Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Blush'

English Word: blush

Key Russian Translations:

• краснеть [krɐsˈnʲetʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for blushing from embarrassment or shyness]
• покраснеть [pəkrɐsˈnʲetʲ] - [Verb, Neutral, Often used for a sudden blush]
• румянец [rʊˈmʲanʲɪts] - [Noun, Neutral, Refers to the blush or flush on cheeks]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations about emotions or appearance)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate; varies slightly by form and context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

краснеть: [krɐsˈnʲetʲ]

Note on краснеть: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'н' sound ([nʲ]) can be tricky for non-native speakers.

покраснеть: [pəkrɐsˈnʲetʲ]

Note on покраснеть: The prefix 'по-' adds a sense of suddenness or completion to the action.

румянец: [rʊˈmʲanʲɪts]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To turn red in the face (from embarrassment, shyness, or emotion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• краснеть - Commonly used for blushing due to embarrassment or shyness.
• покраснеть - Often implies a sudden or noticeable blush, can be used in neutral contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Она краснеет, когда ей делают комплименты.

  She blushes when someone compliments her.

• Он покраснел от стыда, когда его поймали на лжи.

  He blushed with shame when caught lying.

• Я краснею каждый раз, когда говорю публично.

  I blush every time I speak in public.

2. A redness or flush on the cheeks (as a noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• румянец - Refers to the physical appearance of a blush or healthy glow on the cheeks.

Usage Examples:

• У неё на щеках появился лёгкий румянец после прогулки на морозе.

  A light blush appeared on her cheeks after a walk in the cold.

• Румянец на её лице выдавал волнение.

  The blush on her face betrayed her excitement.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

краснеть (verb, imperfective): Regular verb conjugation in the present and past tense. Indicates an ongoing or repeated action of blushing.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter)
Я (I)	краснею	краснел / краснела / краснело
Ты (You, informal)	краснеешь	краснел / краснела / краснело
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	краснеет	краснел / краснела / краснело

покраснеть (verb, perfective): Indicates a completed or sudden action of blushing. Used less frequently in the present tense.

румянец (noun, masculine): Declines as a regular masculine noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	румянец	румянцы
Genitive	румянца	румянцев
Accusative	румянец	румянцы

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for краснеть/покраснеть (verb):

• зардеться (more poetic or literary)
• вспыхнуть (implies a sudden blush or flare-up)

Synonyms for румянец (noun):

• краска (as in a flush of color)

Antonyms for краснеть/покраснеть (verb):

• бледнеть (to turn pale)

Related Phrases:

• покраснеть как рак - "to blush like a lobster" (to blush deeply from embarrassment)
• румянец во всю щеку - "a blush across the whole cheek" (a healthy or vibrant blush)
• краснеть от стыда - "to blush from shame" (a common expression for embarrassment)

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between краснеть and покраснеть: Use "краснеть" for an ongoing or habitual blushing, and "покраснеть" for a sudden or one-time blush.
• Context for румянец: This noun is often used to describe a natural or healthy glow, not always tied to embarrassment.
• Register: These terms are generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though some expressions (like "покраснеть как рак") are more colloquial.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up aspect: English learners often confuse "краснеть" (imperfective) with "покраснеть" (perfective). For example, saying "Я покраснею каждый раз" (incorrect) instead of "Я краснею каждый раз" (correct) for a repeated action.
• Misusing румянец: Some learners use "румянец" as a verb, which is incorrect. It is strictly a noun. Incorrect: "Я румянец"; Correct: "У меня румянец".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, blushing (румянец) is often associated with youth, health, and vitality, especially in literature and folklore. A "healthy blush" on the cheeks is seen as a sign of beauty, particularly for women, and is frequently mentioned in traditional stories and descriptions.

Related Concepts:

• стыд (shame, often a cause of blushing)
• волнение (excitement or anxiety, another cause of blushing)
• краска (color or flush, related to physical appearance)