Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mission'

English Word: mission

Key Russian Translations:

• миссия [ˈmʲisʲɪjə] - [Formal, Used in contexts like diplomatic or organizational tasks]
• задание [zəˈdanʲɪjə] - [Informal, Plural possible, Often used for specific assignments or military contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, business, and international contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for 'миссия' due to its nominal inflections; A2 for 'задание' as it follows regular patterns)

Pronunciation (Russian):

миссия: [ˈmʲisʲɪjə]

Note on миссия: The initial 'м' is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers; stress on the first syllable. Variations in fast speech may soften the 'с' sound.

задание: [zəˈdanʲɪjə]

Note on задание: The 'з' is voiced and may blend with the following vowel; stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A specific task or assignment, often with a purpose (e.g., military or professional)

Translation(s) & Context:

• задание - Used in everyday or informal contexts, such as school or work assignments.
• миссия - Applied in formal or high-stakes scenarios, like diplomatic missions or life purposes.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: "Это задание было очень важным для нашей команды." (This assignment was very important for our team.)

  English Translation: "This mission was very important for our team."

• Русский пример: "Миссия астронавтов включала сбор образцов с Луны." (The astronauts' mission involved collecting samples from the Moon.)

  English Translation: "The astronauts' mission involved collecting samples from the Moon."

• Русский пример: "Его миссия в жизни — помогать людям." (His mission in life is to help people.)

  English Translation: "His mission in life is to help people."

• Русский пример: "Задание выполнено успешно, несмотря на трудности." (The mission was completed successfully, despite the difficulties.)

  English Translation: "The mission was completed successfully, despite the difficulties."

Meaning 2: A diplomatic or religious delegation (e.g., an embassy mission)

Translation(s) & Context:

• миссия - Primarily used for formal diplomatic or ecclesiastical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: "Дипломатическая миссия прибыла в Москву для переговоров." (The diplomatic mission arrived in Moscow for negotiations.)

  English Translation: "The diplomatic mission arrived in Moscow for negotiations."

• Русский пример: "Миссия церкви заключается в поддержке общины." (The church's mission is to support the community.)

  English Translation: "The church's mission is to support the community."

• Русский пример: "Эта миссия ООН направлена на разрешение конфликта." (This UN mission is aimed at resolving the conflict.)

  English Translation: "This UN mission is aimed at resolving the conflict."

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'миссия' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

For 'задание' (neuter noun, 2nd declension, follows regular patterns):

Note: Both words are invariant in terms of gender but inflect regularly; no irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • миссия: цель (tsel' - goal, more abstract)
  • задание: поручение (poruchenie - task, often implies delegation)
• Antonyms:
  • миссия: провал (proval - failure)
  • задание: отказ (otkaz - refusal)

Related Phrases:

• Миссия завершена (Mission accomplished) - Used to indicate the successful end of a task.
• Задание на дом (Homework assignment) - Common in educational contexts.
• Дипломатическая миссия (Diplomatic mission) - Refers to an official delegation.

Usage Notes:

'Миссия' closely aligns with the English 'mission' in formal or philosophical contexts, while 'задание' is better for everyday tasks. Choose 'миссия' for broader, purpose-driven meanings and 'задание' for specific, actionable items. Be mindful of Russian case inflections when using these in sentences, as they must agree with prepositions and verbs. In informal speech, 'задание' might be shortened in casual contexts.

• Grammar note: Always check the case; e.g., use genitive after certain verbs like "выполнить задание" (to complete the mission).
• Context tip: In business Russian, 'миссия' is standard in company statements, similar to English corporate jargon.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'миссия' and 'задание', using 'миссия' for simple tasks. Incorrect: "Я сделал миссия" (wrong, as it should be 'задание' for a routine assignment). Correct: "Я сделал задание". Explanation: 'Миссия' implies a grander scale, so misuse can sound overly dramatic. Another error is ignoring case changes; e.g., saying "в миссия" instead of "в миссии" (prepositional case).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'миссия' often carries a sense of historical or ideological weight, as seen in references to Soviet-era space missions or religious missions, reflecting Russia's emphasis on collective purpose and national achievements.

Related Concepts:

• цель (goal)
• проект (project)
• операция (operation)