Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'skimpy'

English Word: skimpy

Key Russian Translations:

• скупой [ˈskupɐj] - [Informal; often used to describe someone who is stingy or miserly with resources]
• недостаточный [nʲɪdəstɑˈtoʧnɨj] - [Formal; used for something insufficient in quantity or quality]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations, especially in discussions about resources or personal traits, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but nuances like contextual appropriateness may require further practice. For 'скупой', it's B1; for 'недостаточный', it's A2 due to its more straightforward application.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

скупой: [ˈskupɐj]

Note on скупой: The stress falls on the first syllable. Be mindful of the soft 'у' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Audio: []

недостаточный: [nʲɪdəstɑˈtoʧnɨj]

Note on недостаточный: The 'ч' is pronounced as a soft 'ch' sound, similar to 'ch' in 'church', and the word has a rolling rhythm due to its length—practice in phrases for better fluency.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Insufficient or meager in quantity, size, or quality (e.g., not enough of something).

Translation(s) & Context:

• недостаточный - Used in formal or professional contexts, such as describing limited resources or inadequate supplies.

Usage Examples:

• Его рацион был недостаточным для интенсивных тренировок. (His diet was skimpy for intense workouts.)

  His diet was skimpy for intense workouts.

• В отчёте указан недостаточный объём данных. (The report indicated a skimpy volume of data.)

  The report indicated a skimpy volume of data.

• Из-за недостаточного финансирования проект был отложен. (Due to skimpy funding, the project was delayed.)

  Due to skimpy funding, the project was delayed.

• Недостаточный отдых может привести к усталости. (Skimpy rest can lead to fatigue.)

  Skimpy rest can lead to fatigue.

Meaning 2: Stingy or miserly in behavior, often implying reluctance to give or spend (e.g., for personal traits or clothing that is too tight/revealing).

Translation(s) & Context:

• скупой - Used in informal, everyday contexts to describe a person or action that is excessively frugal or tight-fisted.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда скупой на похвалы, но сегодня похвалил мою работу. (He's always skimpy with praise, but today he praised my work.)

  He's always skimpy with praise, but today he praised my work.

• Её платье было слишком скупым, что вызвало пересуды. (Her dress was too skimpy, which sparked gossip.)

  Her dress was too skimpy, which sparked gossip.

• Скупой хозяин не тратит деньги на ремонт дома. (A skimpy owner doesn't spend money on home repairs.)

  A skimpy owner doesn't spend money on home repairs.

• В скупом освещении комнаты трудно было читать. (In the skimpy lighting of the room, it was hard to read.)

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

• Скупой рацион питания привёл к потере веса. (A skimpy diet led to weight loss.)

  A skimpy diet led to weight loss.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo inflection based on gender, number, and case. 'Скупой' is a first-declension adjective with regular patterns, while 'недостаточный' follows standard adjective inflections without irregularities.

Note: These adjectives do not change for verbs but agree with the nouns they modify. They are regular, so no exceptions apply.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for скупой: скупердяй (more pejorative, implying extreme miserliness), жадный (greedy, with a focus on desire rather than reluctance)
• Synonyms for недостаточный: скудный (meager), ограниченный (limited)
• Antonyms: щедрый (generous), достаточный (sufficient)

Related Phrases:

• скупиться на деньгах - A phrase meaning to be stingy with money; often used in financial contexts to describe reluctance in spending.
• недостаточный запас - Refers to a skimpy stock or supply; commonly used in logistics or inventory discussions.
• быть скупым до безобразия - Means to be excessively skimpy to the point of absurdity; highlights extreme behavior in a humorous or critical way.

Usage Notes:

'Скупой' directly corresponds to the stingy aspect of 'skimpy' and is best used in informal settings, but avoid it in formal writing as it can sound judgmental. 'Недостаточный' aligns more with the insufficient meaning and is versatile across contexts. When choosing between translations, consider the nuance: 'skimpy' for clothing might lean towards 'скупой' in casual Russian, while for quantities, 'недостаточный' is safer. Grammatically, always ensure adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they describe.

• In spoken Russian, 'скупой' can carry a cultural connotation of criticism, so use it cautiously in social interactions.
• For beginners, start with 'недостаточный' as it's more neutral and easier to inflect.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'скупой' with 'скромный' (modest), thinking it means simply 'humble' rather than 'stingy'. For example, an incorrect usage might be: "Он скромный человек" when intending "He is a skimpy person" (wrong: it means modest, not stingy). Correct usage: "Он скупой человек" (He is a stingy person). Another error is forgetting case agreement, e.g., saying "скупой дом" in genitive context instead of "скупого дома". Always check the noun's case to match the adjective.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being 'скупой' is often viewed negatively, associated with selfishness or poor character, as seen in folklore like stories of misers in Russian literature (e.g., Gogol's works). This reflects a cultural emphasis on generosity and community, so using 'скупой' can evoke strong emotional responses in conversations.

Related Concepts:

• жадность (greed)
• экономия (economy or frugality)
• скудность (meagerness)