Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mailbox'

English Word: mailbox

Key Russian Translations:

• почтовый ящик [ˈpoʧtəvɨj ˈjaʂɨk] - [Formal, Used for physical or email mailboxes]
• ящик [ˈjaʂɨk] - [Informal, Often used in casual contexts for physical mailboxes]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday communication, especially in contexts involving correspondence or digital communication)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; straightforward for basic learners, but understanding nuances between physical and digital uses may require intermediate knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

почтовый ящик: [ˈpoʧtəvɨj ˈjaʂɨk]

Note on почтовый ящик: The stress falls on the first syllable of each word; "поʧтoвый" can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft "т" sound, which is similar to a quick "t" followed by a slight glide.

Audio: []

ящик: [ˈjaʂɨk]

Note on ящик: Pronounced with a hard "ш" sound, which is like the "sh" in "shoe"; it's a simple word but can vary slightly in speed based on regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physical mailbox (a box for receiving physical mail)

Translation(s) & Context:

• почтовый ящик - Used in formal or everyday contexts for a physical mailbox, such as at a home or post office.
• ящик - Informal shorthand, often in casual conversations about mail delivery.

Usage Examples:

• Я проверил почтовый ящик и нашел письмо от друга.

  I checked the mailbox and found a letter from a friend.

• Не забудьте забрать посылку из почтового ящика.

  Don't forget to pick up the package from the mailbox.

• В нашем дворе стоит старый ящик для почты.

  In our courtyard, there's an old mailbox for mail.

• Почтовый ящик был переполнен рекламными буклетами.

  The mailbox was overflowing with advertising brochures.

• Ящик у двери всегда пустой по выходным.

  The mailbox by the door is always empty on weekends.

Meaning 2: Email inbox (a digital space for receiving electronic messages)

Translation(s) & Context:

• почтовый ящик - Commonly used in formal digital contexts, equivalent to an email inbox; also refers to an email account.

Usage Examples:

• Проверьте свой почтовый ящик, там может быть важное сообщение.

  Check your mailbox; there might be an important message.

• Я не могу найти письмо в моем почтовом ящике.

  I can't find the email in my mailbox.

• Очистите почтовый ящик от спама, чтобы не пропустить полезные письма.

  Clear your mailbox of spam so you don't miss useful emails.

• Ваш почтовый ящик переполнен, освободите место.

  Your mailbox is full; free up some space.

• Создайте новый почтовый ящик для работы.

  Create a new mailbox for work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For почтовый ящик, this is a noun phrase where "почтовый" is an adjective and "ящик" is a masculine noun. Adjectives in Russian agree with nouns in gender, number, and case.

Inflections for "ящик" (nominative singular: masculine):

For почтовый (adjective), it changes as follows in agreement with "ящик":

• Nominative singular: почтовый
• Genitive singular: почтового
• The adjective remains uninflected in some fixed phrases but must agree in full sentences.

Note: If used alone, "ящик" follows standard masculine noun patterns with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • почта (more general, refers to mail system; less specific than mailbox)
  • ящик для почты (a descriptive variant, used interchangeably in formal contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • мусорная корзина (trash bin, for deleted emails)

Related Phrases:

• Проверить почтовый ящик - Check the mailbox (used for both physical and digital contexts; implies routine inspection).
• Очистить ящик от спама - Clear the inbox of spam (specific to email; highlights digital maintenance).
• Почтовый ящик переполнен - The mailbox is full (common in both literal and metaphorical senses for email storage).

Usage Notes:

"Почтовый ящик" directly corresponds to "mailbox" in English, covering both physical and digital meanings, but in Russian, context is key to distinguish them. Use the formal version in professional or written communication, while "ящик" is more casual. Be aware of grammatical agreement: always inflect adjectives like "почтовый" to match the noun's case. When choosing between translations, opt for "почтовый ящик" for precision in digital contexts to avoid ambiguity with physical objects.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "почта" alone to mean "mailbox," which actually refers to the mail system or post office.
  Correct: Say "почтовый ящик" for specificity.
  Example of error: "Я получил письмо в почте." (Incorrect for mailbox)
  Correct example: "Я получил письмо в почтовом ящике."
• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "почтовый ящика" instead of "почтового ящика" in genitive case.
  Correct: Always ensure agreement, as in "из почтового ящика."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the physical "почтовый ящик" often symbolizes personal communication and community, as seen in Soviet-era literature where it represented waiting for letters from afar. Digitally, it's tied to the rapid adoption of email in modern Russia, reflecting a blend of traditional and tech-savvy communication habits.

Related Concepts:

• почта
• посылка
• электронная почта