Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sparse'

English Word: sparse

Key Russian Translations:

• редкий [ˈrʲedkʲij] - [Adjective, Formal or Informal, Used in general descriptions]
• разреженный [rɐzrʲɪˈʐɛnnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used in technical or scientific contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in descriptions of distribution or density, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions, but basic forms are straightforward for learners at this level. For "редкий", it's B1; for "разреженный", it might be B2 due to more complex contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

редкий: [ˈrʲedkʲij]

Note on редкий: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'r' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. It can vary slightly in rapid speech.

разреженный: [rɐzrʲɪˈʐɛnnɨj]

Note on разреженный: This word has stress on the third syllable; the 'zh' sound (as in 'measure') is key, and it's often used in formal settings. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not dense or thick; thinly distributed (e.g., in space or population)

Translation(s) & Context:

• редкий - Used in everyday contexts to describe something scattered or infrequent, such as sparse vegetation or population.
• разреженный - Applied in scientific or technical contexts, like sparse air in high altitudes.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу растут редкие деревья, потому что почва бедная. (In the forest, the trees grow sparsely because the soil is poor.)

  Translation: In the forest, the trees grow sparsely because the soil is poor. (This example shows "редкий" in a natural environment context.)

• Разреженный воздух на вершине горы затрудняет дыхание. (The sparse air at the top of the mountain makes breathing difficult.)

  Translation: The sparse air at the top of the mountain makes breathing difficult. (Illustrates "разреженный" in a physical science context.)

• Его редкие посещения офиса вызывают подозрения у коллег. (His sparse visits to the office raise suspicions among colleagues.)

  Translation: His sparse visits to the office raise suspicions among colleagues. (Demonstrates "редкий" in a social or professional setting.)

• В этом районе разреженная сеть общественного транспорта. (In this area, the public transportation network is sparse.)

  Translation: In this area, the public transportation network is sparse. (Shows "разреженный" in an urban planning context.)

• Редкие дожди в пустыне делают её уникальной экосистемой. (The sparse rains in the desert make it a unique ecosystem.)

  Translation: The sparse rains in the desert make it a unique ecosystem. (Highlights "редкий" with plural nouns and environmental themes.)

Meaning 2: Scant or limited in quantity (e.g., information or resources)

Translation(s) & Context:

• редкий - Informal usage for something not abundant, like sparse details in a story.

Usage Examples:

• В его отчёте редкие факты, но много предположений. (In his report, there are sparse facts but many assumptions.)

  Translation: In his report, there are sparse facts but many assumptions. (This example uses "редкий" in an abstract, informational context.)

• Редкие ресурсы в регионе ограничивают развитие. (The sparse resources in the region limit development.)

  Translation: The sparse resources in the region limit development. (Shows "редкий" with economic or developmental themes.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "редкий" and "разреженный" are adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns, though there are exceptions.

For редкий (a short adjective in some forms):

For разреженный, it follows a similar pattern but is more formal and less commonly used in everyday speech. It is invariable in some compound forms but generally declines regularly. Note: In predicative use, it might not change.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • редкостный (rare, but with a connotation of uniqueness)
  • неплотный (not dense, more literal for physical sparsity)
• Antonyms:
  • плотный (dense)
  • частый (frequent)

Note: "Редкостный" implies something extraordinarily rare, which is a subtle difference from "редкий".

Related Phrases:

• Редкий случай (A rare case) - Refers to an uncommon occurrence in everyday or medical contexts.
• Разреженная атмосфера (Sparse atmosphere) - Used in scientific discussions, such as space or high-altitude environments.
• Редкие встречи (Sparse meetings) - Indicates infrequent gatherings in social or professional settings.

Usage Notes:

"Sparse" translates most directly to "редкий" in general contexts, but choose "разреженный" for technical precision, such as in physics or geography. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement: always match gender, number, and case with the noun. For example, use "редкая" for feminine nouns. In informal speech, "редкий" is versatile, but avoid it in highly formal writing where "разреженный" might be preferred for accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "редкий" without proper declension, e.g., saying "редкий женщина" instead of "редкая женщина".
  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "редкая женщина" (a sparse woman, metaphorically).
  Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with nouns; this is a common oversight for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.
• Mistake: Confusing "редкий" with "редкостный", leading to overuse in contexts of rarity rather than sparsity.
  Correct: Use "редкий" for distribution (e.g., "редкие волосы" for sparse hair) and "редкостный" for extreme rarity.
  Explanation: The nuance can change the meaning entirely, potentially causing miscommunication in descriptive language.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "редкий" often appear in literature and folklore to describe vast, underpopulated landscapes, such as in Siberian settings. This reflects Russia's historical emphasis on its expansive territory, where sparsity symbolizes both opportunity and isolation.

Related Concepts:

• Плотность (density)
• Рассеянный (scattered)
• Недостаток (shortage)