Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Detention'

English Word: detention

Key Russian Translations:

• задержание [zədɛrˈʐanʲɪjə] - [Formal, Legal Context]
• арест [ɐˈrʲest] - [Formal, Often Legal or Police Context]
• оставление после уроков [ɐstɐˈvlʲenʲɪjə ˈposlʲɪ urɐˈkov] - [Informal, School Context]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "задержание" and "арест" are more common in legal contexts, while "оставление после уроков" is niche)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "задержание" and "арест"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "оставление после уроков" due to its specific usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

задержание: [zədɛrˈʐanʲɪjə]

Note on задержание: Pay attention to the rolled 'r' and the soft 'nʲ' sound, which are typical in Russian pronunciation.

арест: [ɐˈrʲest]

Note on арест: The stress is on the second syllable, and the 'rʲ' is slightly palatalized.

оставление после уроков: [ɐstɐˈvlʲenʲɪjə ˈposlʲɪ urɐˈkov]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Legal or Police Context (Holding someone in custody)

Translation(s) & Context:

• задержание - Used for temporary detention or holding by authorities before formal charges.
• арест - Refers to a formal arrest, often with legal implications or longer custody.

Usage Examples:

• Полиция произвела задержание подозреваемого.

  The police carried out the detention of the suspect.

• Его арест был неожиданным для всех.

  His arrest was unexpected for everyone.

• Задержание длилось всего несколько часов.

  The detention lasted only a few hours.

2. School Context (Punishment by staying after class)

Translation(s) & Context:

• оставление после уроков - Refers specifically to a student being kept after school as punishment.

Usage Examples:

• Учитель оставил его после уроков за плохое поведение.

  The teacher kept him after class for bad behavior.

• Оставление после уроков стало для него обычным делом.

  Detention after class became a regular thing for him.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

задержание (noun, neuter): Regular noun declension in Russian. Below is the declension table for singular and plural forms:

арест (noun, masculine): Follows regular masculine noun declension. Similar structure to above but with masculine endings.

оставление после уроков (phrase): This is a fixed phrase and does not undergo typical inflection as a single unit. "Оставление" can be declined as a neuter noun if used independently.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for задержание/арест (legal context):

• заключение (imprisonment, more formal)
• содержание под стражей (custody, legal term)

Note: "заключение" implies a longer or more formal imprisonment compared to "задержание".

Antonyms for задержание/арест:

• освобождение (release)
• отпускание (letting go)

Related Phrases:

• взять под арест - to take into custody (formal, legal context)
• задержание без оснований - detention without grounds (used in legal discussions)
• оставить после уроков за опоздание - to keep after class for being late (school context)

Usage Notes:

• "Задержание" is typically used for short-term or temporary detention, often by police, before formal charges or arrest ("арест").
• "Арест" implies a more formal or serious legal action and can refer to longer custody or house arrest.
• "Оставление после уроков" is a very specific phrase used only in school contexts for disciplinary action; it is not interchangeable with the other terms.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these translations, as using "арест" in a school context or vice versa would be incorrect.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "арест" to refer to school detention. Incorrect: "Учитель произвёл арест ученика." (The teacher arrested the student.) Correct: "Учитель оставил ученика после уроков." (The teacher kept the student after class.)
• Error: Confusing "задержание" with "арест" in legal contexts. "Задержание" is temporary, while "арест" often implies formal charges. Incorrect: "Его задержание продлилось месяц." (Better: "Его арест продлился месяц.")

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the terms "задержание" and "арест" carry significant weight due to historical and political contexts, especially related to Soviet-era practices. These words might evoke strong associations with authority and legal systems, so they should be used carefully in sensitive discussions.

Related Concepts:

• тюрьма (prison)
• суд (court)
• наказание (punishment)