Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scarce'

English Word: scarce

Key Russian Translations:

• редкий [ˈrʲedkʲɪj] - [Formal, used for things that are rare or in short supply]
• редко [ˈrʲedkə] - [Informal, adverb form meaning 'rarely' or 'seldom']
• недостаточный [nʲɪdəstəˈtoʧnɨj] - [Formal, emphasizing insufficiency or inadequacy]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in discussions of resources or occurrences, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like 'big' or 'small').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; learners need to understand adjective declensions and adverb usage, which can be challenging for beginners, but the core meanings are straightforward once basic grammar is mastered. For 'редкий' and 'недостаточный' as adjectives, the difficulty is B1; for 'редко' as an adverb, it is A2.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

редкий: [ˈrʲedkʲɪj]

редко: [ˈrʲedkə]

недостаточный: [nʲɪdəstəˈtoʧnɨj]

Note on редкий: The initial 'р' is a rolled 'r' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; practice with native audio to master the palatalized 'д' in stressed syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not available in large quantities or hard to find

Translation(s) & Context:

• редкий - Used in formal contexts like describing natural resources or historical events, e.g., in scientific or economic discussions.
• недостаточный - Applied in contexts involving shortages, such as in business or everyday complaints about supplies.

Usage Examples:

• Вода редка в пустыне во время засухи.

  Water is scarce in the desert during a drought. (This example shows 'редкий' in a nominative singular masculine context, highlighting environmental scarcity.)

• Эти фрукты редки в нашем регионе зимой.

  These fruits are scarce in our region during winter. (Demonstrates 'редкий' with plural agreement and seasonal context.)

• Из-за пандемии медицинские маски были недостаточны в больницах.

  Due to the pandemic, medical masks were scarce in hospitals. (Here, 'недостаточный' emphasizes inadequacy in a crisis situation.)

• Редко встречаются такие таланты в современном мире.

  Such talents are scarce in the modern world. (Uses 'редкий' in a metaphorical sense, showing its application to abstract concepts.)

Meaning 2: Occurring infrequently or seldom

Translation(s) & Context:

• редко - Common in adverbial phrases for describing infrequency, such as in daily conversations or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Я редко хожу в кино по будням.

  I scarce go to the movies on weekdays. (Illustrates 'редко' as an adverb in a personal routine context.)

• В этом городе редко бывает снег зимой.

  Snow is scarce in this city during winter. (Shows 'редко' with weather-related infrequency.)

• Редко случаются такие счастливые совпадения.

  Such happy coincidences are scarce. (Demonstrates 'редко' in idiomatic expressions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations like 'редкий' and 'недостаточный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Редко' is an adverb and does not inflect.

For 'редкий' (adjective):

For 'недостаточный', it follows similar adjectival patterns as above, with irregular stress shifts in some cases. 'Редко' remains invariant as an adverb.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • редкий (similar to 'scarce', but more neutral)
  • скудный (implies poverty or meagerness, often in resource contexts)
  • недостаточный (emphasizes lack, with a slight formal tone)
• Antonyms:
  • обильный (abundant)
  • изобильный (plentiful, more poetic)

Related Phrases:

• Редкий случай - A rare occurrence (used to describe something that happens infrequently).
• Недостаток ресурсов - Shortage of resources (common in economic or survival contexts).
• Редко встречать - To rarely encounter (implies infrequency in meetings or experiences).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'редкий' directly corresponds to 'scarce' as an adjective and is preferred in formal or descriptive contexts, while 'редко' serves as an adverb for 'rarely'. Choose 'недостаточный' when emphasizing inadequacy, such as in professional settings. Be mindful of grammatical agreement: adjectives like 'редкий' must match the noun's gender, number, and case. For English learners, note that Russian often requires more explicit context for scarcity, and these words can carry subtle connotations—e.g., 'редкий' might imply value in rarity, unlike the neutral 'scarce'.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'редкий' without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "в редкий дом" instead of "в редком доме" (in a scarce house). Correct: Ensure the adjective agrees with the noun's case. Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike English, so learners often overlook this, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing 'редкий' (adjective) with 'редко' (adverb), e.g., saying "Я редкий иду" instead of "Я редко иду" (I scarce go). Correct: Use 'редко' for adverbial senses. Explanation: This mix-up stems from English's lack of strict part-of-speech distinctions, making it crucial to identify the word's role in the sentence.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'редкий' often evoke themes of resilience and resourcefulness, stemming from historical contexts such as the Soviet era's shortages. For instance, 'недостаток' might reference the 'deficit' economy, helping learners understand why scarcity is a recurring motif in Russian literature and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• дефицит
• скудность
• редкость