Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'breakage'

English Word: breakage

Key Russian Translations:

• повреждение [pɐˈvrʲeʒdʲenʲije] - [Formal, used for general damage or injury]
• поломка [pɐˈlomka] - [Informal, specifically for mechanical or equipment failure]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday contexts like repairs, insurance, or accidents, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and context-specific usage, though basic forms are accessible to learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

повреждение: [pɐˈvrʲeʒdʲenʲije] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ж' sound is a soft fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure')

поломка: [pɐˈlomka] (Stress on the second syllable; note the rolled 'р' typical in Russian pronunciation)

Note on повреждение: This word has palatalized consonants, which can be tricky for English speakers; practice the 'жд' cluster as a single sound.

Note on поломка: The ending '-ка' is diminutive, affecting pronunciation with a softer tone.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physical damage or breaking of an object

Translation(s) & Context:

• повреждение - Used in formal contexts like reports, insurance claims, or medical descriptions to indicate harm or impairment.
• поломка - Applied in informal or technical settings, such as describing a broken machine or appliance.

Usage Examples:

• В результате падения произошла серьёзная повреждение телефона.

  In the result of the fall, serious breakage of the phone occurred.

• Из-за поломка в двигателе машина не завелась.

  Due to the breakage in the engine, the car wouldn't start.

• После аварии мы обнаружили множественные повреждение на корпусе автомобиля.

  After the accident, we discovered multiple breakages on the car's body.

• Эта поломка может быть легко исправлена в сервисе.

  This breakage can be easily fixed at the service center.

Meaning 2: Damage in a broader sense, such as in shipping or legal contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• повреждение - Common in legal or commercial contexts, e.g., for goods in transit.

Usage Examples:

• При доставке мы получили товар с видимым повреждение.

  Upon delivery, we received the goods with visible breakage.

• Страховка покрывает все случаи повреждение во время транспортировки.

  The insurance covers all cases of breakage during transportation.

• В контракте указано, что продавец несёт ответственность за любое повреждение.

  The contract states that the seller is responsible for any breakage.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "повреждение" and "поломка" are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard neuter declension patterns. "Повреждение" is a third-declension noun and can have irregular forms in some cases, while "поломка" is more straightforward.

Note: These nouns do not change in gender but must agree in case with other words in the sentence. "Поломка" is less commonly inflected in plural forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ущерб (damage, loss; more formal and often implies financial impact)
  • дефект (defect; used for flaws in manufacturing)
• Antonyms:
  • целостность (integrity; refers to wholeness without damage)
  • невредимость (safety; implies no harm occurred)

Related Phrases:

• механическая поломка - Mechanical breakage; used in technical contexts to describe engine failures.
• повреждение имущества - Damage to property; common in legal or insurance discussions.
• предотвратить повреждение - To prevent breakage; an idiomatic phrase for safety measures.

Usage Notes:

• Use "повреждение" for more general or formal situations, as it aligns closely with "breakage" in English when referring to physical harm. It's preferred in written contexts like reports.
• "Поломка" is better for informal, everyday language, especially with machinery or tools, and carries a connotation of something that can be repaired.
• Be mindful of case agreement in Russian sentences; for example, in genitive constructions like "из-за поломки" (due to breakage).
• When choosing between translations, consider the context: opt for "повреждение" in medical or legal scenarios, and "поломка" for mechanical ones.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse case endings, e.g., using nominative "повреждение" in a genitive context like "из-за повреждение" instead of the correct "из-за повреждения." Correct usage: Always decline the noun to match the sentence structure.
• Mistaking "поломка" for a verb; it's a noun, so avoid using it as "поломать" (to break). Error example: "Я поломка машину" (wrong); Correct: "У меня поломка в машине" (I have a breakage in my car).
• Overgeneralizing; "повреждение" isn't always interchangeable with "поломка" – the latter is more specific to failures, not general damage.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "поломка" are often associated with the practical, DIY mindset prevalent in everyday life, especially in rural or Soviet-era contexts where people frequently repair items themselves rather than replace them. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on resourcefulness and endurance.

Related Concepts:

• ремонт (repair)
• авария (accident)
• ущерб (harm or loss)