Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'deceive'

English Word: deceive

Key Russian Translations:

• обманывать [ɐbmɐˈnʲɪvətʲ] - [Neutral, Common]
• обмануть [ɐbmɐˈnutʲ] - [Perfective, Emphasizing completion]
• вводить в заблуждение [vʲɪˈdʲitʲ v zɐˈbluʐdʲɪnʲɪjə] - [Formal, Idiomatic]

Frequency: High (especially "обманывать" and "обмануть")

Difficulty: B1 (Beginner-Intermediate for "обманывать"; B2 for "вводить в заблуждение")

Pronunciation (Russian):

обманывать: [ɐbmɐˈnʲɪvətʲ]

Note on обманывать: Stress on the second syllable; the "ы" sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced as a short, unrounded central vowel.

обмануть: [ɐbmɐˈnutʲ]

Note on обмануть: Stress on the second syllable; similar to "обманывать" but shorter due to perfective aspect.

вводить в заблуждение: [vʲɪˈdʲitʲ v zɐˈbluʐdʲɪnʲɪjə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To mislead or trick someone intentionally (General sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обманывать / обмануть - Used in everyday contexts for lying or tricking someone.

Usage Examples:

• Он обманул меня, сказав, что всё в порядке.

  He deceived me by saying everything was fine.

• Не обманывай себя, это не поможет.

  Don't deceive yourself; it won't help.

• Она часто обманывает друзей ради шутки.

  She often deceives her friends for fun.

2. To lead into error or misunderstanding (Formal or abstract sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вводить в заблуждение - Used in formal or written contexts, often implying misleading through information or appearance.

Usage Examples:

• Его слова могут ввести вас в заблуждение.

  His words might deceive you (lead you into misunderstanding).

• Эта реклама вводит потребителей в заблуждение.

  This advertisement deceives consumers.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

обманывать (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb of the 1st conjugation. Follows standard conjugation patterns for imperfective verbs ending in -ать.

обмануть (Perfective Verb): Indicates completed action. Conjugates similarly but used for one-time or completed deception.

вводить в заблуждение: A fixed phrase; "вводить" conjugates as a regular verb, while "заблуждение" (noun) declines as a neuter noun in accusative case here.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• одурачивать (more colloquial, implies fooling)
• лгать (to lie, closely related)

Antonyms:

• говорить правду (to tell the truth)
• быть честным (to be honest)

Related Phrases:

• обмануть доверие - To betray trust (lit. deceive trust).
• обман зрения - Optical illusion (lit. deception of sight).
• ввести в заблуждение относительно - To mislead about something specific.

Usage Notes:

• "обманывать" (imperfective) is used for ongoing or repeated deception, while "обмануть" (perfective) is used for a single, completed act of deception.
• "вводить в заблуждение" is more formal and often used in written language or serious contexts, such as legal or academic discussions.
• Be mindful of aspect when using Russian verbs for "deceive"; choosing the wrong aspect can change the meaning significantly.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "обманывать" when a completed action is intended. Incorrect: "Я обманываю его вчера." Correct: "Я обманул его вчера." (I deceived him yesterday.) Explanation: Use the perfective "обмануть" for past completed actions.
• Error: Misusing "вводить в заблуждение" in casual speech. Incorrect: "Не вводи меня в заблуждение, это шутка?" Correct: "Не обманывай меня, это шутка?" Explanation: The formal phrase is unnatural in casual conversation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, deception or lying can carry strong negative connotations, especially in personal relationships. The concept of "обман" (deception) is often associated with a breach of trust, and Russians may use indirect language to avoid seeming deceptive, even unintentionally.

Related Concepts:

• ложь (lie)
• предательство (betrayal)
• мошенничество (fraud)