Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'isolation'

English Word: isolation

Key Russian Translations:

• изоляция (/ɪzɐˈlatsɨjə/) - [Formal, Used in scientific, medical, or general contexts]
• отделение (/ɐt.dʲɪˈlʲenʲɪjə/) - [Informal, Plural possible, Used when referring to separation in social or physical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in modern Russian, especially in discussions about health, politics, and technology, but not as frequent as everyday words like "дом").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and contexts. For 'отделение', it might be slightly easier at A2 for basic forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

изоляция: /ɪzɐˈlatsɨjə/

Note on изоляция: The stress is on the third syllable ('la'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'ts' sound. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

отделение: /ɐt.dʲɪˈlʲenʲɪjə/

Note on отделение: Pay attention to the palatalized 'dʲ' sound, common in Russian but absent in English. It sounds like a soft 'd' followed by a 'y' glide.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The state of being separated from others, often for protection or privacy.

Translation(s) & Context:

• изоляция - Used in formal contexts like medical isolation during pandemics, emphasizing physical or emotional separation.
• отделение - Applied in informal or everyday situations, such as social isolation in relationships.

Usage Examples:

• В период пандемии многие люди были вынуждены к изоляции, чтобы защитить себя от вируса.

  During the pandemic, many people were forced into isolation to protect themselves from the virus.

• Его изоляция от общества помогла ему сосредоточиться на работе.

  His isolation from society helped him focus on his work.

• В больнице пациенты с инфекцией помещены в отделение для изоляции.

  In the hospital, patients with infections are placed in an isolation ward.

• После ссоры она выбрала добровольное отделение от друзей.

  After the argument, she chose voluntary isolation from her friends.

Meaning 2: In scientific or technical contexts, the act of insulating or separating materials.

Translation(s) & Context:

• изоляция - Primarily used in engineering or physics, referring to thermal or electrical isolation.

Usage Examples:

• В строительстве важна правильная изоляция стен для сохранения тепла.

  In construction, proper isolation of walls is important for heat retention.

• Электрическая изоляция кабеля предотвращает короткое замыкание.

  Electrical isolation of the cable prevents short circuits.

• Изоляция материалов в лаборатории обеспечивает безопасность экспериментов.

  Isolation of materials in the lab ensures the safety of experiments.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard feminine declension patterns. 'Изоляция' is a third-declension noun and can change based on case and number. 'Отделение' is also feminine and inflects regularly.

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregular forms are common for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отчуждение (slight nuance: more emotional detachment)
  • сепарация (used in formal or technical contexts, similar to separation)
• Antonyms:
  • связь (connection, general opposition)
  • общение (communication, emphasizing social aspects)

Related Phrases:

• самоизоляция - Self-isolation; commonly used during health crises to mean voluntary quarantine.
• изоляция от общества - Isolation from society; refers to withdrawing from social interactions, often for personal reasons.
• электрическая изоляция - Electrical isolation; a technical phrase for insulating electrical components.

Usage Notes:

'Изоляция' directly corresponds to the English 'isolation' in formal contexts like medicine or science, but it's less common in everyday casual speech. Choose 'отделение' for more interpersonal or informal scenarios. Always consider the grammatical case in Russian sentences; for example, use the genitive case after prepositions like 'от' (from). If multiple translations apply, 'изоляция' is safer for precision, while 'отделение' adds a sense of action or process.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'изоляция' in the wrong case, e.g., saying "в изоляция" instead of "в изоляции" (prepositional case). Correct: "в изоляции" – This happens because English doesn't have cases, so learners forget to adjust for Russian grammar.

• Error: Confusing 'изоляция' with 'изоляционизм' (isolationism, a political concept). Correct usage: Use 'изоляция' for general separation and specify context to avoid ambiguity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'изоляция' gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, symbolizing not just physical separation but also Russia's historical tendencies toward self-imposed isolation in geopolitics, as seen in events like the Cold War. This adds a layer of connotation beyond the literal meaning, often evoking themes of resilience or introspection in literature and media.

Related Concepts:

• карантин
• отшельничество
• сепаратизм