Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meager'

English Word: meager

Key Russian Translations:

• скудный [ˈskudnɨj] - [Formal; used in contexts describing insufficient quantity or quality]
• бедный [ˈbʲednɨj] - [Informal; often implies poverty or lack, but less precise for 'meager' in neutral contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, formal writing, and everyday discussions about resources, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and contexts, based on CEFR standards. For 'скудный', it's B1; for 'бедный', it might be A2 due to its broader usage).

Pronunciation (Russian):

скудный: [ˈskudnɨj]

бедный: [ˈbʲednɨj]

Note on скудный: The stress is on the first syllable; pay attention to the hard 'd' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers used to softer consonants. Variations in casual speech might soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Insufficient in amount or quality (primary meaning of 'meager')

Translation(s) & Context:

• скудный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as discussing limited resources or sparse offerings.
• бедный - Applied in informal settings, often with a connotation of poverty, but can overlap for 'meager' in everyday scarcity.

Usage Examples:

• У нас скудные запасы еды на зиму. (We have meager food supplies for the winter.)

  English Translation: We have meager food supplies for the winter. (This example shows 'скудный' in a practical, resource-related context.)

• Его скудные знания истории не помогли в экзамене. (His meager knowledge of history didn't help in the exam.)

  English Translation: His meager knowledge of history didn't help in the exam. (Illustrates use in intellectual or educational contexts, highlighting insufficiency.)

• Бедный урожай в этом году разочаровал фермеров. (The meager harvest this year disappointed the farmers.)

  English Translation: The meager harvest this year disappointed the farmers. (Here, 'бедный' is used informally to describe agricultural scarcity.)

• Скудные финансовые ресурсы ограничивают наши возможности. (Meager financial resources limit our opportunities.)

  English Translation: Meager financial resources limit our opportunities. (Demonstrates 'скудный' in a business or economic context with formal grammar.)

• В её бедном рационе не хватает витаминов. (Her meager diet lacks vitamins.)

  English Translation: Her meager diet lacks vitamins. (Shows 'бедный' in health-related informal usage, emphasizing personal scarcity.)

Secondary meaning: Lacking in richness or abundance

Translation(s) & Context:

• скудный - Often in literary or poetic contexts to describe something sparse or underwhelming.

Usage Examples:

• Скудный декор комнаты придавал ей аскетический вид. (The meager decor of the room gave it an ascetic appearance.)

  English Translation: The meager decor of the room gave it an ascetic appearance. (This highlights aesthetic or descriptive use in everyday settings.)

• Его скудные достижения в карьере не впечатлили инвесторов. (His meager achievements in his career didn't impress the investors.)

  English Translation: His meager achievements in his career didn't impress the investors. (Focuses on professional contexts with a evaluative tone.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'скудный' and 'бедный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns, but 'скудный' is regular, while 'бедный' can have slight variations in some dialects. Below is a table for 'скудный' as an example; 'бедный' follows similar rules.

For 'бедный', the forms are identical in structure but may vary slightly in pronunciation. These adjectives do not change in comparative forms without additional suffixes (e.g., скуднее for comparative).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бедный (similar but often more emotional, implying hardship)
  • незначительный (neutral, for something unimportant or minor)
• Antonyms:
  • богатый (rich, abundant)
  • обильный (plentiful, copious)

Related Phrases:

• скудные ресурсы - Meager resources (used in economic or survival contexts to describe limited availability).
• бедный выбор - Meager selection (informal, for options that are insufficient in variety).
• скудный рацион - Meager diet (common in health or nutritional discussions).

Usage Notes:

'Meager' translates most accurately to 'скудный' in formal contexts, as it maintains a neutral tone without the poverty connotation of 'бедный'. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which 'meager' does not require. For example, use 'скудный' for masculine singular nouns. When choosing between translations, opt for 'скудный' in written or professional settings and 'бедный' in casual conversation. Be mindful of cultural nuances where scarcity might imply resilience rather than negativity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'скудный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "скудный ресурса" instead of "скудные ресурсы" for plural. Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's case, number, and gender. Explanation: This is a common mistake for beginners due to English's lack of inflection; it can make the sentence grammatically incorrect and confusing.

• Error: Confusing 'скудный' with 'бедный' and using it inappropriately, e.g., "бедный знания" to mean 'meager knowledge' when 'скудный' is more precise. Correct: Use 'скудный знания' for neutral insufficiency. Explanation: 'бедный' carries emotional weight, potentially altering the intended meaning in formal contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'скудный' often evoke themes of endurance during historical hardships, such as famines or economic struggles in the Soviet era. This can add a layer of resilience or stoicism to descriptions of scarcity, differing from English's more straightforward negativity.

Related Concepts:

• богатый
• обильный
• незначительный