Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Crate'

English Word: Crate

Key Russian Translations:

• ящик [ˈjaʂːɪk] - [General, Neutral]
• контейнер [kɐnˈtʲejnʲɪr] - [Formal, Often for larger or industrial use]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "ящик"); B1 (Intermediate for "контейнер")

Pronunciation (Russian):

ящик: [ˈjaʂːɪk]

Note on ящик: The "щ" sound is a soft, hissing sound unique to Russian. Stress is on the first syllable.

контейнер: [kɐnˈtʲejnʲɪr]

Note on контейнер: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "р" at the end is rolled slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A box or container, typically made of wood or plastic, for transporting goods

Translation(s) & Context:

• ящик - Commonly used for wooden or small crates, often in everyday contexts.
• контейнер - Used for larger or industrial crates, often implying a more formal or technical context.

Usage Examples:

• На складе полно ящиков с яблоками.

  The warehouse is full of crates with apples.

• Мы заказали ящик для хранения инструментов.

  We ordered a crate for storing tools.

• Контейнер с грузом прибыл в порт.

  The crate with cargo arrived at the port.

• Этот контейнер слишком тяжелый, чтобы поднять его вручную.

  This crate is too heavy to lift by hand.

• Положи бутылки в ящик, чтобы они не разбились.

  Put the bottles in the crate so they don’t break.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

ящик (noun, masculine): Follows the standard masculine declension pattern in Russian.

контейнер (noun, masculine): Also follows the standard masculine declension pattern with minor phonetic adjustments.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for ящик:

• коробка (more general term for "box")
• сундук (often for larger, old-fashioned chests)

Synonyms for контейнер:

• ёмкость (general term for "container")

Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "crate" does not have a clear opposite in Russian.

Related Phrases:

• деревянный ящик - Wooden crate
• ящик для инструментов - Toolbox (literally "crate for tools")
• транспортный контейнер - Shipping container (larger crate for transport)

Usage Notes:

• "ящик" is the more common and versatile term for a crate or box in everyday Russian. It can refer to small or medium-sized containers, often made of wood or plastic.
• "контейнер" is typically used in more formal or industrial contexts, often implying a larger or more durable container, such as a shipping crate.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between "ящик" and "контейнер". For household or informal settings, "ящик" is usually the better choice.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "контейнер" for small, everyday crates. Incorrect: "Я купил контейнер для яблок." Correct: "Я купил ящик для яблок." Explanation: "контейнер" implies a larger or industrial container, so it sounds unnatural for small items like apples in a casual context.
• Error: Misusing cases with "ящик". Incorrect: "Я положил в ящикe." Correct: "Я положил в ящик." Explanation: The prepositional case requires "ящике", but after "в" with the accusative (indicating motion), it remains "ящик".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "ящик" is a very common term and can also colloquially refer to a television set (e.g., "смотреть ящик" means "to watch TV"). This usage is informal and unrelated to the meaning of "crate", but it’s worth noting to avoid confusion in casual conversations.

Related Concepts:

• коробка (box)
• сундук (chest)
• упаковка (packaging)