Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'blemish'

English Word: blemish

Key Russian Translations:

• дефект [dʲɪˈfʲekt] - [Formal, General Use]
• изъян [ɪzˈjæn] - [Neutral, Often Figurative]
• пятно [ˈpʲatnə] - [Informal, Often Literal for Stain or Spot]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "дефект" and "пятно"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "изъян"

Pronunciation (Russian):

дефект: [dʲɪˈfʲekt]

Note on дефект: Stress on the second syllable; the "д" is soft due to the following "е".

изъян: [ɪzˈjæn]

Note on изъян: Stress on the second syllable; "ъ" indicates a slight pause before "я".

пятно: [ˈpʲatnə]

Note on пятно: Stress on the first syllable; the "о" at the end is reduced to a schwa sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A mark or flaw that spoils the appearance (Literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пятно - Used for visible marks or spots, often on skin or surfaces.
• дефект - Used for physical imperfections or defects in objects.

Usage Examples:

• На рубашке появилось пятно от кофе.

  A coffee stain appeared on the shirt.

• У этой вазы есть небольшой дефект на поверхности.

  This vase has a small blemish on the surface.

• На его коже было заметное пятно.

  There was a noticeable blemish on his skin.

2. A fault or imperfection (Figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• изъян - Often used metaphorically for flaws in character, plans, or ideas.
• дефект - Can be used for flaws in abstract concepts like systems or designs.

Usage Examples:

• В его характере есть изъян, который мешает дружбе.

  There is a blemish in his character that hinders friendship.

• Этот план имеет серьёзный дефект в логике.

  This plan has a serious blemish in its logic.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

дефект (Masculine Noun): Follows regular second declension patterns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	дефект	дефекты
Genitive	дефекта	дефектов
Dative	дефекту	дефектам
Accusative	дефект	дефекты
Instrumental	дефектом	дефектами
Prepositional	о дефекте	о дефектах

изъян (Masculine Noun): Follows regular second declension with minor irregularities in stress.

пятно (Neuter Noun): Follows regular third declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for дефект:

• недостаток
• брак

Note: "недостаток" is more general and can refer to any shortcoming, while "брак" often refers to manufacturing defects.

Antonyms for дефект:

• совершенство
• идеал

Related Phrases:

• пятно на репутации - A blemish on one's reputation.
• дефект речи - A speech defect/blemish.
• изъян в плане - A blemish/flaw in the plan.

Usage Notes:

• "пятно" is the most common choice for literal blemishes like stains or marks on surfaces or skin.
• "изъян" carries a more figurative tone and is often used for abstract flaws or imperfections.
• "дефект" can be used in both literal and figurative contexts but is more formal and often associated with technical or structural flaws.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these translations, as they are not always interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пятно" for figurative flaws (e.g., "пятно в характере" instead of "изъян в характере"). Explanation: "пятно" is mostly literal and refers to physical marks; for abstract flaws, use "изъян".
• Error: Misusing "дефект" in casual contexts (e.g., "дефект на коже" sounds overly formal compared to "пятно"). Explanation: Reserve "дефект" for technical or formal discussions unless contextually appropriate.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the word "пятно" can sometimes carry a strong negative connotation when used metaphorically, as in "пятно на репутации" (a stain on reputation), implying a deep or lasting damage to one's image.

Related Concepts:

• недостаток
• порок
• повреждение