Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sparing'

English Word: sparing

Key Russian Translations:

• экономный [ɪkɐˈnɔmnɨj] - [Formal; used for describing frugal or economical behavior]
• бережливый [bʲɪrʲɪˈʐlʲɪvɨj] - [Informal; often in everyday contexts for being careful or thrifty]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions about finances, resources, and daily life in Russian media and conversations)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp basic usage, but mastering inflections requires familiarity with Russian adjective declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

экономный: [ɪkɐˈnɔmnɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'о' is pronounced as a mid-back rounded vowel)

бережливый: [bʲɪrʲɪˈʐlʲɪvɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'р' and 'л', which can be challenging for English speakers)

Note on экономный: This word may vary slightly in rapid speech, with the final 'ый' softening to [ɨj].

Note on бережливый: Pay attention to the soft sign 'ь' after 'р', which affects pronunciation but not spelling.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Frugal or economical in spending or using resources

Translation(s) & Context:

• экономный - Used in formal or professional contexts, such as financial advice or descriptions of budgeting.
• бережливый - Applied in informal, everyday situations, like family discussions about saving money.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда экономный в расходах на еду, чтобы сэкономить для отпуска.

  He is always sparing in his spending on food to save for vacation.

• Моя бабушка бережливая хозяйка; она никогда не тратит зря продукты.

  My grandmother is a sparing housewife; she never wastes products.

• В кризисные времена люди становятся более экономными, чтобы выжить.

  In times of crisis, people become more sparing to survive.

• Бережливый подход к ресурсам помогает сохранить окружающую среду.

  A sparing approach to resources helps preserve the environment.

• Экономный стиль жизни позволяет накопить на большие покупки.

  A sparing lifestyle allows one to save up for big purchases.

Meaning 2: Using or giving in small amounts (e.g., sparing use of something)

Translation(s) & Context:

• экономный - In contexts involving measured or restrained application, such as in medicine or cooking.
• бережливый - For personal habits, like sparing use of water in daily routines.

Usage Examples:

• Врачи рекомендуют экономный подход к лекарствам, чтобы избежать побочных эффектов.

  Doctors recommend a sparing approach to medicines to avoid side effects.

• Она бережлива с водой, выключая кран во время чистки зубов.

  She is sparing with water, turning off the tap while brushing her teeth.

• Экономный расход топлива важен для долгой поездки на машине.

  Sparing use of fuel is important for a long car trip.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "экономный" and "бережливый" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives, with some irregularities.

For "экономный" (hard-stem adjective):

For "бережливый" (similar pattern, but with soft consonants):

It follows the same declension rules as above, e.g., бережливый (Nom. Masc. Sg.), бережливая (Nom. Fem. Sg.). Note that it remains unchanged in comparative forms: бережливее (more sparing).

These adjectives do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the nouns they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • скупой (skupoy) - More negative connotation, implying stinginess.
  • т thrifty (трогательный, but wait - actually, бережливый itself is a synonym; another is тщательный in some contexts, but primarily экономичный for broader use).
• Antonyms:
  • расточительный (rastachitel'nyy) - Wasteful or extravagant.
  • щедрый (shchedryy) - Generous.

Related Phrases:

• Быть экономным в расходах - To be sparing in expenses; used for financial planning.
• Вести бережливый образ жизни - To lead a sparing lifestyle; common in health and environmental contexts.
• Экономный расход ресурсов - Sparing use of resources; often in sustainability discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Sparing" in English often implies restraint without negativity, but in Russian, "экономный" is more neutral and formal, while "бережливый" carries a positive, caring tone. Choose "экономный" for business or official contexts, and "бережливый" for personal or emotional scenarios. Be mindful of gender and case agreements, as Russian adjectives must match the nouns they describe. For example, if referring to a female subject, use "экономная".

• Common in proverbs: e.g., "Бережливый всегда богат" (The sparing one is always rich).
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; context dictates the best fit.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse case endings, such as saying "экономный дом" incorrectly in oblique cases. For instance, a common error is: Incorrect: "Я видел экономный дом" (when it should agree in accusative: "Я видел экономный дом" is correct, but in genitive: Incorrect: "экономный of something" as "экономный", Correct: "экономного").

• Error: Using "экономный" without declension, e.g., "Я имею экономный подход" (wrong if not nominative). Correct: "Я имею экономный подход" is fine, but in phrases like "подход экономного человека", it should be "экономного".
• Explanation: Always check the noun's case; this prevents grammatical errors in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "sparing" or бережливый is highly valued, especially in historical contexts like the Soviet era, where resource scarcity promoted frugality. Terms like экономный often appear in literature and folk tales, symbolizing wisdom and prudence, reflecting Russia's emphasis on endurance and practicality in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• сберегательный (sberigatel'nyy) - Related to saving money.
• экономия (ekonomiya) - Economy or savings.
• т thriftyness (but in Russian: бережность) - Carefulness in general.