Карта, карточка

by Timur  

The Russian word карта is translated as map. It can also be translated as card, whether it’s a collectible card (коллекционная карта), or a playing card (игральная карта). The dimunitive is карточка and is usually used to describe smaller sized cards, like a business card (визитная карточка) or a postcard (почтовая карточка).

Карта and карточка are very similar words but are rarely used interchangeably. For example, it would be incorrect to call a topographic map топографическая карточка, or refer to a postcard as a почтовая карта. Don't call a map карточка, and in most cases try not to refer to a small card as a карта, and you'll be fine.

Picture of a discount card
Image from contact-plus.ru

The discount card is one of the exceptions where you can either say дисконтная карточка or дисконтная картa.

SgPl
Nomкартакарты
Accкартукарты
Genкартыкарт
Preкартекартах
Datкартекартам
Insкартoйкартами

Here are some examples with the words карта and карточка:

На следующей заправке нам надо купить карту Калифорнии, а то мы совсем заблудимся. At the next gas station, we need to buy a map of California or we’ll be completely lost.
Сергей очень любил играть в карты и в конце концов опять проиграл всю свою зарплату за этот месяц. Sergey loved to play cards very much and as a result has once again lost all his pay for the month.
Патрик Бейтман помешан на своих визитных карточках и постоянно ими хвастается. Patrick Bateman is obsessed with his business cards and constantly shows them off.
Я потерял свой кошелёк, в котором лежали мои водительские права и все кредитные карточки. I lost my wallet which contained my driving license and all the credit cards.

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