Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Blur'

English Word: blur

Key Russian Translations:

• размытие [rɐzˈmɨtʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Often used for visual or image blur]
• затуманивание [zətʊˈmanʲɪvənʲɪjə] - [Formal, Often metaphorical or for vision]
• смазывание [smɐˈzɨvənʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Often for physical smudging or blurring]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like photography or figurative speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "размытие"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "затуманивание" and "смазывание" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

размытие: [rɐzˈmɨtʲɪjə]

Note on размытие: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly, and "ие" sounds like "ye".

затуманивание: [zətʊˈmanʲɪvənʲɪjə]

Note on затуманивание: Stress on the third syllable. The "з" is soft, and the ending "ие" is pronounced as "ye".

смазывание: [smɐˈzɨvənʲɪjə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Visual or Image Blur (e.g., in photography or vision)

Translation(s) & Context:

• размытие - Used for blurred images, out-of-focus photos, or unclear visuals.
• затуманивание - Used more for vision becoming unclear, often due to fog, tears, or fatigue.

Usage Examples:

• На фотографии видно размытие из-за движения камеры.

  In the photo, you can see a blur due to camera movement.

• Её взгляд затуманился от слёз.

  Her vision blurred from tears.

• Размытие фона делает портрет более выразительным.

  Blurring the background makes the portrait more expressive.

2. Figurative Blur (e.g., memory or distinction)

Translation(s) & Context:

• затуманивание - Often used for memory or thoughts becoming unclear.
• смазывание - Occasionally used for blending or blurring distinctions.

Usage Examples:

• Время затуманило его воспоминания о детстве.

  Time has blurred his childhood memories.

• Границы между правдой и вымыслом начали смазываться.

  The boundaries between truth and fiction began to blur.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

размытие (Noun, Neuter):

затуманивание and смазывание follow similar neuter noun declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for размытие:

• нечёткость (blurriness, lack of clarity)
• помутнение (cloudiness, often for vision)

Note: "нечёткость" is more general, while "помутнение" often implies a physical cause like fog or illness.

Antonyms for размытие:

• чёткость (clarity)
• ясность (clearness)

Related Phrases:

• размытие изображения - Blurring of an image (used in photography or graphics).
• затуманивание сознания - Blurring of consciousness (used for mental fog or confusion).
• смазывание границ - Blurring of boundaries (figurative, often in discussions of concepts).

Usage Notes:

• "размытие" is the most common and versatile term for "blur," especially in technical or visual contexts like photography.
• "затуманивание" carries a more poetic or emotional tone and is often used for vision or mental states.
• "смазывание" can refer to physical smudging but is less common for figurative blurring compared to "затуманивание."
• Choose the translation based on context: visual blur → "размытие"; emotional/mental blur → "затуманивание"; blending distinctions → "смазывание."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "размытие" for mental or emotional contexts. Incorrect: "Его мысли размылись." Correct: "Его мысли затуманились." (His thoughts blurred.)
• Error: Misusing "смазывание" for visual blur in photography. Incorrect: "Смазывание на фото." Correct: "Размытие на фото." (Blur in the photo.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "blur" in a figurative sense, such as "затуманивание," often carries emotional or poetic connotations, frequently appearing in literature or expressions of grief and nostalgia (e.g., blurred vision from tears). Understanding this nuance can help English speakers use the term more authentically.

Related Concepts:

• нечёткость (fuzziness, lack of clarity)
• помутнение (clouding, often of vision or mind)
• туман (fog, often literal but can be metaphorical)