Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The act of dismissing someone from a job

Translation(s) & Context:

• Увольнение - Used in formal, professional settings, such as HR discussions or legal documents.
• Увольнять - As a verb, in contexts involving employment termination, often in written or spoken business language.

Usage Examples:

• Его увольнение было неожиданным для всей команды.

  His firing was unexpected for the entire team.

• Компания решила уволить нескольких сотрудников из-за сокращений.

  The company decided to fire several employees due to cutbacks.

• После увольнения он подал в суд на бывшего работодателя.

  After his firing, he sued his former employer.

• Увольнять людей в кризисные времена — это сложное решение.

  Firing people during a crisis is a tough decision.

• Её увольнение связано с нарушением корпоративных правил.

  Her firing was due to a violation of company policies.

Meaning 2: The act of shooting or discharging a weapon

Translation(s) & Context:

• Стрельба - Used in informal or military contexts, referring to gunfire or shooting practice.
• Стрелять - As a verb, in scenarios involving weapons, hunting, or sports.

Usage Examples:

• Во время стрельбы в парке все спрятались за деревьями.

  During the firing in the park, everyone hid behind the trees.

• Солдаты начали стрелять по цели в тренировочном лагере.

  The soldiers started firing at the target in the training camp.

• Стрельба из лука — популярный вид спорта в России.

  Archery firing is a popular sport in Russia.

• Он случайно выстрелил, когда чистил ружье.

  He accidentally fired when cleaning the gun.

• Во время уличной стрельбы пострадали несколько человек.

  Several people were injured during the street firing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Depending on the translation, these words follow standard Russian inflection patterns. 'Увольнение' is a neuter noun, while 'Стрельба' is a feminine noun. Verbs like 'Увольнять' and 'Стрелять' are first-conjugation verbs with regular patterns.

Note: These are regular inflections; 'Увольнение' does not change in plural forms as frequently as other nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Увольнение: Сокращение (sokrashchenie) - More specific to layoffs.
  • Стрельба: Выстрел (vystrel) - Refers to a single shot.
  • Увольнять: Устранять (ustranyat') - In formal contexts, implying removal.
  • Стрелять: Пускать пулю (puskat' puliu) - Informal variant for shooting.
• Antonyms:
  • Увольнение: Прием на работу (priem na rabotu)
  • Стрельба: Перемирие (peremirie) - Ceasefire or truce.

Related Phrases:

• Массовое увольнение - Mass firing; often used in economic contexts.
• Открытая стрельба - Open firing; refers to unrestricted shooting in conflicts.
• Приказ уволить - Order to fire; a formal command in business or military settings.
• Стрельба в воздух - Firing into the air; common in celebrations or warnings.

Usage Notes:

'Firing' in English can correspond to multiple Russian words based on context: use 'увольнение' or 'увольнять' for employment-related scenarios, which are more formal and common in written Russian. For weapon-related 'firing', opt for 'стрельба' or 'стрелять', which are versatile but context-dependent. Be mindful of the verb's aspect in Russian; 'увольнять' is imperfective, implying ongoing action, while its perfective counterpart 'уволить' might be more precise for completed events. In informal speech, Russians might use euphemisms to soften 'firing' in job contexts.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'увольнение' with 'увольнение' in plural: English learners often forget to adjust for case, e.g., incorrectly saying "увольнений" when "увольнение" suffices in nominative. Correct: Use genitive "увольнения" only in specific phrases like "после увольнения".
• Mispronouncing 'стрелять': Learners might stress the wrong syllable, saying [strʲeˈlatʲ] instead of [ˈstrʲelatʲ], leading to confusion with similar verbs. Error example: "Я стрелять" (incorrect, missing conjugation); Correct: "Я стреляю".
• Overusing 'увольнять' in non-professional contexts: This can sound overly formal; in casual talk, use 'выгнать' for "to fire" in a more emotional sense, but avoid it for official settings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'увольнение' (firing from a job) often carries significant emotional weight due to the historical context of Soviet-era job security. Terms like 'стрельба' may evoke memories of military history, such as World War II, where firing weapons was a daily reality, influencing how these words are used in modern media and literature.

Related Concepts:

• Работа (rabota) - Work
• Вооружение (vooruzhenie) - Armament
• Кадровая политика (kadrovaya politika) - HR policy
• Боевые действия (boyevye deystviya) - Combat operations