Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shortsighted'

English Word: shortsighted

Key Russian Translations:

• короткозорый /kɐˈrot.kə.zə.rɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, typically used for physical nearsightedness]
• короткомыслящий /kɐˈrot.kə.mɨs.lʲa.ʂɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, used metaphorically for lacking foresight or short-term thinking]
• недальновидный /nʲɪˈdalʲ.nə.vʲid.nɨj/ - [Informal to Formal, Adjective, often in business or strategic contexts for shortsighted decisions]

Frequency: Medium - These terms are commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in medical, educational, and professional discussions, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level should grasp the basic forms, but understanding nuances and inflections may require familiarity with Russian adjective declensions. For 'короткозорый', it's B1; for 'короткомыслящий' and 'недальновидный', it's B2 due to more abstract usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

короткозорый: /kɐˈrot.kə.zə.rɨj/

короткомыслящий: /kɐˈrot.kə.mɨs.lʲa.ʂɨj/ - Note the soft 'лʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's pronounced like a 'l' with a slight 'y' glide.

недальновидный: /nʲɪˈdalʲ.nə.vʲid.nɨj/ - Note on недальновидный: The stress on the second syllable may vary slightly in fast speech, so emphasize the 'dalʲ' for clarity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physically shortsighted (nearsighted, relating to eyesight)

Translation(s) & Context:

• короткозорый - Used in medical or casual contexts to describe someone with poor long-distance vision, often in health discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он короткозорый, поэтому носит очки. (He is shortsighted, so he wears glasses.)

  This example shows the adjective in a simple descriptive sentence, highlighting physical condition.

• У неё короткозорый взгляд на мир из-за наследственности. (She has a shortsighted view of the world due to heredity.)

  Here, it extends slightly to metaphorical use but primarily focuses on eyesight.

• Короткозорый человек часто упускает детали вдали. (A shortsighted person often misses details at a distance.)

  This demonstrates the adjective in a general statement about perception.

• Врач диагностировал его как короткозорого пациента. (The doctor diagnosed him as a shortsighted patient.)

  Illustrates use in a professional medical context.

• Её короткозорые глаза затрудняют вождение ночью. (Her shortsighted eyes make driving at night difficult.)

  Shows the word in a practical, everyday scenario involving challenges.

Meaning 2: Metaphorically shortsighted (lacking foresight or long-term thinking)

Translation(s) & Context:

• короткомыслящий - Applied in discussions of decision-making, politics, or business to criticize impulsive actions.
• недальновидный - Common in strategic contexts, emphasizing poor planning or failure to consider future consequences.

Usage Examples:

• Его короткомыслящий подход к инвестициям привёл к потерям. (His shortsighted approach to investments led to losses.)

  This example uses the term in a financial context to describe poor long-term planning.

• Правительство проявило недальновидность, игнорируя экологические проблемы. (The government showed shortsightedness by ignoring environmental issues.)

  Demonstrates use in a political or policy-related sentence.

• Короткомыслящие лидеры редко добиваются успеха в долгосрочной перспективе. (Shortsighted leaders rarely achieve success in the long term.)

  Highlights the adjective in a general critique of leadership.

• Её недальновидный выбор карьеры ограничил будущие возможности. (Her shortsighted career choice limited future opportunities.)

  Shows application in personal decision-making contexts.

• Компания пострадала от короткомыслящих решений менеджмента. (The company suffered from the management's shortsighted decisions.)

  Illustrates use in a business setting with plural implications.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which in Russian typically inflect based on gender, number, and case. They follow standard first-declension patterns for adjectives, with some irregularities in spelling due to roots.

These adjectives are regular in most cases but may soften consonants in certain forms, as per Russian orthography rules. They do not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • близорукий (for короткозорый; similar but more poetic, often used in literary contexts)
  • миопический (a direct borrowing, less common, for physical shortsightedness)
  • недальновидный (overlaps with itself as a synonym for короткомыслящий in some contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • дальнозоркий (farsighted, for physical vision)
  • дальновидный (farsighted, for strategic thinking; emphasizes long-term vision)

Related Phrases:

• короткозорость - Shortsightedness (referring to eye condition); used in medical contexts to discuss vision impairments.
• недальновидное решение - A shortsighted decision; common in business to critique poor planning.
• короткомыслящий подход - Shortsighted approach; applied in educational or psychological discussions about decision-making.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'короткозорый' for literal, physical meanings related to eyesight, as it directly corresponds to the English 'shortsighted' in medical contexts. For metaphorical uses involving poor foresight, 'короткомыслящий' or 'недальновидный' is more appropriate; the former is slightly more formal and intellectual, while the latter suits everyday conversations. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the nouns they modify. In formal writing, these words often appear in critiques or analyses, so they carry a somewhat negative connotation.

Common Errors:

• Confusing physical and metaphorical meanings: English learners might use 'короткозорый' for abstract ideas, e.g., saying "Он короткозорый в бизнесе" (incorrect for business context). Correct: "Он недальновидный в бизнесе." Explanation: 'короткозорый' is strictly for eyesight, while 'недальновидный' fits decision-making.
• Incorrect inflection: Forgetting to change the adjective for gender, e.g., saying "Она короткозорый" instead of "Она короткозорая." Correct: Always adjust for the noun's gender and case to maintain grammatical agreement.
• Overusing in informal speech: Learners might apply these formal terms casually, which can sound awkward. Explanation: In everyday Russian, simpler phrases like "не думает наперед" (doesn't think ahead) are preferred for metaphorical shortsightedness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'недальновидный' often appear in literature and media to critique historical events, such as poor leadership decisions in the Soviet era. This reflects a cultural emphasis on long-term planning in Russian philosophy, influenced by thinkers like Dostoevsky, where shortsightedness symbolizes moral or societal flaws.

Related Concepts:

• зрение (vision)
• планирование (planning)
• решение (decision)
• экология (ecology, often linked to long-term thinking)