Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sufficient'

English Word: sufficient

Key Russian Translations:

• достаточный [dəs'ta.təʧ.nɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• достаточно [dəs'ta.tnə] - [Informal, Adverb; Used in everyday contexts to mean 'enough']

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, business, and everyday conversation, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like 'good').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can use it in simple sentences, but full mastery requires understanding of adjective declensions. For 'достаточно', it's A2 for adverbial use.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

достаточный: [dəs'ta.təʧ.nɨj]

достаточно: [dəs'ta.tnə]

Note on достаточный: The stress is on the third syllable ('ta'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronounce the 'ч' as a soft 'ch' sound, similar to 'church'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Enough in quantity, extent, or degree (as an adjective).

Translation(s) & Context:

• достаточный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as in academic, professional, or quantitative discussions (e.g., 'sufficient evidence').

Usage Examples:

• У меня достаточно времени, чтобы закончить проект.

  I have sufficient time to finish the project. (This example shows the adjective in a possessive context, emphasizing quantity in daily life.)

• Это достаточное количество пищи для всей семьи.

  This is a sufficient amount of food for the whole family. (Illustrates use in a quantitative, household context.)

• Достаточный опыт в этой области необходим для работы.

  Sufficient experience in this field is necessary for the job. (Demonstrates formal, professional usage with abstract nouns.)

• В отчёте указано достаточное число примеров.

  The report includes a sufficient number of examples. (Shows integration with numbers and formal writing.)

Meaning 2: Enough (as an adverb, implying adequacy without excess).

Translation(s) & Context:

• достаточно - Used in informal or neutral contexts to mean 'enough' in a more adverbial sense, often in spoken language (e.g., 'sufficiently' in English).

Usage Examples:

• Я достаточно устал, чтобы продолжать.

  I am sufficiently tired to continue. (This highlights adverbial use in expressing personal states.)

• Достаточно воды в бутылке для прогулки.

  There is sufficient water in the bottle for the walk. (Shows casual, everyday application.)

• Он достаточно подготовлен к экзамену.

  He is sufficiently prepared for the exam. (Illustrates use in educational contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are based on Russian adjectives/adverbs, which inflect according to grammatical rules. 'Достаточный' is an adjective and changes by gender, number, and case. 'Достаточно' is primarily an adverb and does not inflect.

For 'достаточно', as an adverb, it remains unchanged: достаточно (no inflections).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • подходящий (podkhodyashchiy) - Similar but implies 'suitable'; used when something fits a need exactly.
  • достаточный (as above, but can overlap); адекватный (adekvatnyy) - More formal, emphasizing adequacy in professional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • недостаточный (nedostatochnyy) - Directly opposite, meaning 'insufficient'.
  • маловатый (malovatyy) - Informal, meaning 'a bit too little'.

Related Phrases:

• достаточно времени (dostatotchno vremeni) - Sufficient time; Used in scheduling or planning contexts.
• достаточный уровень (dostatotchnyy uroven') - Sufficient level; Common in education or skill assessments, meaning an adequate standard.
• иметь достаточно средств (imet' dostatotchno sredstv) - To have sufficient means; A phrase for financial discussions, implying enough resources.

Usage Notes:

'Достаточный' directly corresponds to the English 'sufficient' as an adjective and is preferred in formal writing, while 'достаточно' works as an adverb for more casual expressions. Be mindful of context: in Russian, adjectives like 'достаточный' must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which has no direct equivalent in English. For example, choose 'достаточный' for masculine nouns and 'достаточная' for feminine ones. When deciding between translations, use 'достаточно' for adverbial senses like 'sufficiently' to avoid overcomplication in spoken language.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'достаточный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying 'достаточный книга' instead of 'достаточная книга' for a feminine noun.

  Correct: 'Достаточная книга' (A sufficient book). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this mistake often stems from English's lack of agreement rules.

• Error: Confusing 'достаточно' with 'достаточный' in adverbial contexts, e.g., saying 'Я достаточный устал' instead of 'Я достаточно устал'.

  Correct: 'Я достаточно устал' (I am sufficiently tired). Explanation: 'Достаточно' is the adverb form; using the adjective here would be grammatically incorrect and sound unnatural to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions involving 'достаточный' or 'достаточно' often reflect a pragmatic approach to resources, influenced by historical contexts like the Soviet era's emphasis on sufficiency over abundance. For instance, in everyday conversations, Russians might use these words to discuss modest living or efficient use of time, highlighting cultural values of practicality and resilience.

Related Concepts:

• адекватный (adekvatnyy)
• хватать (khavat')
• избыточный (izbytochnyy)