Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'case'

English Word: case

Key Russian Translations:

• случай [ˈslut͡ʃaj] - [Neutral, Common Usage]
• дело [ˈdʲeɫə] - [Formal, Often Legal or Business Context]
• чехол [t͡ʃɪˈxol] - [Informal, Refers to a Protective Cover]

Frequency: High (especially "случай" and "дело")

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate for "случай"; B2 for "дело" due to formal contexts; A2 for "чехол")

Pronunciation (Russian):

случай: [ˈslut͡ʃaj]

Note on случай: Stress on the first syllable; the "ч" sounds like "ch" in "church".

дело: [ˈdʲeɫə]

Note on дело: Stress on the first syllable; the "е" is palatalized, sounding softer.

чехол: [t͡ʃɪˈxol]

Note on чехол: Stress on the second syllable; "х" is a guttural sound like "h" in "loch".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Instance or Occurrence

Translation(s) & Context:

• случай - Used for general instances or events (e.g., "in this case").

Usage Examples:

• В этом случае я не могу помочь.

  In this case, I can't help.

• Это редкий случай успеха.

  This is a rare case of success.

• Случай был очень странный.

  The case was very strange.

2. Legal or Business Matter

Translation(s) & Context:

• дело - Used in formal contexts like legal cases or business affairs.

Usage Examples:

• Суд рассмотрел дело вчера.

  The court reviewed the case yesterday.

• Это важное дело для компании.

  This is an important case for the company.

3. Container or Cover

Translation(s) & Context:

• чехол - Refers to a physical protective cover (e.g., for a phone or instrument).

Usage Examples:

• Купи чехол для телефона.

  Buy a case for your phone.

• Чехол защищает гитару от пыли.

  The case protects the guitar from dust.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

случай (Noun, Masculine, 2nd Declension):

дело (Noun, Neuter, 2nd Declension): Follows similar declension patterns as above but with neuter endings.

чехол (Noun, Masculine, 2nd Declension): Regular declension, similar to "случай".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for случай:

• эпизод
• происшествие

Note: "эпизод" often implies a specific episode, while "происшествие" may suggest an incident with negative connotations.

Antonyms for случай:

• закономерность (regularity)

Related Phrases:

• в любом случае - "in any case" or "anyway"
• уголовное дело - "criminal case"
• чехол для телефона - "phone case"

Usage Notes:

• "случай" is the most versatile and common translation for "case" as an instance or situation, suitable for most everyday contexts.
• "дело" should be used in formal settings, especially related to legal or business matters; it may sound overly serious in casual conversation.
• "чехол" is strictly for physical covers or containers; using it metaphorically would be incorrect.
• Pay attention to grammatical case usage in Russian, as it affects meaning (e.g., "в случае" means "in case of").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "дело" for casual situations. Incorrect: "В этом деле я согласен" (sounds overly formal). Correct: "В этом случае я согласен" (In this case, I agree).
• Error: Confusing "чехол" with other meanings of "case". Incorrect: "Это странный чехол" (for an event). Correct: "Это странный случай".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, "дело" often carries a connotation of seriousness or importance, especially in legal contexts. Phrases like "дело принципа" ("a matter of principle") are common and reflect a cultural emphasis on honor or duty in certain "cases".

Related Concepts:

• ситуация (situation)
• обстоятельство (circumstance)
• процесс (process, often legal)