Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'intersection'

English Word: intersection

Key Russian Translations:

• пересечение [pʲɪrʲɪˈsʲe.t͡ɕɪ.nʲe] - [Formal, Used in mathematical or geographical contexts]
• стык [stɨk] - [Informal, Plural possible, Used for physical junctions like roads]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical, mathematical, and everyday discussions about roads or intersections, but not as frequent in casual conversation).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage; for "пересечение", it's B1, while "стык" might be A2 for basic forms).

Pronunciation (Russian):

пересечение: [pʲɪrʲɪˈsʲe.t͡ɕɪ.nʲe]

стык: [stɨk]

Note on пересечение: The stress is on the third syllable ("se"), and the soft sign (ь) affects the preceding consonant's pronunciation, making it palatalized. This can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian palatalization rules.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A point or place where two or more lines, roads, or paths cross or meet.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пересечение - Used in formal contexts like traffic directions or maps, emphasizing a geometric crossing.
• стык - Informal alternative, often for physical or engineering contexts, implying a joining point.

Usage Examples:

• В городе есть опасное пересечение дорог, где часто происходят аварии.

  In the city, there's a dangerous intersection of roads where accidents often happen.

• Автомобилисты должны быть осторожны на этом стыке шоссе.

  Drivers should be careful at this junction of highways.

• Пересечение рек создает уникальный ландшафт в этой области.

  The intersection of rivers creates a unique landscape in this area.

• На стыке двух улиц установлен светофор для безопасности.

  At the junction of two streets, a traffic light is installed for safety.

• Это пересечение траекторий самолетов контролируется радаром.

  This intersection of aircraft trajectories is controlled by radar.

Meaning 2: In mathematics, the set of elements common to two or more sets.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пересечение - Primarily used in academic or scientific contexts, such as set theory.

Usage Examples:

• Пересечение множеств A и B включает элементы, которые есть в обоих.

  The intersection of sets A and B includes elements that are in both.

• В математике пересечение двух прямых точка.

  In mathematics, the intersection of two lines is a point.

• Пересечение этих двух списков покажет общие имена.

  The intersection of these two lists will show the common names.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Пересечение" is a neuter noun in Russian, which follows the standard third declension pattern with regular inflections based on case and number. "Стык" is a masculine noun with its own inflection rules.

Note: These inflections are regular, but always check context for accuracy.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • соединение (soedinenie) - More general, implying a connection; used interchangeably in engineering.
  • крест (krest) - Literal for "cross," often in road contexts; less formal.
• Antonyms:
  • разделение (razdelenie) - Implies separation or division.
  • расхождение (raskhozhdenie) - Suggests divergence or parting ways.

Related Phrases:

• Пересечение улиц (peresechenie ulits) - Intersection of streets; refers to urban road crossings.
• Стык культур (styek kul'tur) - Cultural intersection; used metaphorically for cultural exchanges.
• Математическое пересечение (matematicheskoe peresechenie) - Mathematical intersection; common in educational contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Intersection" translates most accurately to "пересечение" in formal or technical settings, but "стык" is preferred for informal or physical descriptions. Be mindful of the noun's gender and declension when constructing sentences; for example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "на" (on). In mathematical contexts, "пересечение" is the standard term, while in everyday language, it might be replaced by more colloquial expressions to avoid sounding overly academic.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пересечение" without proper declension, e.g., saying "на пересечение" instead of "на пересечении". Correct: "На пересечении дорог" (At the intersection of roads). Explanation: Russian requires the prepositional case for locations, which English speakers often overlook.

• Error: Confusing "пересечение" with "intersection" in a non-literal sense, leading to misuse like translating "social intersection" as "пересечение" when "стык" or "взаимодействие" might be better. Correct: Use "взаимодействие" for social contexts. Explanation: Context dictates the best translation to maintain nuance.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "пересечение" in urban contexts often evokes ideas of chaos or danger, as seen in literature like Gogol's works, where busy intersections symbolize the unpredictability of city life. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on community and caution in shared spaces, differing from more individualistic Western portrayals.

Related Concepts:

• перекресток (perekrestok)
• соединение (soedinenie)
• разделение (razdelenie)