Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Appearance'

English Word: Appearance

Key Russian Translations:

• внешность [ˈvnʲeʂnəsʲtʲ] - [Neutral, General Use]
• вид [vʲit] - [Neutral, Often for General Look or Type]
• облик [ˈoblʲɪk] - [Formal, Literary]

Frequency: High (внешность), Medium (вид), Low (облик)

Difficulty: A2 (внешность), A2 (вид), B2 (облик)

Pronunciation (Russian):

внешность: [ˈvnʲeʂnəsʲtʲ]

Note on внешность: Stress falls on the first syllable; the "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English "sh".

вид: [vʲit]

Note on вид: Short and straightforward; ensure the soft "в" sound by raising the tongue.

облик: [ˈoblʲɪk]

Note on облик: Stress on the first syllable; the "л" is palatalized (soft).

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physical Appearance (of a Person)

Translation(s) & Context:

• внешность - Used to describe someone's looks or outward appearance in a general sense.

Usage Examples:

• Её внешность очень привлекательна.

  Her appearance is very attractive.

• Он изменил свою внешность после поездки.

  He changed his appearance after the trip.

• Внешность обманчива.

  Appearance can be deceptive.

2. General Look or Aspect (of Objects, Places, or Situations)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вид - Refers to the look or type of something, often non-human.

Usage Examples:

• У города был запущенный вид.

  The city had a neglected appearance.

• Этот дом имеет старинный вид.

  This house has an ancient appearance.

3. Form or Image (Abstract or Literary)

Translation(s) & Context:

• облик - Used in formal or literary contexts to denote a form, image, or visage.

Usage Examples:

• Исторический облик города был восстановлен.

  The historical appearance of the city was restored.

• Его облик в моих глазах изменился.

  His image in my eyes has changed.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

внешность (Noun, Feminine): Regular declension in singular; does not have a plural form as it is an abstract concept.

Case	Form
Nominative	внешность
Genitive	внешности
Dative	внешности
Accusative	внешность
Instrumental	внешностью
Prepositional	о внешности

вид (Noun, Masculine): Regular declension; has both singular and plural forms (виды).

облик (Noun, Masculine): Regular declension; has both singular and plural forms (облики).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for внешность:

• наружность (more archaic or literary)
• внешний вид (more descriptive, often for objects)

Antonyms for внешность: (Note: Antonyms are context-dependent as "appearance" often lacks a direct opposite)

• внутренность (inner essence, as opposed to outer appearance)

Related Phrases:

• внешний вид - "External appearance"; often used for objects or formal descriptions.
• привлекательная внешность - "Attractive appearance"; commonly used for people.
• вид на жительство - "Residence permit"; a specific legal term using "вид".

Usage Notes:

• внешность is the most common term for personal physical appearance and should be your default choice when speaking about people.
• вид is more versatile and can apply to objects, places, or abstract concepts, but it may sound less personal when used for humans.
• облик is reserved for formal, literary, or historical contexts; avoid it in casual conversation.
• Note that Russian often requires context to clarify whether "appearance" refers to a person or thing; adjectives or surrounding words help specify.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using облик in casual speech (e.g., "Твой облик красивый" instead of "Твоя внешность красивая"). Explanation: облик sounds overly formal or poetic; use внешность for everyday contexts about personal looks.
• Error: Misusing вид for personal appearance without qualifiers (e.g., "У неё плохой вид" can imply "She looks unwell" rather than a general comment on appearance). Explanation: Add context or use внешность to avoid ambiguity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, commenting on someone's внешность (appearance) can be seen as personal, so it is often done with tact or through compliments. Direct criticism of appearance may be considered rude unless in close relationships. Additionally, облик often carries historical or symbolic weight, especially in literature or discussions of national identity (e.g., "облик Родины" - "the image of the Motherland").

Related Concepts:

• красота (beauty)
• стиль (style)
• образ (image, often abstract or artistic)