Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stationery'

English Word: stationery

Key Russian Translations:

• канцелярия [kantselʲərʲɪjə] - [Formal, Singular]
• канцтовары [kants'tovarɨ] - [Informal, Plural, Used in everyday shopping contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in business, educational, and daily life contexts, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like food or greetings).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, according to CEFR; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions. For 'канцелярия', it's Intermediate; for 'канцтовары', it's also B1 due to plural forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

канцелярия: [kantselʲərʲɪjə]

Note on канцелярия: The stress is on the third syllable ('le'). Be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations may occur in regional accents, such as in Southern Russia.

канцтовары: [kants'tovarɨ]

Note on канцтовары: Stress on the second syllable ('to'). The plural ending '-ы' is pronounced as a neutral vowel, similar to the 'a' in 'about'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Writing materials, office supplies, and stationery items

Translation(s) & Context:

• канцелярия - Used in formal or official contexts, such as offices or schools, to refer to a collection of supplies.
• канцтовары - Applied in informal, everyday situations, like shopping for individual items in a store.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил новую канцелярию для работы.

  I bought new stationery for work. (Demonstrates use in a professional context with a singular noun.)

• В магазине есть большой выбор канцтоваров по акции.

  The store has a large selection of stationery on sale. (Shows plural form in a commercial setting, highlighting everyday shopping.)

• Школьники нуждаются в качественной канцелярии для уроков.

  Schoolchildren need quality stationery for their lessons. (Illustrates educational context with emphasis on necessity.)

• Она организовала канцтовары в ящике стола.

  She organized the stationery in the desk drawer. (Exhibits use in a domestic or organizational scenario.)

• В офисе всегда есть запас канцелярии на случай необходимости.

  In the office, there's always a stock of stationery in case of need. (Demonstrates possessive or stock-related usage in a workplace environment.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'канцелярия' and 'канцтовары' are nouns. 'Канцелярия' is a feminine noun (second declension), which undergoes regular inflection based on case and number. 'Канцтовары' is a plural-only noun and follows standard plural declension patterns.

Note: These are regular inflections. 'Канцтовары' does not have a singular form, making it invariant in that regard.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • канцелярские товары (Similar to 'канцтовары', but more descriptive; used interchangeably in retail contexts)
  • письменные принадлежности (Emphasizes writing-related items; slightly more formal)
• Antonyms: None directly applicable, as this is a category of items rather than a quality or state.

Related Phrases:

• канцелярские принадлежности - Office or school supplies; commonly used in lists or inventories.
• купить канцтовары - To buy stationery; a practical phrase for shopping scenarios.
• набор канцелярии - A set of stationery; refers to bundled items, often in educational contexts.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'канцелярия' for more formal or collective references, such as in business or official documents, as it aligns closely with the English 'stationery' in its broader sense. 'Канцтовары' is better for informal, item-specific discussions, like daily purchases. Be aware of Russian case requirements; for example, in prepositional phrases, use the genitive case (e.g., 'запас канцелярии'). This word doesn't have direct equivalents in all contexts, so consider cultural adaptations when translating from English.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'stationery' with 'stationary' (the English adjective meaning immobile). In Russian, learners might incorrectly use 'статический' (static) instead of 'канцелярия'. Correct usage: Use 'канцелярия' for supplies, not 'статический'.
• Misinflecting nouns: Beginners often forget to change 'канцелярия' in different cases, e.g., saying 'Я иду в канцелярия' instead of 'Я иду в канцелярию' (I am going to the stationery). Error: 'Я иду в канцелярия' (incorrect genitive). Correct: 'Я иду в канцелярию' – Remember to apply the dative case after prepositions like 'в'.
• Overusing the plural: Assuming all forms must be plural, leading to 'канцелярия' being replaced with 'канцтовары' inappropriately in singular contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, 'канцелярия' often evokes images of Soviet-era office supplies, which were practical and utilitarian. Today, it reflects a culture of organization in education and bureaucracy, where high-quality stationery is valued for efficiency in schools and workplaces.

Related Concepts:

• бумага (paper)
• ручка (pen)
• тетрадь (notebook)