Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'beguile'

English Word: beguile

Key Russian Translations:

• очаровать [ʌtʃɐˈrovətʲ] - [Formal, Often used for charming or enchanting someone]
• обмануть [ɐbˈmanutʲ] - [Neutral, Used in contexts of deception or trickery]
• увлечь [ʊˈvlʲetʃʲ] - [Neutral, Often used for captivating or engaging someone]

Frequency: Medium (These translations are moderately common in literary and conversational contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate - "очаровать" and "увлечь" are B1; "обмануть" is B2 due to nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

очаровать: [ʌtʃɐˈrovətʲ]

Note on очаровать: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "ч" is pronounced as a soft "ch" sound, similar to "church".

обмануть: [ɐbˈmanutʲ]

Note on обмануть: Stress on the second syllable. The final "ть" indicates an infinitive verb form.

увлечь: [ʊˈvlʲetʃʲ]

Note on увлечь: Stress on the first syllable. The "л" is palatalized, giving a soft "ly" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To Charm or Enchant

Translation(s) & Context:

• очаровать - Used when someone captivates or charms another person, often in a romantic or admiring context.
• увлечь - Used to describe engaging or captivating someone, often with an idea or activity.

Usage Examples:

• Она очаровала всех своим голосом.

  She beguiled everyone with her voice.

• Его рассказ увлёк нас на несколько часов.

  His story beguiled us for several hours.

• Он очаровал её своими манерами.

  He beguiled her with his manners.

2. To Deceive or Trick

Translation(s) & Context:

• обмануть - Used in contexts where deception or trickery is implied, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он обманул её, обещая помощь.

  He beguiled her by promising help.

• Не позвольте себя обмануть его словами.

  Don't let yourself be beguiled by his words.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

очаровать (Verb, Perfective): This verb follows regular conjugation patterns for perfective verbs in Russian. It indicates a completed action.

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	очарую	очоруем
2nd	очоруешь	очоруете
3rd	очорует	очоруют

обмануть (Verb, Perfective): Similar to "очаровать", it follows regular perfective conjugation.

увлечь (Verb, Perfective): Also a perfective verb with regular conjugation, often used with the preposition "за" in certain contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for очаровать (to charm):

• заворожить
• пленить

Note: "заворожить" often implies a magical or hypnotic charm, while "пленить" suggests captivating or enthralling.

Synonyms for обмануть (to deceive):

• обвести вокруг пальца
• одурачить

Antonyms for обмануть:

• разоблачить
• раскрыть

Related Phrases:

• очаровать улыбкой - To beguile with a smile.
• обмануть доверие - To beguile someone's trust (to betray trust).
• увлечь за собой - To beguile someone into following or joining.

Usage Notes:

• "очаровать" is typically used in positive or neutral contexts, often related to charm or enchantment, while "обмануть" carries a negative connotation of deceit.
• "увлечь" can be used for both people and ideas, but it often implies a temporary captivation rather than a deep enchantment.
• Be mindful of the perfective aspect of these verbs; they describe completed actions. For ongoing actions, imperfective forms like "очаровывать" or "обманывать" may be more appropriate.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Confusing "очаровать" with "обмануть" when intending to convey charm rather than deceit.

Incorrect: Он обманул её на вечеринке. (Intended: He charmed her at the party.)

Correct: Он очаровал её на вечеринке.

Explanation: "обмануть" implies trickery, while "очаровать" conveys charm or enchantment.

Error 2: Using imperfective forms when a completed action is intended.

Incorrect: Я обманываю его вчера. (Intended: I tricked him yesterday.)

Correct: Я обманул его вчера.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "очаровать" often carries a romantic or poetic tone, frequently used in literature and compliments. On the other hand, "обмануть" reflects a strong cultural aversion to deceit, and its usage can imply a moral judgment.

Related Concepts:

• обаяние (charm, charisma)
• обман (deception)
• привлекательность (attractiveness)