Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Baffle'

English Word: baffle

Key Russian Translations:

• смущать [smʊˈtʲatʲ] - [Informal, Used for confusion or embarrassment]
• ставить в тупик [pɐˈstavʲɪtʲ v tʊˈpʲik] - [Formal, Used for perplexing or stumping someone]
• озадачивать [ɐzɐˈdatʃʲɪvətʲ] - [Neutral, Often used for puzzling or bewildering]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in conversational and written contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate, varies slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

смущать: [smʊˈtʲatʲ]

Note on смущать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft, hissing consonant unique to Russian.

ставить в тупик: [pɐˈstavʲɪtʲ v tʊˈpʲik]

Note on ставить в тупик: A phrase rather than a single word; stress on "stav" and "pik."

озадачивать: [ɐzɐˈdatʃʲɪvətʲ]

Note on озадачивать: Stress on the third syllable; the "ч" is a soft sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To confuse or bewilder someone (mental confusion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смущать - Often used when someone is emotionally confused or embarrassed.
• озадачивать - Used for creating puzzlement or a sense of being stumped by a problem or question.

Usage Examples:

• Его вопрос смутил меня.

  His question baffled me (made me feel confused or shy).

• Эта задача озадачивает даже опытных специалистов.

  This task baffles even experienced specialists.

• Я был смущён её неожиданным замечанием.

  I was baffled by her unexpected remark.

2. To frustrate or hinder (obstruct plans or understanding)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ставить в тупик - Used when something completely stumps or blocks understanding or progress.

Usage Examples:

• Этот ребус поставил меня в тупик.

  This riddle completely baffled me.

• Его поведение ставит всех в тупик.

  His behavior baffles everyone.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

смущать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Follows standard first conjugation rules.

ставить в тупик (phrase, verb + noun): The verb "ставить" is imperfective and conjugates regularly. "Тупик" remains unchanged as a noun in accusative case here.

озадачивать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation, follows standard second conjugation rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for смущать/озадачивать:

• сбивать с толку (to throw off track)
• удивлять (to surprise)

Antonyms for смущать/озадачивать:

• объяснять (to explain)
• прояснять (to clarify)

Related Phrases:

• смущать разум - to baffle the mind (used metaphorically for deep confusion)
• поставить в тупик вопросом - to baffle with a question (common in intellectual discussions)
• озадачить заданием - to baffle with a task (often in professional or academic contexts)

Usage Notes:

• "Смущать" often carries an emotional nuance of embarrassment or shyness, unlike the more neutral "baffle" in English. Use it when confusion is tied to personal feelings.
• "Ставить в тупик" is a stronger expression, implying total incomprehension or being at a dead end. It’s more formal and often used in written or serious contexts.
• "Озадачивать" is versatile, fitting both casual and formal speech, and focuses on creating a sense of puzzlement without emotional undertones.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up смущать with purely emotional terms: English speakers might overuse "смущать" for any confusion, but it often implies embarrassment. Incorrect: "Эта задача смущает меня" (This task embarrasses me). Correct: "Эта задача озадачивает меня" (This task baffles me).
• Misusing ставить в тупик: It’s a fixed phrase, so avoid altering it. Incorrect: "Ставлю тупик." Correct: "Ставлю в тупик."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing confusion or being baffled (especially with "смущать") can sometimes be tied to politeness or modesty. Admitting to being "смущён" (baffled or embarrassed) can be a way to show respect or deference in social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• недоумение (perplexity)
• замешательство (confusion)
• удивление (amazement)