Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'satisfactory'

English Word: satisfactory

Key Russian Translations:

• удовлетворительный [ʊdɐvlʲetʲɪtʲatʲɪˈrnyj] - [Formal, used in educational or professional contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal writing, reports, and evaluations, but less frequent in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and formal vocabulary, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic Russian grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

удовлетворительный: [ʊdɐvlʲetʲɪtʲatʲɪˈrnyj]

Note on удовлетворительный: The stress falls on the syllable "во" [vo], which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants and vowel reductions in spoken Russian. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Adequate or acceptable, often implying something meets minimum standards without being excellent.

Translation(s) & Context:

• удовлетворительный - Used in formal contexts such as school reports, job evaluations, or official feedback to describe something that is passable but not outstanding.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Этот ответ был удовлетворительным, но мог бы быть лучше. (This answer was satisfactory, but it could have been better.)

  English Translation: This answer was satisfactory, but it could have been better.

• Русский: Ученик получил удовлетворительную оценку за экзамен. (The student received a satisfactory grade on the exam.)

  English Translation: The student received a satisfactory grade on the exam.

• Русский: Качество работы было удовлетворительным, несмотря на ограниченное время. (The quality of the work was satisfactory, despite the limited time.)

  English Translation: The quality of the work was satisfactory, despite the limited time.

• Русский: Мы достигли удовлетворительного результата в переговорах. (We achieved a satisfactory result in the negotiations.)

  English Translation: We achieved a satisfactory result in the negotiations.

• Русский: Еда в ресторане была удовлетворительной, но не запоминающейся. (The food at the restaurant was satisfactory but not memorable.)

  English Translation: The food at the restaurant was satisfactory but not memorable. This example shows the adjective in a casual review context, though still somewhat formal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

удовлетворительный is an adjective in Russian, which means it inflects based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard first-declension pattern for adjectives. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward once basic declension rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • приемлемый (acceptable; often used interchangeably but implies more flexibility in informal contexts)
  • хороший (good; similar but can imply higher quality, with subtle differences in positivity)
• Antonyms:
  • неудовлетворительный (unsatisfactory; direct opposite, used in similar formal contexts)
  • плохой (bad; more general and less formal than неудовлетворительный)

Related Phrases:

• удовлетворительный результат - A satisfactory result (used in contexts like business or sports to indicate an acceptable outcome without excellence).
• удовлетворительный уровень - A satisfactory level (common in education or quality assessments to describe meeting standards).
• дать удовлетворительный ответ - To give a satisfactory answer (implies providing enough information without going into depth).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "удовлетворительный" directly corresponds to "satisfactory" in English, particularly in formal or evaluative settings like academic reports or professional reviews. It is typically used as an adjective and should be declined according to the noun it modifies. Be cautious with its formal tone—avoid it in casual conversations where "нормальный" (normal) might be more appropriate. When choosing among translations, opt for "удовлетворительный" if the context emphasizes meeting minimum requirements, as opposed to "хороший" which suggests something positive. Grammatically, ensure proper agreement in gender, number, and case to avoid errors.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "хороший" instead of "удовлетворительный" to mean "satisfactory," which can overstate positivity. For example, an English learner might say: "Это хороший ответ" when they mean a merely passable one.

  Correct Usage: "Это удовлетворительный ответ" – This maintains the nuance of adequacy without implying excellence.

  Explanation: "хороший" implies "good" in a more enthusiastic sense, potentially misleading in formal contexts.

• Error: Forgetting to decline the adjective, e.g., saying "удовлетворительный дом" in genitive case instead of "удовлетворительного дома."

  Correct Usage: Use the proper form like "удовлетворительного дома" in genitive.

  Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with nouns, so always check the case for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "удовлетворительный" are often used in educational systems (e.g., in Soviet-era and modern Russian schools) to denote a passing grade, reflecting a pragmatic approach to evaluation. It doesn't carry the same emotional weight as in English and is more neutral, emphasizing functionality over praise, which aligns with cultural values of modesty and realism in assessments.

Related Concepts:

• хороший (good)
• отличный (excellent)
• приемлемый (acceptable)