Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cozen'

English Word: cozen

Key Russian Translations:

• обманывать [ɐb.mɐˈnʲivətʲ] - [Informal, Verb]
• надувать [nə.duˈvatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Often used in colloquial contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The concept of deception is common in Russian, but these specific verbs are not as frequent as everyday words like "сказать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves verb conjugation and nuanced usage, which may vary slightly between translations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

обманывать: [ɐb.mɐˈnʲivətʲ]

Note on обманывать: The stress falls on the third syllable ("nʲiv"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Ensure to emphasize the correct syllable to avoid miscommunication.

надувать: [nə.duˈvatʲ]

Note on надувать: The initial "н" is soft and nasal; this verb often has a more playful or ironic tone in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To deceive or cheat someone (the primary meaning of "cozen", implying trickery for personal gain)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обманывать - Used in everyday informal situations, such as personal relationships or minor scams.
• надувать - Often applied in contexts involving exaggeration or inflating expectations, like in business or social interactions.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда обманывает своих коллег, чтобы получить преимущество. (He always cozens his colleagues to gain an advantage.)

  He always deceives his colleagues to gain an advantage.

• Не позволяй ему надувать тебя с этой сделкой; проверь детали. (Don't let him cozen you with this deal; check the details.)

  Don't let him deceive you with this deal; check the details.

• В фильме главный герой обманывает врагов, используя хитрые уловки. (In the movie, the main character cozens his enemies using clever tricks.)

  In the movie, the main character deceives his enemies using clever tricks.

• Она надувает друзей, обещая помочь, но никогда не выполняет обещания. (She cozens her friends by promising help but never follows through.)

  She deceives her friends by promising help but never follows through.

• Обманывать в бизнесе может привести к серьёзным проблемам. (Cozening in business can lead to serious problems.)

  Deceiving in business can lead to serious problems.

To trick through flattery or manipulation (a subtler nuance of "cozen")

Translation(s) & Context:

• обманывать - In contexts involving emotional manipulation, such as in relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Он обманывает её комплиментами, чтобы добиться своей цели. (He cozens her with compliments to achieve his goal.)

  He deceives her with compliments to achieve his goal.

• Не позволяй словам обманывать тебя; проверь факты. (Don't let words cozen you; verify the facts.)

  Don't let words deceive you; verify the facts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "обманывать" and "надувать" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a conjugation table for "обманывать" in the present tense (as an example; "надувать" follows similar patterns but with its own root changes).

For "надувать", note irregular changes: я надуваю, ты надуваешь, etc. These verbs do not change in gender but must agree in number and person. If the verb is used in perfective aspect (e.g., обмануть for a completed action), it follows different conjugations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вводить в заблуждение (to mislead; more formal and psychological)
  • мошенничать (to swindle; implies criminal intent)
• Antonyms:
  • говорить правду (to tell the truth)
  • быть честным (to be honest)

Related Phrases:

• Обмануть кого-то - To trick someone; often used in narratives or warnings.
• Надул как лоха - Inflated like a fool; a colloquial phrase implying easy deception, with a humorous or derogatory connotation.
• Впасть в обман - To fall into deception; refers to being cozened in a broader sense.

Usage Notes:

"Cozen" translates most directly to "обманывать" in informal contexts, but "надувать" is preferred when emphasizing exaggeration or inflation. Both are verbs that require careful attention to aspect in Russian (imperfective for ongoing actions, perfective like "обмануть" for completed ones). Use "обманывать" in everyday speech, but avoid it in formal writing where "вводить в заблуждение" might be more appropriate. English speakers should note that Russian verbs conjugate based on subject, so always match the person and number (e.g., "я обманываю" vs. "он обманывает"). When choosing between translations, opt for "надувать" in business or social scams.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using the infinitive form "обманывать" in places where a conjugated form is needed, e.g., saying "Ты обманывать" instead of "Ты обманываешь".
  Correct: "Ты обманываешь меня." (You are deceiving me.)
  Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject; this error stems from treating Russian like English infinitives.
• Mistake: Confusing aspect, e.g., using "обманывать" for a one-time event instead of "обмануть".
  Correct: "Он обманул меня." (He cozened me [completed action]).
  Explanation: Imperfective ("обманывать") implies ongoing deception, while perfective ("обмануть") indicates a finished act; mixing them can change the sentence's meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, themes of deception, as in "cozen", often appear in literature and folklore, such as in stories by Chekhov or Pushkin, where clever trickery is sometimes portrayed as a survival skill in a harsh society. This reflects historical contexts like the Soviet era, where mistrust and cunning were common, adding a layer of social commentary to words like "обманывать".

Related Concepts:

• ложь (lie)
• мошенничество (fraud)
• хитрость (cunning)