Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'retention'

English Word: retention

Key Russian Translations:

• удержание [ʊˈdʲerʐənʲɪje] - [Formal, Noun, Used in technical or legal contexts]
• сохранение [səxrɐˈnɛnʲɪje] - [Informal, Noun, Used in everyday or general contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in professional and educational discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

удержание: [ʊˈdʲerʐənʲɪje]

сохранение: [səxrɐˈnɛnʲɪje]

Note on удержание: The stress falls on the third syllable, and the 'ж' sound (like 'zh' in 'measure') can be tricky for English speakers—practice with soft consonants.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The act of keeping or holding something back (e.g., in memory, law, or fluids)

Translation(s) & Context:

• удержание - Used in formal contexts like legal retention of documents or medical retention of fluids.
• сохранение - Applied in informal settings, such as retaining information or preserving data.

Usage Examples:

• В университете студенты работают над улучшением удержания знаний для экзаменов.

  In university, students work on improving the retention of knowledge for exams.

• Медицинское удержание жидкости может быть симптомом определенных заболеваний.

  Medical retention of fluids can be a symptom of certain diseases.

• Для сохранения информации в памяти рекомендуется повторять материал ежедневно.

  For the retention of information in memory, it's recommended to review material daily.

• Закон требует удержания финансовых записей в течение пяти лет.

  The law requires the retention of financial records for five years.

2. The state of being retained or kept in place

Translation(s) & Context:

• удержание - Often in technical or scientific contexts, like engineering retention mechanisms.
• сохранение - In broader contexts, such as environmental retention of resources.

Usage Examples:

• Система удержания в автомобиле предотвращает скольжение во время поворота.

  The retention system in the car prevents slipping during turns.

• Сохранение тепла в доме зависит от качества изоляции.

  The retention of heat in the house depends on the quality of insulation.

• Экологические политики фокусируются на удержании биоразнообразия в заповедниках.

  Environmental policies focus on the retention of biodiversity in reserves.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "удержание" and "сохранение" are neuter nouns in Russian, following the standard third-declension pattern for abstract nouns. They are inflected based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for "удержание" as an example; "сохранение" follows similar rules.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward for learners at B2 level.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сохранение (similar to 'retention' in preservation contexts, but more general)
  • задержка (implies a temporary hold, often used interchangeably in informal speech)
• Antonyms:
  • освобождение (release or liberation)
  • утрата (loss)

Related Phrases:

• удержание информации - Retention of information (refers to memory or data storage in educational contexts)
• сохранение данных - Data retention (common in IT and privacy discussions)
• финансовое удержание - Financial retention (e.g., withholding taxes, with a formal connotation)

Usage Notes:

"Удержание" is more precise for contexts involving physical or legal holding, while "сохранение" is broader and often used for abstract concepts like memory retention. English speakers should note that Russian nouns require case agreement, so always check the sentence structure. For example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "из-за" (because of). When choosing between translations, opt for "удержание" in formal writing and "сохранение" in casual conversation to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "удержание" with "удерживать" (a verb meaning 'to retain'). Correct: Use "удержание" as a noun; for the verb form, say "я удерживаю информацию" instead of incorrectly nominalizing it.

• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., saying "в удержание" instead of "в удержании" (prepositional case). Correct: "В удержании знаний важна регулярность" (In the retention of knowledge, regularity is important). This mistake often stems from direct word-for-word translation from English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "удержание информации" are emphasized in education, reflecting the historical value placed on rote learning in the Soviet era. This can influence modern contexts, such as in business or academia, where retention of knowledge is seen as a key to success, often tied to collective memory in community settings.

Related Concepts:

• память (memory)
• хранение (storage)
• защита (protection)