Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Bastion'

English Word: bastion

Key Russian Translations:

• бастион [bɐˈstʲiən] - [Formal, Literal]
• оплот [ˈoplət] - [Formal, Figurative]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

бастион: [bɐˈstʲiən]

Note on бастион: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'и' is pronounced as a soft 'i' due to the following 'о'.

оплот: [ˈoplət]

Note on оплот: Stress on the first syllable. The 'о' is pronounced clearly as in 'core'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Literal Meaning (Fortification or Stronghold)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бастион - Used in historical or architectural contexts to refer to a fortified structure.

Usage Examples:

• Старый бастион всё ещё стоит на холме.

  The old bastion still stands on the hill.

• Бастион был построен для защиты города.

  The bastion was built to protect the city.

• Мы посетили бастион XVIII века.

  We visited a bastion from the 18th century.

2. Figurative Meaning (Stronghold of Support or Defense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• оплот - Used metaphorically to describe a stronghold of ideas, beliefs, or support.

Usage Examples:

• Этот университет - оплот свободы слова.

  This university is a bastion of free speech.

• Она стала оплотом надежды для своей семьи.

  She became a bastion of hope for her family.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

бастион (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate):

оплот (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for бастион:

• крепость
• укрепление

Note: 'крепость' is broader and can mean any fortress, while 'укрепление' refers to fortification in general.

Synonyms for оплот:

• твердыня
• опора

Antonyms:

• уязвимость (for оплот, meaning vulnerability)

Related Phrases:

• бастион крепости - Bastion of a fortress (literal use in historical context).
• оплот демократии - Bastion of democracy (figurative use for a stronghold of values).

Usage Notes:

• 'бастион' is primarily used in literal contexts to describe a physical fortification, often in historical or military discussions.
• 'оплот' is almost exclusively figurative, used to describe a symbolic stronghold or support system, often in formal or literary contexts.
• Choose between the two based on whether the context is literal (use 'бастион') or metaphorical (use 'оплот').

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'бастион' in a figurative sense. Incorrect: "Этот город - бастион свободы." Correct: "Этот город - оплот свободы." (This city is a bastion of freedom.)
• Error: Misplacing stress in 'бастион'. Many learners stress the first syllable, but it should be on the second: [bɐˈstʲiən].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term 'оплот' often carries a strong emotional or ideological connotation, frequently used in political or social discourse to describe institutions or groups as defenders of certain values (e.g., "оплот православия" - bastion of Orthodoxy).

Related Concepts:

• крепость (fortress)
• защита (defense)
• укрепление (fortification)