Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bluff'

English Word: bluff

Key Russian Translations:

• блеф [blʲef] - [Informal, Used in contexts of deception or poker]
• обман [ɐbˈman] - [Neutral, General use for deception]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

блеф: [blʲef]

Note on блеф: The soft 'l' sound (лʲ) might be tricky for non-native speakers; ensure the tongue touches the palate lightly.

обман: [ɐbˈman]

Note on обман: Stress falls on the second syllable; the initial 'o' is reduced to a schwa sound [ɐ].

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To deceive or mislead (verb/noun):

Translation(s) & Context:

• блеф - Often used in games like poker or situations involving strategic deception.
• обман - A more general term for deception or trickery, applicable in broader contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его блеф в покере был очевиден для всех.

  His bluff in poker was obvious to everyone.

• Она пыталась обмануть учителя, но её поймали.

  She tried to bluff (deceive) the teacher, but she was caught.

• Это был чистый блеф, чтобы выиграть время.

  It was a pure bluff to buy time.

• Обман в отношениях недопустим.

  Deception (bluffing) in relationships is unacceptable.

• Его слова — просто обман, не верь ему.

  His words are just a bluff (deception), don’t believe him.

2. A steep cliff or bank (noun, less common):

Translation(s) & Context:

• обрыв - Used for a steep cliff or bluff in a geographical context.

Usage Examples:

• Мы стояли на краю обрыва и смотрели вниз.

  We stood at the edge of the bluff and looked down.

• Этот обрыв очень опасен для туристов.

  This bluff is very dangerous for tourists.

• Река протекает у подножия обрыва.

  The river flows at the base of the bluff.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

блеф (noun, masculine):

Case	Singular
Nominative	блеф
Genitive	блефа
Dative	блефу
Accusative	блеф
Instrumental	блефом
Prepositional	о блефе

Note: Rarely used in plural as it typically refers to the concept of bluffing.

обман (noun, masculine):

Case	Singular
Nominative	обман
Genitive	обмана
Dative	обману
Accusative	обман
Instrumental	обманом
Prepositional	об обмане

Note: Like блеф, plural usage is uncommon for обман.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for блеф:

• обман
• хитрость

Note: While блеф is more specific to strategic deception (e.g., in games), хитрость implies cunning or slyness.

Antonyms for блеф/обман:

• правда
• честность

Related Phrases:

• играть на блефе - "to play on a bluff" (to rely on deception in a game or negotiation)
• раскрыть блеф - "to call someone’s bluff" (to expose deception)
• обман зрения - "optical illusion" (a type of visual deception)

Usage Notes:

• While both блеф and обман can translate to "bluff," блеф is more specific to situations like poker or strategic deception, often carrying a playful or tactical connotation. обман, on the other hand, is a broader term for any kind of deceit and can have negative connotations depending on context.
• Use обрыв only when referring to a physical cliff or bluff; it does not carry any metaphorical meaning related to deception.
• In spoken Russian, блеф is more informal and might not be appropriate in formal writing or serious discussions about deception, where обман is preferred.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using блеф in serious contexts of deceit. For example, saying "Его блеф разрушил семью" (His bluff destroyed the family) sounds inappropriate. Correct: Use обман instead: "Его обман разрушил семью."
• Error: Mispronouncing блеф with a hard 'l' sound. Correct: The 'l' is soft [lʲ], so practice the palatalized sound.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, deception (обман) is generally frowned upon, especially in personal relationships, and can carry a stronger negative connotation than "bluff" might in English. However, блеф in the context of games like poker is often seen as a legitimate strategy and less morally charged.

Related Concepts:

• хитрость (cunning)
• ложь (lie)
• стратегия (strategy)