Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'uneconomic'

English Word: uneconomic

Key Russian Translations:

• неэкономичный [nʲɪɨkɐˈnɔmʲɪnɨj] - [Formal]
• нерентабельный [nʲɪrʲɪnʲtɐˈbʲɛlʲnɨj] - [Formal, often in business contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in economic discussions, business reports, and academic texts, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding economic terminology; learners at this level should grasp basic adjective inflections, though nuances may require advanced exposure).

Pronunciation (Russian):

неэкономичный: [nʲɪɨkɐˈnɔmʲɪnɨj]

нерентабельный: [nʲɪrʲɪnʲtɐˈbʲɛlʲnɨj]

Note on неэкономичный: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("nɔmʲɪnɨj"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants and vowel reductions in spoken Russian.

Note on нерентабельный: Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech, with the initial "nʲ" sound being softer; pay attention to the rolling 'r' if it's not native to your accent.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Not producing good results in comparison to the amount of money, resources, or effort invested; inefficient or unprofitable.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неэкономичный - Used in formal contexts like economics, business, or environmental discussions to describe wasteful practices.
• нерентабельный - Applied specifically in financial or commercial settings, such as unprofitable investments or operations.

Usage Examples:

• Эта фабрика стала неэкономичной из-за высоких затрат на энергию.

  This factory has become uneconomic due to high energy costs.

• Покупка старого автомобиля может быть нерентабельной в долгосрочной перспективе.

  Buying an old car can be uneconomic in the long term.

• Неэкономичный подход к использованию ресурсов приводит к экологическим проблемам.

  An uneconomic approach to resource use leads to environmental issues.

• В условиях инфляции многие проекты становятся неэкономичными для малого бизнеса.

  In times of inflation, many projects become uneconomic for small businesses.

• Нерентабельный маршрут авиакомпании был отменён из-за низкой загруженности.

  The uneconomic airline route was canceled due to low occupancy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неэкономичный" and "нерентабельный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can be irregular in certain forms. Below is a table outlining the key inflections for each:

These adjectives follow the standard first-declension pattern for hard-stem adjectives. They do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners once basic adjective rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неэффективный (inefficient; less formal and broader in scope)
  • невыгодный (unprofitable; used in everyday financial contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • экономичный (economic; implies efficiency and cost-effectiveness)
  • рентабельный (profitable; directly opposite in business terms)

Related Phrases:

• неэкономичное использование ресурсов - Refers to the wasteful use of resources, often in environmental or industrial contexts.
• нерентабельный проект - Describes an unprofitable project, commonly in business planning.
• стать неэкономичным - Means to become uneconomic, used when discussing changes in viability over time.

Usage Notes:

"Uneconomic" directly corresponds to "неэкономичный" in most formal Russian contexts, especially in economics and policy discussions, while "нерентабельный" is more specific to profitability. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key difference from English. For example, use "неэкономичный" for masculine nouns and "неэкономичная" for feminine ones. In informal speech, synonyms like "невыгодный" might be preferred for simplicity. When choosing between translations, opt for "нерентабельный" in financial reports and "неэкономичный" for broader inefficiency discussions.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "неэкономичный" with "неэкономный" (a less common or archaic form) - Correct: Use "неэкономичный" as it's the standard modern form. Error example: Saying "неэкономный подход" instead of "неэкономичный подход", which might sound outdated or incorrect in contemporary Russian.

• Forgetting adjective agreement: Learners often use the base form regardless of noun gender. Error example: "Неэкономичный машина" (incorrect; should be "неэкономичная машина" for feminine noun). Correct: Always inflect based on the noun's attributes for grammatical accuracy.

• Misusing in context: Treating it as a noun instead of an adjective. Error example: "Это неэкономичный" (implies it's a noun, which is wrong). Correct: Use in phrases like "Это неэкономичный метод" to specify what is uneconomic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and media, terms like "неэкономичный" often appear in discussions about state policies or economic reforms, reflecting Russia's history of planned economies during the Soviet era. For instance, post-Soviet critiques frequently highlight uneconomic practices in industry, emphasizing the cultural value placed on efficiency amid resource challenges.

Related Concepts:

• экономия (economy or savings)
• прибыль (profit)
• эффективность (efficiency)