Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'malversation'

English Word: malversation

Key Russian Translations:

• взяточничество [vzʲatətɕnʲɪt͡ɕɪstvə] - [Formal; Used in legal and political contexts involving bribery]
• злоупотребление [zləʊʊpʲtrʲeblʲenʲɪje] - [Formal; Often refers to abuse of power or office]

Frequency: Low (This term and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear frequently in legal, political, or media discussions in Russian-speaking contexts.)

Difficulty: B2-C1 (Intermediate to Advanced; Requires familiarity with Russian legal terminology and noun declensions, making it challenging for learners below B2 level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

взяточничество: [vzʲatətɕnʲɪt͡ɕɪstvə]

Note on взяточничество: The stress falls on the third syllable ("тоch"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants. Practice with native audio for accuracy.

злоупотребление: [zləʊʊpʲtrʲeblʲenʲɪje]

Note on злоупотребление: The initial "зл" cluster is pronounced with a soft "л," and the word has a rolling rhythm; common in formal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Dishonest or illegal behavior by a public official, often involving corruption or misuse of power.

Translation(s) & Context:

• взяточничество - Typically used in contexts of bribery and financial misconduct in official roles, such as government or business.
• злоупотребление - Applied to broader abuses of authority, like misusing resources or position for personal gain, in formal or legal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Суд признал его виновным в взяточничестве, что привело к потере должности.

  The court found him guilty of malversation, which led to the loss of his position.

• Злоупотребление служебным положением стало причиной скандала в министерстве.

  Malversation in office became the cause of the scandal in the ministry.

• В отчёте подробно описано, как взяточничество подорвало доверие к администрации.

  The report detailed how malversation undermined trust in the administration.

• Она была обвинена в злоупотреблении полномочиями для личной выгоды.

  She was accused of malversation for personal gain through abuse of powers.

• Расследование выявило несколько случаев взяточничества среди чиновников.

  The investigation uncovered several instances of malversation among officials.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. "Взяточничество" is a neuter noun, and "злоупотребление" is also neuter. Russian nouns inflect for case, number, and gender. Below is a table outlining key inflections for each:

These nouns follow standard neuter declension patterns, which are relatively regular but require attention to vowel changes in certain cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • коррупция (corruption; more general and encompasses systemic issues)
  • мошенничество (fraud; implies deception, often in financial contexts)
  • хищение (embezzlement; specifically for misappropriation of funds)
• Antonyms:
  • честность (honesty; direct opposite, emphasizing integrity)
  • благонамеренность (good intentions; used in ethical discussions)

Related Phrases:

• злоупотребление служебным положением - Abuse of office; Used in legal contexts to describe misconduct by officials.
• взяточничество и коррупция - Bribery and corruption; A common phrase in media reports on scandals.
• борьба с взяточничеством - Fight against malversation; Refers to anti-corruption efforts in government or society.

Usage Notes:

"Взяточничество" is the most direct equivalent to "malversation" when it involves bribery, while "злоупотребление" is better for broader abuses of power. In Russian, these terms are almost exclusively formal and appear in written documents, legal proceedings, or news articles rather than casual speech. When translating, choose based on context: use "взяточничество" for financial corruption and "злоупотребление" for general misconduct. Be mindful of grammatical agreement, as these nouns must match the case required by the sentence structure.

• Always pair with verbs like "совершить" (to commit) or "обвинить в" (to accuse of) for accurate usage.
• In spoken Russian, euphemisms might be used in sensitive discussions, so these terms could sound accusatory.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "взяточничество" with "взятка" (a single bribe), leading to incorrect specificity. For example:

• Error: Using "взятка" to mean general malversation. Incorrect Russian: "Он совершил взятку." (This implies a single act of bribe-taking.) Correct Russian: "Он занимался взяточничеством." Explanation: "Взятка" is a noun for the act of giving/receiving a bribe, while "взяточничество" denotes a pattern of behavior.
• Error: Misdeclining the noun, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Incorrect Russian: "Обвинили в взяточничества" (should be genitive). Correct Russian: "Обвинили в взяточничестве." Explanation: Always check case endings to match the preposition or verb requirements.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and society, terms like "взяточничество" and "злоупотребление" carry significant weight due to historical and ongoing issues with corruption in government and business. These words often appear in discussions of post-Soviet reforms, where anti-corruption campaigns are prominent. Understanding them provides insight into Russia's legal and ethical landscape, where such malversations are frequently depicted in literature and media as symbols of systemic flaws.

Related Concepts:

• коррупция
• взятка
• хищение
• служебное преступление