Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rack'

English Word: rack

Key Russian Translations:

• стойка [ˈstoɪkə] - [Formal, Used for stands or frameworks]
• полка [ˈpolkə] - [Informal, Used for shelves or racks in everyday contexts]
• мука [ˈmukə] - [Formal, Used in metaphorical senses like torment or suffering]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language for physical objects, less frequent for metaphorical uses)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for physical meanings; B2 for metaphorical uses, as it involves nuanced contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

стойка: [ˈstoɪkə]

Note on стойка: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'ой' sound can be tricky for English speakers, similar to 'oy' in 'boy'.

полка: [ˈpolkə]

Note on полка: Stress on the first syllable; the 'o' is pronounced like in 'pot'.

мука: [ˈmukə]

Note on мука: Stress on the first syllable; avoid confusing with 'muka' meaning flour in some contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A framework, stand, or shelf for holding items (e.g., coat rack, bike rack)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стойка - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as in stores or workshops.
• полка - Common in informal, domestic settings like homes or offices.

Usage Examples:

• Я повесил велосипед на стойку в гараже.

  I hung the bike on the rack in the garage.

• На полке в кухне хранятся книги по кулинарии.

  On the rack in the kitchen, cookbooks are stored.

• Эту стойку можно использовать для сушки посуды.

  This rack can be used for drying dishes.

• В магазине есть специальная полка для новых товаров.

  In the store, there's a special rack for new items.

• Дети развесили рисунки на стойке в коридоре.

  The children hung their drawings on the rack in the hallway.

Meaning 2: To cause suffering or torment (e.g., mental or physical rack)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мука - Used in literary or emotional contexts, often metaphorical.

Usage Examples:

• Его мучила совесть после случившегося.

  His conscience racked him after what happened.

• Физическая мука от боли не позволяла ему спать.

  The physical rack of pain kept him from sleeping.

• Война принесла народу нестерпимую муку.

  The war brought unbearable rack to the people.

• Эмоциональная мука от потери близкого человека была невыносимой.

  The emotional rack from losing a loved one was unbearable.

• Иногда сомнения могут мучить человека, как настоящая мука.

  Sometimes doubts can rack a person like real torment.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "стойка" (feminine noun, first declension):

For "полка" (feminine noun, first declension): Follows similar patterns as "стойка".

For "мука" (feminine noun, first declension): Regular inflection, e.g., Nominative Singular: мука; Genitive Singular: муки.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: полка (similar to shelf), вешалка (specifically for hanging clothes), пытка (for torment)
• Antonyms: облегчение (relief, for the sense of torment)

Related Phrases:

• Вешалка для одежды - A common phrase for "coat rack"; used in household contexts.
• Рейка для хранения - Refers to a "storage rack"; often in organizational settings.
• Моральная мука - Means "moral rack" or inner torment; used in psychological discussions.

Usage Notes:

The English word "rack" can correspond to different Russian words based on context: use "стойка" for physical structures like stands, and "мука" for abstract suffering. Be mindful of formality— "полка" is more casual. In Russian, nouns like these decline by case, so always adjust for grammar (e.g., use genitive after prepositions). When choosing between translations, consider the setting: "стойка" for public or technical use, "полка" for personal spaces.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "стойка" interchangeably with "полка" without considering context. Correct: "стойка" for vertical stands, "полка" for horizontal shelves. Example of error: *Я повесил книгу на стойку* (incorrect if it's a shelf); Correct: Я положил книгу на полку.

• Error: Mispronouncing "мука" as too similar to "молоко" (milk), leading to confusion. Correct pronunciation: Emphasize the 'u' sound. Example of error: Saying *мука* with a soft 'u'; Explanation: This can make it sound like another word, altering meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "мука" often carry deep emotional weight, especially in literature (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works, where inner torment is a theme). "Стойка" might evoke practical, everyday resilience, symbolizing stability in Soviet-era contexts like factory racks.

Related Concepts:

• вешалка
• пытка
• хранение