Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cabinet'

English Word: cabinet

Key Russian Translations:

• шкаф [ʂkaf] - [Neutral, Commonly used for furniture]
• кабинет [kɐˈbʲinʲɪt] - [Formal/Neutral, Used for a room or office]
• правительство [prɐvʲɪˈtʲelʲstvə] - [Formal, Used in political context for a group of ministers]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "шкаф" is high, "правительство" is medium)

Difficulty: A2 for "шкаф", B1 for "кабинет", B2 for "правительство"

Pronunciation (Russian):

шкаф: [ʂkaf]

Note on шкаф: The initial "ш" is a retroflex sound, distinct from English "sh". Stress is on the single syllable.

кабинет: [kɐˈbʲinʲɪt]

Note on кабинет: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "е" is pronounced as "ye" in unstressed position.

правительство: [prɐvʲɪˈtʲelʲstvə]

Note on правительство: Stress on the third syllable. The final "о" is reduced to a schwa-like sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A piece of furniture for storage

Translation(s) & Context:

• шкаф - Used for a wardrobe, cupboard, or storage unit in homes.

Usage Examples:

• Я положил книги в шкаф.

  I put the books in the cabinet.

• В шкафу висит моя одежда.

  My clothes are hanging in the cabinet.

• Этот шкаф слишком старый, нужно купить новый.

  This cabinet is too old; we need to buy a new one.

2. A private room or office

Translation(s) & Context:

• кабинет - Refers to a study, office, or doctor’s room.

Usage Examples:

• Директор ждёт вас в своём кабинете.

  The director is waiting for you in his office.

• У врача сегодня много пациентов в кабинете.

  The doctor has many patients in the office today.

• Я работаю в тихом кабинете на втором этаже.

  I work in a quiet office on the second floor.

3. A group of government ministers

Translation(s) & Context:

• правительство - Used in political contexts to refer to the cabinet of ministers.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство приняло новое решение.

  The cabinet made a new decision.

• Члены правительства собрались на совещание.

  The members of the cabinet gathered for a meeting.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

1. шкаф (noun, masculine, inanimate):

2. кабинет (noun, masculine, inanimate): Follows similar declension patterns as "шкаф".

3. правительство (noun, neuter, inanimate): Follows third declension rules with unique endings in genitive plural (правительств).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for шкаф:

• гардероб (wardrobe, more specific)
• буфет (buffet, for kitchen storage)

Synonyms for кабинет:

• офис (office, more modern)
• комната (room, more general)

No direct antonyms exist for these terms.

Related Phrases:

• шкаф для одежды - Wardrobe for clothes.
• книжный шкаф - Bookshelf or bookcase.
• кабинет врача - Doctor’s office.
• кабинет министров - Cabinet of ministers (similar to правительство).

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "шкаф", "кабинет", and "правительство" depends entirely on context. "шкаф" is strictly for furniture, "кабинет" for a room or office, and "правительство" for political bodies.
• "кабинет" can sometimes overlap with "офис" in modern usage, but "кабинет" often implies a smaller or more personal space.
• In political contexts, "правительство" is broader than just "cabinet" and may refer to the entire government structure in some cases.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "шкаф" to refer to an office. Incorrect: Я работаю в шкафу. (I work in the cabinet.) Correct: Я работаю в кабинете.
• Error: Confusing "правительство" with "кабинет" for a physical room. Incorrect: Встреча в правительстве. (Meeting in the cabinet.) Correct: Встреча в кабинете.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "кабинет" often evokes the image of a Soviet-era office or a doctor’s small consultation room, reflecting historical bureaucratic or medical settings. "шкаф" is a staple in Russian homes, often large and multi-functional due to limited living space.

Related Concepts:

• мебель (furniture)
• офис (office)
• министр (minister)