Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'maladministration'

English Word: maladministration

Key Russian Translations:

• злоупотребление [zlɐʊ.pʊˈtrʲe.blʲɪ.nʲɪ.jə] - [Formal, Legal context]
• плохое управление [ˈplox.ə.jə ʊ.prɐ.vlʲe.nʲɪ.jə] - [Informal, General administrative discussions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, governmental, and bureaucratic contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, due to involvement in legal and administrative terminology; learners at this level should grasp basic forms, but nuances require contextual understanding)

Pronunciation (Russian):

злоупотребление: [zlɐʊ.pʊˈtrʲe.blʲɪ.nʲɪ.jə]

плохое управление: [ˈplox.ə.jə ʊ.prɐ.vlʲe.nʲɪ.jə]

Note on злоупотребление: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("trʲe"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rapid consonant clusters; pronounce it slowly at first.

Note on плохое управление: The word "плохое" is an adjective in its neuter form, with a soft "x" sound like in "loch"; practice the vowel shifts for fluency.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Poor or inefficient administration, often implying corruption or abuse of power

Translation(s) & Context:

• злоупотребление - Used in formal legal or governmental settings to describe abuse of authority, such as in official reports or court cases.
• плохое управление - Applied in everyday or business contexts to indicate general inefficiency, without the strong legal connotations.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство было обвинено в злоупотреблении служебными полномочиями, что привело к экономическому кризису.

  The government was accused of maladministration, which led to an economic crisis.

• В компании часто встречается плохое управление, из-за чего сотрудники демотивированы.

  In the company, maladministration is common, which demotivates the employees.

• Злоупотребление в административных органах может привести к потере доверия общественности.

  Maladministration in administrative bodies can lead to a loss of public trust.

• Реформа направлена на устранение плохого управления в муниципальных службах.

  The reform is aimed at eliminating maladministration in municipal services.

• Суд признал факт злоупотребления, наложив штраф на чиновника.

  The court recognized the instance of maladministration and imposed a fine on the official.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns, with "злоупотребление" being a neuter noun and "плохое управление" functioning as a noun phrase. Russian nouns inflect for case, number, and gender. "Злоупотребление" follows standard neuter patterns, while "управление" (from the phrase) is also neuter but can vary based on context.

Note: "Злоупотребление" is invariant in some contexts but follows regular neuter declension. It does not change for plural in most administrative uses.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • коррупция (korruptsiya) - More focused on bribery and financial misconduct.
  • халатность (khalatnost') - Emphasizes negligence rather than intentional abuse.
  • административный произвол (administrativnyy proizvol) - Highlights arbitrary power abuse, with a connotation of injustice.
• Antonyms:
  • хорошее управление (khoroshee upravlenie) - Efficient and proper administration.
  • эффективное администрирование (effektivnoe administrivanie) - Effective management without flaws.

Related Phrases:

• злоупотребление должностными полномочиями - Abuse of official powers; used in legal indictments to describe misconduct by authorities.
• плохое административное управление - Poor administrative oversight; common in business or organizational critiques.
• борьба с злоупотреблениями - Fight against maladministration; refers to anti-corruption efforts in government.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "злоупотребление" is the preferred translation for "maladministration" in formal or legal contexts, as it directly conveys abuse of power, which aligns closely with English legal terminology. Use "плохое управление" for more general inefficiency in non-legal settings. Be mindful of the formal register: "злоупотребление" is typically restricted to written or official speech, while "плохое управление" can appear in casual discussions. Grammatically, these nouns require agreement in case with surrounding elements, so always check the sentence structure for proper inflection. When choosing between translations, opt for "злоупотребление" if corruption is implied, as it carries a stronger negative connotation.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "злоупотребление" with "коррупция" and use it interchangeably, but "злоупотребление" specifically implies misuse of position, not just bribery. Incorrect: "Он занимался коррупцией в офисе" (if maladministration is meant). Correct: "Он занимался злоупотреблением в офисе". Explanation: "Коррупция" is broader; specify "злоупотребление" for administrative abuse to avoid overgeneralization.

• Misinflecting the noun, e.g., using "злоупотребление" in the wrong case. Incorrect: "О злоупотреблениий" (wrong genitive form). Correct: "О злоупотреблении". Explanation: Always follow standard neuter declension rules to maintain grammatical accuracy.

• Overusing in informal contexts, which can sound overly dramatic. Incorrect: Casual conversation about a bad boss as "злоупотребление". Explanation: Reserve it for serious scenarios to match its formal tone.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, terms like "злоупотребление" are heavily associated with Soviet-era bureaucratic inefficiencies and modern anti-corruption campaigns. For instance, it frequently appears in discussions of government reforms, reflecting a longstanding distrust of administrative systems due to historical events like the perestroika era, where maladministration contributed to economic collapse. This adds a layer of sensitivity, as the word often evokes frustration with state institutions.

Related Concepts:

• бюрократия (byurokratiya)
• коррупция (korruptsiya)
• административная реформа (administrativnaya reforma)