный [nʲɪpɐˈsto͡ijnɨj] - [Adjective, Informal, implies instability rather than strict irregularity]
• периодический [pʲɪrʲɪˈodʲɪt͡ɕɪskʲɪj] - [Adjective, Formal, often for recurring patterns]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in scientific, technical, and everyday language, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and contextual nuances. For 'прерывистый', it's B1; for 'периодический', it might lean towards B2 due to its formal applications.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

прерывистый: [prʲɪˈrɨvʲɪstɨj]

непостоянный: [nʲɪpɐˈsto͡ijnɨj]

периодический: [pʲɪrʲɪˈodʲɪt͡ɕɪskʲɪj]

Note on прерывистый: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'р' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in rapid speech may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: Occurring at irregular intervals or sporadically.

Translation(s) & Context:

• прерывистый - Used in technical or descriptive contexts, such as weather or machinery, to describe something that starts and stops unpredictably.
• непостоянный - Applied in informal or emotional contexts, emphasizing unreliability or changeability.

Usage Examples:

• Иногда погода бывает прерывистой, что затрудняет планирование поездок.

  Sometimes the weather is intermittent, which makes trip planning difficult.

• Его непостоянный интерес к проекту привел к прерывистому прогрессу.

  His intermittent interest in the project led to sporadic progress.

• Периодический шум от машины был прерывистым, но все же раздражающим.

  The periodic noise from the machine was intermittent but still annoying.

• В сельской местности прерывистый сигнал интернета — обычное дело.

  In rural areas, intermittent internet signals are commonplace.

• Прерывистый дождь в течение дня сделал прогулку непредсказуемой.

  The intermittent rain throughout the day made the walk unpredictable.

Secondary meaning: Not continuous or steady (e.g., in processes or behaviors).

Translation(s) & Context:

• периодический - Best for contexts involving cycles, like in science or schedules.
• прерывистый - For non-cyclic interruptions in daily life.

Usage Examples:

• Периодический отдых необходим для прерывистого рабочего графика.

  Periodic breaks are necessary for an intermittent work schedule.

• Ее прерывистый сон из-за шума не позволял ей сосредоточиться на следующий день.

  Her intermittent sleep due to noise prevented her from focusing the next day.

• Непостоянный поток посетителей делал бизнес прерывистым.

  The intermittent flow of visitors made the business unsteady.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. 'Прерывистый' is a standard hard-stem adjective and follows regular patterns. 'Непостоянный' and 'периодический' also decline regularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эпизодический (episodic) - Similar to 'intermittent' but often implies discrete events.
  • спорадический (sporadic) - Used for rare or scattered occurrences.
• Antonyms:
  • постоянный (constant) - Indicates something continuous without breaks.
  • непрерывный (continuous) - Emphasizes no interruptions at all.

Related Phrases:

• Прерывистый дождь - Intermittent rain; refers to rain that comes and goes.
• Непостоянный сигнал - Unsteady signal; common in tech contexts for unreliable connections.
• Периодический контроль - Periodic check; used in formal or professional settings for scheduled inspections.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'прерывистый' for precise, neutral descriptions of irregularity, as it directly mirrors the English 'intermittent' in technical contexts. 'Непостоянный' is better for informal or emotional scenarios where instability is key. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement: always decline based on the noun's gender, number, and case. In formal writing, 'периодический' might be preferred if the irregularity follows a pattern, but avoid it for truly random events.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'прерывистый' interchangeably with 'постоянный' due to confusion in meaning. Correct: 'Прерывистый' means irregular, while 'постоянный' means constant. Example of error: "Прерывистый дождь каждый день" (implying constant rain incorrectly); Correct: "Периодический дождь каждый день". Explanation: This mixes up irregularity with regularity, leading to logical inconsistencies.

• Error: Failing to decline the adjective properly, e.g., saying "прерывистый дом" in genitive case without changing to "прерывистого дома". Correct: Always match the case, as in "в прерывистом доме". Explanation: Russian requires full agreement, which English learners often overlook, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'прерывистый' are often used in contexts related to Russia's variable weather or unreliable infrastructure, reflecting a pragmatic view of life's uncertainties. For instance, in literature like Chekhov's works, such terms highlight the unpredictability of rural life, adding a layer of realism to descriptions.

Related Concepts:

• регулярный (regular)
• эпизод (episode)
• спорадичность (sporadicity)