Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'margin'

English Word: margin

Key Russian Translations:

• край [kraj] - [Formal, used for physical or metaphorical edges]
• маржа [ˈmarʒə] - [Business context, Informal in financial discussions]
• поля [ˈpolʲə] - [Plural, used in printing or writing contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in specific contexts like business and everyday descriptions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 for 'край' (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun declensions); B2 for 'маржа' (Upper-Intermediate, due to business vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

край: [kraj]

маржа: [ˈmarʒə]

поля: [ˈpolʲə]

Note on край: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'r' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on маржа: Pronounced with a soft 'zh' sound, similar to 'measure' in English; common in loanwords from English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Edge or border (e.g., the outer limit of something)

Translation(s) & Context:

• край - Used in physical or metaphorical contexts, such as the edge of a page or a boundary in geography.

Usage Examples:

• Книга имеет широкие края для заметок.

  The book has wide margins for notes.

• Он стоял на краю пропасти.

  He stood on the margin/edge of the abyss.

• В этой дискуссии мы коснулись края важной темы.

  In this discussion, we touched the margin/edge of an important topic.

• Край леса был покрыт туманом.

  The margin/edge of the forest was covered in fog.

Meaning 2: Profit margin (e.g., in business or finance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• маржа - Specifically used in economic or commercial contexts, often in formal reports or negotiations.

Usage Examples:

• Компания увеличила свою маржу за счет снижения расходов.

  The company increased its margin by reducing expenses.

• В этом квартале маржа прибыли упала до 10%.

  In this quarter, the profit margin fell to 10%.

• Инвесторы анализируют маржу для оценки рисков.

  Investors analyze the margin to assess risks.

• Маржа на этом рынке очень низкая из-за конкуренции.

  The margin in this market is very low due to competition.

• Увеличение маржи является ключевой целью бизнеса.

  Increasing the margin is a key business goal.

Meaning 3: Page margin (e.g., in publishing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• поля - Typically plural and used for layout in books, documents, or digital formats.

Usage Examples:

• В этом документе поля слишком узкие для правок.

  In this document, the margins are too narrow for edits.

• Настройте поля в принтере для лучшего формата.

  Adjust the margins in the printer for better formatting.

• Поля книги позволяют добавлять аннотации.

  The margins of the book allow for annotations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'край' (a masculine noun), it follows standard first-declension patterns with some irregularities in certain cases. It is invariable in plural form for some uses.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	край	края
Genitive	края	краёв
Dative	краю	краям
Accusative	край	края
Instrumental	краем	краями
Prepositional	крае	краях

For 'маржа' (a feminine noun, often indeclinable as a loanword), it remains mostly unchanged: маржа (all cases). For 'поля' (neuter plural noun), it is typically used in plural form and does not inflect further in standard contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for край: грань (edge, boundary) - Often used in abstract contexts; обод (rim) - For circular edges.
• Synonyms for маржа: прибыльность (profitability) - Emphasizes the rate of return.
• Antonyms for край: центр (center) - Refers to the middle as opposed to the edge.
• Antonyms for маржа: убыток (loss) - Indicates the opposite in financial terms.

Related Phrases:

• На краю пропасти - On the edge of the abyss; used metaphorically for dangerous situations.
• Увеличить маржу - To increase the margin; common in business planning.
• Поля для заметок - Margins for notes; refers to space in documents for annotations.

Usage Notes:

'Край' corresponds closely to 'margin' as an edge but is more versatile in Russian, often implying a boundary in both literal and figurative senses. Use 'маржа' specifically in financial contexts to match 'profit margin', as it's a direct borrowing. For page margins, 'поля' is standard but always plural. Be mindful of context: in formal writing, opt for precise translations; in casual speech, 'край' might be simplified. When choosing between translations, consider the domain—e.g., business vs. everyday use—to avoid mismatches.

• Grammar note: 'Край' requires correct declension based on case, which can affect sentence structure.
• Register: 'Маржа' is neutral in professional settings but may sound technical in general conversation.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'край' with 'крайний' (meaning 'extreme' or 'last'), leading to sentences like "Я на крайнем" instead of "Я на краю" for "I'm on the margin/edge". Correct usage: Use 'край' for physical edges and ensure proper declension, e.g., "на краю" (on the edge) vs. Error: "на крае" (incorrect genitive here). Another error is treating 'маржа' as fully declinable, e.g., saying "маржи" incorrectly in nominative; it's often indeclinable, so stick to "маржа" in most cases.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'край' can carry connotations from literature, such as in works by Tolstoy, where it symbolizes the fringes of society or existential limits, reflecting Russia's vast landscapes. 'Маржа' as a business term highlights the influence of Western economics post-Soviet era, often discussed in media as a measure of economic stability.

Related Concepts:

• граница (boundary)
• прибыль (profit)
• формат (format, as in document layout)