Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Clinic'

English Word: Clinic

Key Russian Translations:

• клиника [ˈklʲinʲɪkə] - [Formal, General Use]
• поликлиника [ˌpolʲɪˈklʲinʲɪkə] - [Formal, Specifically Outpatient Clinic]

Frequency: High (commonly used in medical and everyday contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for both translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

клиника: [ˈklʲinʲɪkə]

Note on клиника: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'и' sounds like 'ee' in 'see'.

поликлиника: [ˌpolʲɪˈklʲinʲɪkə]

Note on поликлиника: Stress falls on the third syllable. The prefix 'поли-' is common in Russian for multi-purpose institutions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A medical facility for treatment or diagnosis

Translation(s) & Context:

• клиника - General term for a hospital or specialized medical center, often implying inpatient care.

Usage Examples:

• Эта клиника специализируется на кардиологии.

  This clinic specializes in cardiology.

• Он работает в частной клинике.

  He works at a private clinic.

• Клиника находится в центре города.

  The clinic is located in the city center.

2. An outpatient medical facility

Translation(s) & Context:

• поликлиника - Refers specifically to outpatient clinics where patients visit for consultations or minor treatments.

Usage Examples:

• Я записался на приём в поликлинику.

  I made an appointment at the outpatient clinic.

• В поликлинике много врачей разных специальностей.

  There are many doctors of different specialties in the outpatient clinic.

• Поликлиника работает с 8 утра до 8 вечера.

  The outpatient clinic is open from 8 AM to 8 PM.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

клиника (Feminine Noun, 1st Declension)

поликлиника (Feminine Noun, 1st Declension)

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for клиника:

• больница (hospital, broader term)
• медицинский центр (medical center)

Note: 'больница' often implies a larger facility with inpatient care, while 'клиника' can be more specialized.

Antonyms for клиника/поликлиника:

• No direct antonyms, as the concept is specific to medical facilities.

Related Phrases:

• частная клиника - Private clinic (refers to a non-state medical facility).
• записаться в поликлинику - To make an appointment at an outpatient clinic (common phrase for scheduling a visit).
• клиника красоты - Beauty clinic (used for cosmetic or aesthetic centers).

Usage Notes:

• While both 'клиника' and 'поликлиника' translate to 'clinic,' they are not interchangeable. Use 'клиника' for general or specialized medical facilities, often with inpatient services. Use 'поликлиника' strictly for outpatient clinics where patients visit for consultations without staying overnight.

• In everyday speech, Russians often use 'поликлиника' when referring to local medical services for routine checkups or minor issues.

• Be aware of the formality and context when choosing the term, as 'клиника' can sound more professional or specialized.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'клиника' when referring to a local outpatient facility. Example: *Я иду в клинику за справкой* (incorrect for a routine certificate).

  Correction: Use 'поликлиника' in this context: Я иду в поликлинику за справкой (I’m going to the outpatient clinic for a certificate).

• Error: Incorrect case usage after prepositions. Example: *Я иду в клинику* (correct), but *Я думаю о клинику* (incorrect).

  Correction: Use the prepositional case: Я думаю о клинике (I’m thinking about the clinic).

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, the term 'поликлиника' is deeply tied to the Soviet-era healthcare system, where state-run outpatient clinics were the primary point of contact for medical care. These facilities are still widely used today for free or low-cost services under the national healthcare system. On the other hand, 'клиника' often implies modern, specialized, or private facilities, which may carry a connotation of higher quality or cost.

Related Concepts:

• больница (hospital)
• врач (doctor)
• аптека (pharmacy)
• скорая помощь (emergency service/ambulance)