Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Companionship'

English Word: companionship

Key Russian Translations:

• товарищество [tɐˈvarʲɪʂːəstvə] - [Formal, Often used in abstract or group contexts]
• дружба [ˈdruʐbə] - [Informal, Emphasizes friendship and emotional bond]
• общение [ɐbˈʂːenʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Refers to interaction or social connection]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in social and emotional contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "дружба" and "общение"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "товарищество" due to formal usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

товарищество: [tɐˈvarʲɪʂːəstvə]

Note on товарищество: Pay attention to the stress on the second syllable and the soft "щ" sound, which is challenging for non-native speakers.

дружба: [ˈdruʐbə]

Note on дружба: The stress is on the first syllable, and "ж" is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

общение: [ɐbˈʂːenʲɪjə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Emotional Bond or Friendship

Translation(s) & Context:

• дружба - Used to describe a close, personal relationship or friendship.

Usage Examples:

• Настоящая дружба длится всю жизнь.

  True companionship lasts a lifetime.

• Дружба между нами началась в школе.

  Our companionship started in school.

• Его дружба мне очень дорога.

  His companionship means a lot to me.

2. Social Interaction or Company

Translation(s) & Context:

• общение - Refers to the act of spending time with someone or interacting socially.

Usage Examples:

• Мне не хватает общения с друзьями.

  I miss companionship with my friends.

• Общение с коллегами помогает расслабиться.

  Companionship with colleagues helps me relax.

3. Formal Association or Partnership

Translation(s) & Context:

• товарищество - Used in formal or abstract contexts, often implying a group bond or partnership.

Usage Examples:

• Товарищество на войне спасает жизни.

  Companionship in war saves lives.

• Это товарищество было создано для общей цели.

  This companionship was formed for a common goal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

товарищество (neuter noun): Regular declension for neuter nouns.

дружба (feminine noun): Regular declension for feminine nouns ending in -а.

общение (neuter noun): Regular declension for neuter nouns ending in -ие.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for дружба:

• приязнь (more formal, nuanced friendliness)
• близость (emphasizes emotional closeness)

Antonyms for дружба:

• вражда (enmity)
• отчуждение (alienation)

Related Phrases:

• настоящая дружба - True companionship, used to emphasize genuine friendship.
• общение с людьми - Companionship with people, referring to social interaction.
• товарищество по оружию - Companionship in arms, often used in military contexts.

Usage Notes:

• "Дружба" is the most common and emotionally charged term for companionship, often implying a deep personal bond. Use it in informal or personal contexts.
• "Общение" focuses on the act of interacting rather than the emotional bond. It’s more neutral and can apply to casual or professional settings.
• "Товарищество" is formal and often used in historical, military, or organizational contexts. It may sound outdated or overly formal in everyday speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "товарищество" in casual conversation to mean personal friendship.
  Incorrect: У нас с ним товарищество.
  Correct: У нас с ним дружба.
  Explanation: "Товарищество" is too formal for personal relationships and is better suited for group or abstract contexts.
• Error: Misusing "общение" when an emotional bond is implied.
  Incorrect: Его общение мне дорого.
  Correct: Его дружба мне дорога.
  Explanation: "Общение" lacks the emotional depth of "дружба" and should be used for social interaction rather than deep connection.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "дружба" (companionship as friendship) is highly valued and often seen as a lifelong bond. The concept of "товарищество" carries historical weight, especially from Soviet times, where it implied camaraderie among comrades, often in political or military contexts.

Related Concepts:

• братство (brotherhood)
• солидарность (solidarity)
• взаимопонимание (mutual understanding)