Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shoddy'

English Word: shoddy

Key Russian Translations:

• некачественный [nʲɪkɐˈt͡ɕestnɨj] - [Formal, often used in written or professional contexts]
• плохой [ˈpɫoxəj] - [Informal, everyday spoken language]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions about products, services, or quality, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and contexts, with variations in nuance making it challenging for learners below this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

некачественный: [nʲɪkɐˈt͡ɕestnɨj]

Note on некачественный: The stress is on the fourth syllable; be mindful of the palatalized 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. A common variant in rapid speech might soften the ending.

плохой: [ˈpɫoxəj]

Note on плохой: Stress is on the first syllable; the 'л' is pronounced with a dark 'l' sound, which differs from English 'l'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Of poor quality; inferior (Referring to something made or done carelessly, resulting in substandard results)

Translation(s) & Context:

• некачественный - Used in formal contexts, such as product reviews, legal complaints, or quality assessments in business.
• плохой - Applied in informal everyday situations, like casual conversations about items or experiences.

Usage Examples:

• Этот товар некачественный и быстро ломается.

  This product is shoddy and breaks easily. (Demonstrates use in a formal complaint about durability.)

• Плохой ремонт сделал дом еще хуже.

  The shoddy repair made the house even worse. (Shows informal use in describing poor workmanship.)

• Не покупайте эту некачественную одежду; она не прослужит долго.

  Don't buy this shoddy clothing; it won't last long. (Illustrates use in consumer advice, emphasizing quality issues.)

• Его плохая работа на проекте разочаровала всех.

  His shoddy work on the project disappointed everyone. (Highlights use in professional or team contexts with an informal tone.)

• Эта некачественная услуга стоила нам лишних денег.

  This shoddy service cost us extra money. (Exemplifies use in service industry discussions, varying sentence structure.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. "Некачественный" is a more formal adjective with regular patterns, while "плохой" follows standard adjectival inflections but can vary slightly in informal use.

Note: These adjectives do not change for verbs but must agree with the nouns they modify. They are regular in most cases, but learners should watch for soft sign influences in pronunciation.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • скверный (skvernyy) - Similar to "shoddy" but with a stronger negative connotation, often implying moral fault.
  • убогий (ubogiy) - Used for something poorly made or shabby, with a hint of poverty or neglect.
• Antonyms:
  • качественный (kachestvennyy)
  • хороший (khoroshiy)

Related Phrases:

• некачественный товар - Shoddy goods; refers to low-quality products in commercial contexts.
• плохая работа - Shoddy work; commonly used in professional or DIY scenarios to describe careless efforts.
• скверное качество - Poor quality; a phrase emphasizing substandard attributes in evaluations.

Usage Notes:

"Shoddy" directly corresponds to "некачественный" in formal settings, where precision about quality is needed, such as in business or legal English-to-Russian translations. In contrast, "плохой" is more versatile for everyday informal use but may lack the specific implication of carelessness. Be cautious with context: in Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe. For example, choose "некачественный" over "плохой" when discussing manufactured items to sound more professional. If multiple translations apply, opt for "некачественный" in written reports and "плохой" in casual speech to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "плохой" in formal contexts where "некачественный" is more precise, e.g., saying "плохой продукт" instead of "некачественный продукт" in a business email. Correct: "некачественный продукт" – This error can make the language sound too casual or vague.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "некачественный товары" (incorrect plural) instead of "некачественные товары". Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's case, as in "некачественные товары". Explanation: Russian requires strict grammatical harmony, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for learners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "некачественный" often reflect broader societal attitudes toward consumerism and quality control, especially in post-Soviet contexts where counterfeit or substandard goods were historically prevalent. This can evoke frustration or distrust in markets, highlighting the importance of reliability in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• качество (kachestvo)
• дефект (defekt)
• ремонт (remont)