Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'negligible'

English Word: negligible

Key Russian Translations:

• незначительный /nʲɪzˈnatɕɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• минимальный /mʲɪˈnʲiməlʲnɨj/ - [Formal, used in quantitative contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in academic, scientific, or formal writing, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and formal vocabulary; for минимальный, also B2 due to its use in measurements).

Pronunciation (Russian):

незначительный: /nʲɪzˈnatɕɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh'.)

Note on незначительный: Be cautious with the palatalization; the 'т' is softened before 'и', which can be tricky for English speakers. A common mispronunciation is stressing the wrong syllable.

минимальный: /mʲɪˈnʲiməlʲnɨj/ (Stress on the second syllable; the initial 'м' is slightly palatalized.)

Note on минимальный: This word has a more precise, quantitative connotation, similar to "minimal" in English, and the pronunciation is relatively straightforward but watch for the soft 'н'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Of very little importance, size, or effect; insignificant.

Translation(s) & Context:

• незначительный - Used in formal contexts like scientific reports or legal documents to describe something that can be ignored without significant impact.
• минимальный - Applied in quantitative or technical settings, such as measurements, to indicate the smallest possible amount.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Влияние этой переменной на результат незначительно, поэтому мы можем ее игнорировать.

  English Translation: The influence of this variable on the result is negligible, so we can ignore it.

• Русский пример: Стоимость ремонта минимальна по сравнению с ценой новой машины.

  English Translation: The cost of the repair is negligible compared to the price of a new car.

• Русский пример: В экономических моделях незначительные колебания часто не учитываются.

  English Translation: In economic models, negligible fluctuations are often not taken into account.

• Русский пример: Хотя ошибка минимальна, она может повлиять на точность данных.

  English Translation: Although the error is negligible, it could affect the accuracy of the data.

• Русский пример: В повседневной жизни незначительные детали не всегда важны.

  English Translation: In everyday life, negligible details are not always important.

Meaning 2: So small or unimportant as to be not worth considering in calculations or decisions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• незначительный - Often used in mathematical or analytical contexts to denote something below a threshold of relevance.
• минимальный - In contexts involving limits or thresholds, emphasizing the lower bound.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Потери энергии в этой системе незначительны и не влияют на общую эффективность.

  English Translation: Energy losses in this system are negligible and do not affect overall efficiency.

• Русский пример: Минимальная погрешность измерения делает данные надежными.

  English Translation: The negligible error in measurement makes the data reliable.

• Русский пример: В контракте указано, что незначительные изменения не требуют переподписания.

  English Translation: The contract states that negligible changes do not require re-signing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives and follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular but require attention to gender, number, and case. Unlike English, Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must change based on the noun's gender (e.g., for feminine: незначительная; for neuter: незначительное). If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not decline.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мелкий (melkiy) - More general, often for small size; differs by implying physical minuteness rather than importance.
  • небольшой (nebol'shoy) - Used for something small in scale, but less formal.
• Antonyms:
  • значительный (znachitel'nyy) - Significant or substantial.
  • существенный (sushchestvennyy) - Essential or material.

Related Phrases:

• незначительная разница (/nʲɪzˈnatɕɪtʲɪlʲnəjə rɐˈznʲɪtsə/) - Negligible difference; used in comparisons to downplay variations.
• минимальный эффект (/mʲɪˈnʲiməlʲnɨj ɪˈfʲɛkt/) - Minimal effect; refers to a barely noticeable impact in scientific contexts.
• незначительные затраты (/nʲɪzˈnatɕɪtʲɪlʲnɨjə zəˈtrɑtɨ/) - Negligible costs; common in business or economics to describe minor expenses.

Usage Notes:

незначительный is the most direct equivalent to "negligible" in formal English contexts, emphasizing unimportance rather than size. Use it in written or professional settings, as it's less common in spoken Russian. минимальный is better for scenarios involving measurements or limits. Be mindful of grammatical agreement: always decline the adjective to match the noun's case, gender, and number. When choosing between translations, opt for незначительный for qualitative assessments and минимальный for quantitative ones.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using незначительный without proper declension, e.g., saying "незначительный книга" instead of "незначительная книга" for a feminine noun.
  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "незначительная книга" (negligible book). Explanation: Russian adjectives must concord with nouns, unlike in English.
• Mistake: Confusing with synonyms like мелкий, leading to overuse in inappropriate contexts, e.g., using мелкий for abstract unimportance.
  Correct: Use незначительный for non-physical insignificance. Explanation: мелкий implies physical smallness, which might not convey the same nuance as "negligible."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and language, words like незначительный often reflect a pragmatic approach to efficiency, as seen in Soviet-era scientific literature where minor details were dismissed to focus on broader goals. This can highlight Russia's emphasis on collective priorities over individual minutiae in professional discourse.

Related Concepts:

• значительный
• существенный
• мелкий