Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scant'

English Word: scant

Key Russian Translations:

• скудный [ˈskudnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal]
• ограниченный [aɡranɪˈt͡ɕenːɨj] - [Adjective, Informal, Used in everyday contexts for limited quantities]

Frequency: Medium (Common in written and formal Russian, less so in casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for скудный; A2 for ограниченный, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

скудный: [ˈskudnɨj]

Note on скудный: The stress falls on the first syllable; the "ы" sound is a soft, high vowel, which can be challenging for English speakers.

ограниченный: [aɡranɪˈt͡ɕenːɨj]

Note on ограниченный: The "ч" is pronounced as a soft "ch" sound, similar to in "church," and the word has a rolling rhythm due to its length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Insufficient or meager amount

Translation(s) & Context:

• скудный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe something lacking in quantity or quality, such as resources or supplies.
• ограниченный - Applied in informal settings for something restricted or limited, often in practical scenarios like time or space.

Usage Examples:

• У нас скудные запасы еды на зиму.

  We have scant supplies of food for the winter.

• Его знания по этому вопросу оказались ограниченными.

  His knowledge on this matter turned out to be scant.

• Скудный урожай в этом году разочаровал фермеров.

  The scant harvest this year disappointed the farmers.

• Ограниченные финансовые средства не позволили им путешествовать.

  Their scant financial resources didn't allow them to travel.

• В скудном освещении комнаты трудно было читать.

  In the scant lighting of the room, it was hard to read.

Meaning 2: Sparing or economical in use

Translation(s) & Context:

• скудный - Employed in descriptive narratives for something used sparingly, like words or efforts.

Usage Examples:

• Ее скудный рассказ не раскрыл всех деталей.

  Her scant account didn't reveal all the details.

• Скудное использование красок сделало картину минималистичной.

  The scant use of colors made the painting minimalist.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "скудный" and "ограниченный" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns, but "скудный" is a standard short-form adjective with some irregularities in certain cases.

Note: These adjectives do not change in the short form for some uses, but in full sentences, they inflect as shown. "Скудный" is invariant in certain poetic contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: бедный [bednyj] (poor, lacking); минимальный [minimalʹnyj] (minimal, very small) - "бедный" is often used for emotional scarcity, while "минимальный" is more precise in quantitative contexts.
• Antonyms: обильный [ˈobilʹnyj] (abundant); богатый [baˈɡatɨj] (rich) - "обильный" emphasizes plentifulness in nature, whereas "богатый" refers to wealth.

Related Phrases:

• скудные средства - Scant means (refers to limited financial resources, common in economic discussions).
• ограниченные возможности - Scant opportunities (used to describe restricted chances, especially in professional contexts).
• скудный рацион - Scant diet (a phrase for insufficient nutrition, often in health or survival scenarios).

Usage Notes:

"Скудный" is a more formal and literary equivalent to "scant," often used in written Russian or academic texts, while "ограниченный" is versatile for everyday speech. English users should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which has no direct parallel in English. For example, choose "скудный" for abstract or poetic descriptions and "ограниченный" for practical limitations. Be cautious with context: "скудный" can imply a negative connotation of poverty, so it's not ideal for neutral descriptions.

• In formal writing, pair with nouns like "ресурсы" (resources) for accuracy.
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; consider the overall sentence structure in Russian.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse "скудный" by treating it as an invariant word, forgetting to inflect it. For instance, they might say "скудный дом" incorrectly when it should be "скудный дом" for masculine nominative, but fail in other cases like "скудной семьей" (scant family in genitive). Correct usage: Incorrect: "Я имею скудный знания" (wrong inflection); Correct: "Я имею скудные знания" (for plural). Another error is confusing it with "бедный," leading to overuse in emotional contexts where "ограниченный" is more appropriate.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "скудный" often evoke themes from literature, such as in Tolstoy's works, where scarcity reflects hardship in rural life. This ties into historical contexts like the Soviet era, where limited resources were a reality, adding a layer of resilience or stoicism to its usage.

Related Concepts:

• бедность
• ресурсы
• минимализм