Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tank'

English Word: tank

Key Russian Translations:

• танк [tænk] - [Formal, Military context]
• бак [bæk] - [Informal, Referring to a container or reservoir]
• цистерна [tsɪˈstɛrnə] - [Formal, Specifically for large storage tanks]

Frequency: Medium (Common in military, technical, and everyday contexts, but varies by region and topic)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for 'танк'; A2 for 'бак' in basic contexts, as per CEFR, due to straightforward vocabulary but potential for nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

танк: [tænk]

бак: [bæk]

цистерна: [tsɪˈstɛrnə]

Note on танк: The stress is on the first syllable; be cautious with the final 'к' sound, which can be softened in fast speech.

Note on бак: Pronounced with a hard 'k' sound; variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A military armored vehicle

Translation(s) & Context:

• танк - Used in formal military discussions, historical contexts, or news reports about warfare.

Usage Examples:

• Русский танк проехал по полю боя. (The Russian tank rolled across the battlefield.)

  English Translation: The Russian tank rolled across the battlefield.

• Во время войны танк был ключевым оружием. (During the war, the tank was a key weapon.)

  English Translation: During the war, the tank was a key weapon.

• Современные танки оснащены передовыми технологиями. (Modern tanks are equipped with advanced technologies.)

  English Translation: Modern tanks are equipped with advanced technologies.

• Танк атаковал вражеские позиции ночью. (The tank attacked enemy positions at night.)

  English Translation: The tank attacked enemy positions at night.

Meaning 2: A container for holding liquids or gases

Translation(s) & Context:

• бак - Informal, everyday contexts like fuel tanks or water storage.
• цистерна - Formal, industrial or technical contexts for larger tanks.

Usage Examples:

• В автомобиле закончился бензин в баке. (The fuel in the car's tank has run out.)

  English Translation: The fuel in the car's tank has run out.

• Цистерна с водой была установлена на ферме. (The water tank was installed on the farm.)

  English Translation: The water tank was installed on the farm.

• Бак для топлива нужно регулярно проверять. (The fuel tank needs to be checked regularly.)

  English Translation: The fuel tank needs to be checked regularly.

• Промышленная цистерна хранит химические вещества. (The industrial tank stores chemical substances.)

  English Translation: The industrial tank stores chemical substances.

• В баке аквариума плавают рыбы. (Fish are swimming in the aquarium tank.)

  English Translation: Fish are swimming in the aquarium tank.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'танк' (a masculine noun), it follows the standard first-declension pattern with some irregularities in certain cases.

For 'бак' (also masculine), it is invariable in most forms but follows basic patterns: Singular Nominative: бак; Plural: баки.

For 'цистерна' (feminine noun), it declines as follows:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • танк: бронетанковая машина (armored vehicle; more technical)
  • бак: резервуар (reservoir; used for larger containers)
  • цистерна: хранилище (storage unit; interchangeable in industrial contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • танк: пехота (infantry; opposite in military strategy)
  • бак: пустота (emptiness; conceptual opposite for a container)

Related Phrases:

• Танк на марше (Tank on the move) - Refers to a tank in operation during military maneuvers.
• Заправить бак (To fill the tank) - Common phrase for refueling a vehicle.
• Цистерна с топливом (Fuel tank) - Used in contexts of storage and transportation.

Usage Notes:

'Танк' directly corresponds to the English 'tank' in military contexts and is the most precise translation. Use 'бак' for everyday items like car fuel tanks, which is more informal and common in spoken Russian. 'Цистерна' is reserved for larger, industrial-scale tanks and should be used in formal or technical writing. Be mindful of context to avoid confusion; for example, in Russia, 'танк' might evoke historical references to World War II. Grammatically, these nouns require appropriate case agreement with prepositions and verbs.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'танк' for a simple container, e.g., saying "водный танк" instead of "водный бак".
  Correct: "Водный бак" (Water tank). Explanation: 'Танк' implies military use, leading to misunderstanding.
• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., using "танка" in nominative case.
  Correct: Use "танк" in nominative. Explanation: Russian nouns must match the sentence structure; learners often overlook case endings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'танк' often carries historical significance due to Russia's role in World War II, where tanks like the T-34 became symbols of victory. This can add emotional or patriotic connotations in conversations, so use it sensitively in discussions about history or modern defense.

Related Concepts:

• армия (army)
• броня (armor)
• резервуар (reservoir)