Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vigil'

English Word: vigil

Key Russian Translations:

• бдение [ˈbdʲenʲje] - [Formal, Religious or Medical Context]
• дежурство [ˈdʲeʐʊrstvə] - [Informal, Everyday or Professional Context]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly used in specific contexts like religious ceremonies or security, but not in daily casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun declensions. For 'бдение', it's B2 due to cultural connotations; for 'дежурство', it's B1 as it's more straightforward.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бдение: [ˈbdʲenʲje]

Note on бдение: The initial 'бд' cluster can be challenging for English speakers; it's pronounced with a soft 'd' sound. Stress is on the first syllable.

дежурство: [ˈdʲeʐʊrstvə]

Note on дежурство: The 'ж' is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A period of staying awake during the night, often for religious or watchful purposes.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бдение - Used in formal, religious contexts, such as Orthodox Christian services or memorial events.
• дежурство - Used in informal or professional settings, like night shifts or security watches.

Usage Examples:

• В церкви проходит ежегодное бдение в память о святых.

  In the church, there is an annual vigil in memory of the saints.

• Медсестры организовали бдение у постели больного ребёнка.

  The nurses organized a vigil at the bedside of the sick child.

• Его дежурство ночью включало патрулирование улиц.

  His vigil at night involved patrolling the streets.

• Во время дежурства он не спал, чтобы охранять дом.

  During his vigil, he didn't sleep to guard the house.

2. A watchful or alert state, metaphorically extended to protests or memorials.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бдение - Applied in metaphorical or cultural contexts, such as public protests.
• дежурство - Less common here, but used for ongoing duties like in activism.

Usage Examples:

• Активисты устроили бдение у правительственного здания.

  Activists held a vigil outside the government building.

• Её бдение за права человека длилось всю ночь.

  Her vigil for human rights lasted the entire night.

• Дежурство журналистов включало круглосуточное наблюдение за событиями.

  The journalists' vigil involved round-the-clock monitoring of events.

• Во время бдения участники зажигали свечи в память о жертвах.

  During the vigil, participants lit candles in memory of the victims.

• Его дежурство на митинге было частью мирной акции.

  His vigil at the rally was part of a peaceful protest.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'бдение' and 'дежурство' are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard neuter declension patterns. 'Бдение' is less commonly used and has regular inflections, while 'дежурство' is more frequent and also regular.

Note: These are regular patterns; no irregularities for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • наблюдение (nabljudénie) - Observation; similar but more general.
  • стража (straža) - Guard; often used in historical or military contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • сон (son) - Sleep; directly opposite in the context of wakefulness.
  • отдых (otdyh) - Rest; implies relaxation rather than vigilance.

Related Phrases:

• Ночное бдение - Night vigil; a phrase used for all-night religious services or watches.
• Дежурство по графику - Shift duty; refers to scheduled vigils in professional settings.
• Бдение у постели - Bedside vigil; common in medical or family contexts, meaning watching over someone ill.

Usage Notes:

• 'Бдение' is the most precise translation for 'vigil' in religious or ceremonial contexts, while 'дежурство' fits better for secular or work-related scenarios. Choose based on the formality and setting to avoid mismatches.
• In Russian, these words often require declension based on sentence structure, so pay attention to cases (e.g., genitive for possession).
• Cultural nuances: 'Бдение' carries strong Orthodox Christian connotations, which may not directly align with English uses in protests.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'бдение' with 'дежурство' and use the former in everyday contexts, e.g., saying "Я на бдении" instead of "Я на дежурстве" for "I'm on vigil duty." Correct: Use 'дежурство' for professional shifts. Error: Misapplies religious tone.
• Another error is incorrect declension, such as using nominative in all cases, e.g., "во время бдение" instead of "во время бдения." Correct: Always decline based on grammatical role.

Cultural Notes:

'Бдение' is deeply rooted in Russian Orthodox traditions, often referring to all-night prayer services. It evokes historical and spiritual significance, such as in monasteries or during holidays like Easter, highlighting themes of endurance and faith that may resonate differently in English-speaking cultures.

Related Concepts:

• молитва (molitva) - Prayer
• патруль (patrulʹ) - Patrol
• памятная церемония (pamyatnaya tseremoniya) - Memorial ceremony