Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shrine'

English Word: shrine

Key Russian Translations:

• святилище [svʲɪˈtʲilʲɪʃt͡ɕə] - [Formal, used in religious or historical contexts]
• храм [xram] - [Formal, Informal; often for structured religious buildings]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in cultural, historical, or religious discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic Russian grammar and vocabulary, though "святилище" may vary slightly in nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

святилище: [svʲɪˈtʲilʲɪʃt͡ɕə]

храм: [xram]

Note on святилище: The stress falls on the third syllable, and the initial 'св' cluster can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalized 'в' sound; pronunciation may vary slightly in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A sacred or holy place, often associated with religion or memorials.

Translation(s) & Context:

• святилище - Used in formal contexts for a shrine as a place of worship or pilgrimage, such as in religious texts or historical descriptions.
• храм - Applied in both formal and informal settings for a shrine that functions as a temple or structured holy site.

Usage Examples:

• В древнем храме находится священное святилище, где молятся паломники.

  In the ancient temple, there is a sacred shrine where pilgrims pray.

• Это святилище было построено в честь национального героя и привлекает туристов со всего мира.

  This shrine was built in honor of a national hero and attracts tourists from all over the world.

• Храм в горах служит святилищем для местных жителей, где они проводят ежегодные церемонии.

  The temple in the mountains serves as a shrine for local residents, where they hold annual ceremonies.

• Старинное святилище в лесу охраняется как исторический памятник.

  The ancient shrine in the forest is protected as a historical monument.

• В этом храме святилище открыто для посетителей только во время фестивалей.

  In this temple, the shrine is open to visitors only during festivals.

Secondary Meaning: A metaphorical or symbolic place of reverence, such as in literature.

Translation(s) & Context:

• святилище - Used metaphorically in poetic or literary contexts to denote a personal or emotional sanctuary.

Usage Examples:

• Её дом стал святилищем покоя и уединения в шумном городе.

  Her home became a shrine of peace and solitude in the noisy city.

• Для него библиотека всегда была личным святилищем знаний.

  For him, the library was always a personal shrine of knowledge.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"святилище" is a neuter noun of the third declension, which follows regular patterns for most cases. It does not have significant irregularities but changes based on number and case. "храм" is a masculine noun of the second declension with standard inflections.

Note: These forms are regular; no significant irregularities, but pay attention to soft endings in cases like Dative and Instrumental.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • алтарь (altar; often used for a specific part of a shrine, with a more ecclesiastical connotation)
  • могила (grave; for shrines related to tombs, implying a memorial aspect)
• Antonyms:
  • проклятое место (cursed place; implies the opposite of a sacred site, used in folklore)

Related Phrases:

• священное святилище - Holy shrine; a phrase used in religious contexts to emphasize sanctity.
• храмовая реликвия - Shrine relic; refers to artifacts kept in a shrine, common in museum or historical discussions.
• место паломничества - Place of pilgrimage; often associated with shrines in a broader cultural sense.

Usage Notes:

"Святилище" directly corresponds to "shrine" in religious or historical contexts, but it's more formal and less commonly used in everyday speech compared to "храм". Choose "святилище" for abstract or spiritual connotations, while "храм" fits structured buildings. Be mindful of grammatical gender: "святилище" is neuter, affecting adjective agreements. In modern Russian, these words are often used in cultural tourism or literature, with no strong regional restrictions.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "святилище" with "святыня" (sanctity or relic): Incorrect: "Это святыня в храме" meaning "This shrine in the temple" (but "святыня" means a holy object, not the place). Correct: "Это святилище в храме". Explanation: "Святыня" refers to an item, not a location, so use "святилище" for places to avoid semantic errors.

• Overusing in informal contexts: Incorrect: casually saying "Моё святилище" for a personal space in slang. Correct: Use in formal or metaphorical settings only, as it sounds overly poetic in casual talk. Explanation: English speakers might equate it directly, but Russian prefers simpler words like "убежище" for everyday sanctuaries.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, shrines like "святилище" often tie to Orthodox Christianity or ancient pagan sites, symbolizing national heritage. For instance, sites in monasteries reflect deep spiritual traditions, influencing literature by authors like Tolstoy, where shrines represent introspection and faith.

Related Concepts:

• монастырь (monastery)
• паломничество (pilgrimage)
• икона (icon)