Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Bilateral'

English Word: bilateral

Key Russian Translations:

• двусторонний [dvʊstɐˈronnɪj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• обоюдный [ɐbɐˈjudnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Often used for mutual agreements]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in political, legal, and diplomatic contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

двусторонний: [dvʊstɐˈronnɪj]

Note on двусторонний: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "дву-" prefix may be tricky for non-native speakers to pronounce fluently.

обоюдный: [ɐbɐˈjudnɨj]

Note on обоюдный: Stress falls on the second syllable. Pay attention to the soft "д" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Involving two sides or parties (e.g., agreements, relations)

Translation(s) & Context:

• двусторонний - Used in formal contexts like diplomacy or trade (e.g., bilateral agreement).
• обоюдный - Often implies mutual consent or reciprocity between two parties.

Usage Examples:

• Двустороннее соглашение было подписано вчера.

  The bilateral agreement was signed yesterday.

• Мы достигли двустороннего понимания по этому вопросу.

  We reached a bilateral understanding on this issue.

• Это обоюдное решение принесёт пользу обеим сторонам.

  This mutual decision will benefit both sides.

• Обоюдное согласие важно для успешного сотрудничества.

  Mutual consent is important for successful cooperation.

• Двусторонние переговоры длились несколько часов.

  The bilateral negotiations lasted for several hours.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

двусторонний (Adjective): Follows standard Russian adjective declension rules based on gender, number, and case.

обоюдный (Adjective): Follows similar adjective declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for двусторонний:

• двухсторонний
• обоюдный (in some contexts)

Note: "двухсторонний" can sometimes be used interchangeably with "двусторонний" but may feel slightly less formal.

Antonyms for двусторонний/обоюдный:

• односторонний (unilateral)

Related Phrases:

• двусторонние отношения - Bilateral relations (used in diplomacy and politics).
• двусторонний договор - Bilateral agreement (common in legal contexts).
• обоюдная выгода - Mutual benefit (used to describe shared advantages).

Usage Notes:

• "двусторонний" is more commonly used in technical or formal contexts like treaties, agreements, or relations between countries. It directly corresponds to "bilateral" in most cases.
• "обоюдный" emphasizes mutuality or reciprocity and is often used for abstract concepts like consent or responsibility. It may not always fit where "bilateral" refers to physical or structural duality.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these translations, as they are not always interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "обоюдный" in place of "двусторонний" for formal agreements. For example, saying "обоюдное соглашение" instead of "двустороннее соглашение."
  Explanation: "обоюдный" implies mutual feelings or actions, not formal bilateral structures. Use "двусторонний" for agreements or negotiations.
• Error: Incorrect adjective endings due to gender or case mismatch. For instance, "двусторонний соглашение" instead of "двустороннее соглашение."
  Explanation: Adjectives in Russian must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. "Соглашение" is neuter, so the correct form is "двустороннее."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking countries, the concept of "bilateral" relations (двусторонние отношения) often carries significant weight in political discourse, especially in discussions about international cooperation or conflict. The term is frequently used in media and official statements, reflecting the importance of diplomacy in the region's history.

Related Concepts:

• односторонний (unilateral)
• многосторонний (multilateral)
• соглашение (agreement)