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Meanings and Usage:

Physical obstruction (e.g., in plumbing or pipes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• засор - Used in everyday contexts for blockages in drains or systems; informal and practical language.
• пробка - Applied metaphorically or literally to traffic or flow interruptions; common in urban or daily life scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• В ванной комнате образовался засор из-за волос и мыла.

  In the bathroom, a blockage formed due to hair and soap.

• Из-за пробки на шоссе мы опоздали на встречу.

  Because of the traffic blockage on the highway, we were late for the meeting.

• Сантехник быстро устранил засор в кухонной раковине.

  The plumber quickly fixed the blockage in the kitchen sink.

• Врачи диагностировали закупорку в артерии пациента.

  Doctors diagnosed a blockage in the patient's artery.

• Дорожная пробка длилась несколько часов из-за аварии.

  The road blockage lasted several hours due to an accident.

Metaphorical or abstract obstruction (e.g., in processes or systems)

Translation(s) & Context:

• закупорка - Used in formal or technical contexts for blockages in systems, like bureaucratic delays; emphasizes obstruction in abstract flows.

Usage Examples:

• Бюрократическая закупорка замедлила проект на месяцы.

  Bureaucratic blockage delayed the project for months.

• Экономическая закупорка привела к кризису в стране.

  Economic blockage led to a crisis in the country.

• Засор в системе вентиляции вызвал проблемы в офисе.

  The blockage in the ventilation system caused issues in the office.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'засор' is a masculine noun (3rd declension). It follows standard Russian noun inflections, which are regular but require attention to cases. Below is a table of its forms:

'пробка' is also a feminine noun (1st declension) with regular inflections:

'закупорка' (feminine) is invariable in most contexts but follows standard patterns; it does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: закупорка (similar to blockage in medical contexts), затор (for traffic or flow issues; less formal than пробка)
• Antonyms: проходимость (permeability or passability), свободный поток (free flow; implies no obstruction)

Note: 'затор' is a synonym for 'пробка' but often implies a more dynamic blockage, such as in rivers or traffic.

Related Phrases:

• трубный засор - Pipe blockage; used for plumbing issues, often in maintenance contexts.
• дорожная пробка - Traffic jam; common in urban transportation discussions.
• кровеносная закупорка - Vascular blockage; refers to medical conditions like clots.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'засор' directly corresponds to everyday 'blockage' in English, especially for physical items, and is preferred in informal speech. 'Пробка' is ideal for traffic-related contexts, mirroring English 'traffic jam'. Choose 'закупорка' for formal or technical scenarios to match precise English usage. Be aware of grammatical gender: all are nouns that require correct case agreement in sentences. For example, in prepositional phrases, use the prepositional case like 'в засоре' (in the blockage).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'засор' interchangeably with 'пробка' in traffic contexts. Correct: Say 'дорожная пробка' for traffic; 'засор' is for pipes. Example of error: *В трубе образовалась пробка* (incorrect) vs. Correct: В трубе образовался засор.
• Error: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Correct: In genitive, say 'из-за засора' (because of the blockage). This can lead to awkward phrasing in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'пробка' are deeply tied to urban life in cities like Moscow, where traffic congestion is a daily frustration. 'Засор' often appears in humorous or anecdotal stories about household mishaps, reflecting a practical, problem-solving attitude in Russian daily life.

Related Concepts:

• затопление (flooding)
• застой (stagnation)
• трубопровод (pipeline)