Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'parting'

English Word: parting

Key Russian Translations:

• прощание [prəˈʃt͡ɕənʲɪje] - [Formal, used in contexts of farewell or emotional separation]
• расставание [rəsstaˈvanʲɪje] - [Informal, everyday contexts like casual goodbyes or breakups]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, conversations, and media, but not as frequent as basic greetings)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and emotional nuances; for 'прощание', it's B1; for 'расставание', it's also B1 due to similar grammatical features)

Pronunciation (Russian):

прощание: [prəˈʃt͡ɕənʲɪje]

расставание: [rəsstaˈvanʲɪje]

Note on прощание: The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' which can be tricky for English speakers; it's pronounced like 'shch' in 'fresh cheese'. Pronounce with emphasis on the second syllable.

Note on расставание: The 'с' before 'т' creates a quick, crisp sound; avoid elongating it as in English 's'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Farewell or emotional separation (e.g., saying goodbye)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прощание - Used in formal or poetic contexts, such as final goodbyes in literature or ceremonies.
• расставание - Applied in everyday, informal situations like ending a relationship or parting ways casually.

Usage Examples:

• На вокзале мы обменялись прощаниями, полными слёз и обещаний. (Na vokzale my obmenyalis' proshchaniyami, polnymi slyoz i obeshchaniy.)

  At the station, we exchanged farewells full of tears and promises.

• Его расставание с друзьями было быстрым, но теплым. (Yego rasstavanie s druz'yami bylo bystrym, no teplym.)

  His parting with friends was quick but warm.

• Прощание с родным домом всегда тяжело. (Proshchanie s rodnym domom vsegda tyazhelo.)

  Parting from one's native home is always difficult.

• После расставания она решила начать новую жизнь. (Posle rasstavaniya ona reshila nachat' novuyu zhizn'.)

  After the parting, she decided to start a new life.

• Вечернее прощание под луной стало романтичным моментом. (Vecherneye proshchanie pod lunoy stalo romanticznym momentom.)

  The evening parting under the moon became a romantic moment.

Meaning 2: Physical separation or division (e.g., parting of hair or paths)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прощание - Less common for physical separation; used metaphorically.
• расставание - Not ideal; for physical parting like hair, use 'пробор' [probor], but it's not a direct match.

Usage Examples:

• Его волосы имели прямое прощание. (Yego volosy imeli pryamoey proshchanie.) [Note: This is metaphorical; for hair, 'пробор' is more accurate.]

  His hair had a straight parting.

• Дороги разошлись в расставании. (Dorogi razoshlis' v rasstavanii.)

  The roads parted in separation.

• Прощание путей в лесу было неожиданным. (Proshchanie putei v lesu bylo neozhidannym.)

  The parting of paths in the forest was unexpected.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'прощание' and 'расставание' are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard neuter declension patterns. They are not irregular but require attention to cases, numbers, and genders in sentences.

Note: These nouns do not change for gender but must agree in case with other words in the sentence. They are invariant in form across most contexts except for the above declensions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • прощание - Similar to 'проводы' (provody), which implies a ceremonial farewell, often with subtle emotional depth.
  • расставание - Synonymous with 'разлука' (razluka), but 'разлука' emphasizes prolonged separation.
• Antonyms:
  • встреча (vstrecha) - Meeting, as it contrasts with separation.
  • свидание (svidanie) - Rendezvous or date, implying coming together.

Related Phrases:

• Последнее прощание (Posledneye proshchanie) - Final farewell; used in contexts of death or permanent separation.
• Горькое расставание (Goryekoye rasstavanie) - Bitter parting; implies emotional pain in relationships.
• Прощание навсегда (Proshchanie navsegda) - Parting forever; a dramatic expression for eternal separation.

Usage Notes:

'Прощание' is the more formal equivalent of 'parting' in English, often carrying emotional or poetic connotations, making it suitable for literary or ceremonial use. 'Расставание' is less formal and fits everyday scenarios. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use 'прощание' for heartfelt goodbyes and 'расставание' for casual ones. Grammatically, both nouns must decline according to Russian cases, so ensure agreement with adjectives or verbs. For example, in formal writing, 'parting words' might translate to 'слова прощания' to maintain the genitive case.

• Scene restrictions: 'Прощание' is common in Russian literature and films, reflecting cultural emphasis on emotional expression.
• Grammar note: Always use the correct case; e.g., in 'after the parting', use genitive like 'после прощания'.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'прощание' with 'расставание' and using them interchangeably without context. Incorrect: Использовать расставание в формальном письме. (Ispol'zovat' rasstavanie v formal'nom pis'me.) Correct: Использовать прощание в формальном письме. (Ispol'zovat' proshchanie v formal'nom pis'me.) Explanation: 'Прощание' is more appropriate for formal or emotional contexts to avoid sounding casual.
• Error: Forgetting to decline the noun in sentences. Incorrect: После прощание. (Posle proshchanie.) Correct: После прощания. (Posle proshchaniya.) Explanation: Russian requires genitive case after prepositions like 'после', so learners must adjust endings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'прощание' often carries deep emotional weight, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where partings symbolize life's impermanence. It's tied to traditions like farewell toasts at gatherings, reflecting a cultural value on expressing sentiment during separations, which can differ from more stoic English-speaking norms.

Related Concepts:

• встреча (vstrecha)
• разлука (razluka)
• проводы (provody)