Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Describe'

English Word: describe

Key Russian Translations:

• описывать [ɐpʲɪˈsɨvətʲ] - [Formal, Informal, General Usage]
• описать [ɐpʲɪˈsatʲ] - [Formal, Often Used for Completed Action]
• охарактеризовать [ɐxərəktʲɪrʲɪˈzɐvatʲ] - [Formal, Used for Detailed Characterization]

Frequency: High (Widely used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "описывать" and "описать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "охарактеризовать"

Pronunciation (Russian):

описывать: [ɐpʲɪˈsɨvətʲ]

Note on описывать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ы' sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced like a short, relaxed 'i'.

описать: [ɐpʲɪˈsatʲ]

Note on описать: Similar to "описывать", with stress on the second syllable. The final 'ть' is softened by the preceding 'а'.

охарактеризовать: [ɐxərəktʲɪrʲɪˈzɐvatʲ]

Note on охарактеризовать: Stress on the fifth syllable. This is a longer word, often challenging for non-native speakers due to consonant clusters.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To Explain or Depict Something in Words

Translation(s) & Context:

• описывать/описать - Commonly used to describe events, objects, or experiences in detail (both spoken and written contexts).

Usage Examples:

• Она описывала свой отпуск с большим энтузиазмом.

  She described her vacation with great enthusiasm.

• Можешь описать, как выглядит этот дом?

  Can you describe what this house looks like?

• Он описал ситуацию так точно, что я всё понял.

  He described the situation so accurately that I understood everything.

2. To Characterize or Define (Often in a Formal Context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• охарактеризовать - Used to provide a detailed characterization, often in academic, professional, or analytical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Учитель охарактеризовал его как очень талантливого ученика.

  The teacher described him as a very talented student.

• В статье автор охарактеризовал эпоху как время перемен.

  In the article, the author described the era as a time of change.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

описывать (Imperfective Verb): Refers to an ongoing or repeated action. Conjugates regularly in present, past, and future tenses.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (M/F/N)	Future Tense
Я (I)	описываю	описывал/описывала/описывало	буду описывать
Ты (You, singular)	описываешь	описывал/описывала/описывало	будешь описывать
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	описывает	описывал/описывала/описывало	будет описывать

описать (Perfective Verb): Refers to a completed action. Used with past and future tenses only.

охарактеризовать (Perfective Verb): Similar to "описать", used for completed actions, with regular conjugation patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for описывать/описать:

• рассказывать (to narrate or tell)
• изображать (to depict)

Note: "рассказывать" is more conversational, while "изображать" can imply a visual or artistic depiction.

Antonyms:

• игнорировать (to ignore)
• скрывать (to hide)

Related Phrases:

• описывать словами (to describe in words) - Used when emphasizing verbal description.
• описать подробно (to describe in detail) - Common in formal or analytical contexts.
• охарактеризовать кратко (to describe briefly) - Often used in summaries or reports.

Usage Notes:

• "описывать" (imperfective) is used for ongoing or habitual descriptions, while "описать" (perfective) indicates a completed act of description. Choosing between them depends on the aspect of the action.
• "охарактеризовать" is more formal and often used in written or professional contexts to provide a detailed assessment or characterization.
• Be mindful of the context: "описывать" is more versatile, while "охарактеризовать" may sound overly formal in casual conversation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "описывать" when a completed action is intended. Incorrect: Я описываю всю ситуацию вчера. Correct: Я описал всю ситуацию вчера (I described the whole situation yesterday). Explanation: Use the perfective "описать" for completed actions in the past.
• Error: Overusing "охарактеризовать" in casual speech. Incorrect: Я охарактеризовал мой день. Correct: Я описал мой день (I described my day). Explanation: Reserve "охарактеризовать" for formal or analytical contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, detailed descriptions are often valued in storytelling and literature. Using verbs like "описывать" with precision can reflect a speaker's eloquence, which is highly appreciated in formal and personal communication.

Related Concepts:

• рассказывать (to tell, narrate)
• объяснять (to explain)
• иллюстрировать (to illustrate)