Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dissimulate'

English Word: dissimulate

Key Russian Translations:

• Притворяться [prʲɪˈtvorʲɪt͡sə] - [Informal, often used in everyday contexts for feigning emotions or states]
• Скрывать [skrɨˈvatʲ] - [Formal, typically for concealing facts or intentions in professional or literary settings]
• Маскировать [məskʲɪˈrovatʲ] - [Formal, specialized for masking true intentions, e.g., in psychological or strategic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in literature, media, and conversations, but are not as common as basic everyday verbs.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level per CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuances. For 'Притворяться', it's B2 due to reflexive forms; for 'Скрывать', it's also B2 as it involves imperfective aspects.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Притворяться: [prʲɪˈtvorʲɪt͡sə]

Note on Притворяться: This is a reflexive verb; the stress falls on the second syllable. Pay attention to the soft sign (ʲ) which affects the pronunciation of the preceding consonant.

Скрывать: [skrɨˈvatʲ]

Note on Скрывать: The vowel in the first syllable is a reduced [ɨ], common in unstressed positions; it's an imperfective verb, so pronunciation may vary slightly in different tenses.

Маскировать: [məskʲɪˈrovatʲ]

Note on Маскировать: Stress is on the third syllable; the initial [mə] is often reduced in fast speech.

Audio: Play audio for Притворяться (placeholder for audio file link)

Meanings and Usage:

To hide or feign one's true feelings, intentions, or identity

Translation(s) & Context:

• Притворяться - Used in informal, personal contexts, such as everyday interactions or storytelling.
• Скрывать - Applied in formal or serious contexts, like diplomacy, psychology, or legal discussions.
• Маскировать - Common in contexts involving deception, such as military strategy or emotional suppression.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда притворяется, что всё в порядке, даже когда ему грустно.

  He always dissimulates that everything is fine, even when he's sad.

• В политике лидеры часто скрывают свои истинные мотивы от общественности.

  In politics, leaders often dissimulate their true motives from the public.

• Чтобы избежать конфликта, она маскирует свою злость улыбкой.

  To avoid conflict, she dissimulates her anger with a smile.

• Дети иногда притворяются спящими, чтобы избежать домашних заданий.

  Children sometimes dissimulate by pretending to be asleep to avoid homework.

• В бизнесе важно не скрывать риски, но иногда приходится маскировать их для переговоров.

  In business, it's important not to dissimulate risks, but they are sometimes masked during negotiations.

To pretend in a specific social or performative context

Translation(s) & Context:

• Притворяться - Ideal for theatrical or casual pretense, like acting in plays or daily life.
• Маскировать - More for strategic or professional pretense, such as in espionage.

Usage Examples:

• Актеры на сцене притворяются другими людьми, чтобы создать реалистичный спектакль.

  Actors on stage dissimulate as other people to create a realistic performance.

• Шпион маскирует свою личность, чтобы не быть разоблачённым.

  The spy dissimulates his identity to avoid being exposed.

• Она притворяется уверенной, несмотря на нервозность перед аудиторией.

  She dissimulates confidence despite feeling nervous in front of an audience.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Притворяться' is a reflexive verb (uses -ся ending), while 'Скрывать' and 'Маскировать' are standard transitive verbs. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects; for these, the imperfective forms are used for ongoing actions (e.g., dissimulating habitually).

Note: These verbs are regular in most forms but follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'Притворяться' remains unchanged in its reflexive form across aspects.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Лукавить (to be cunning or deceitful; often implies slyness, less direct than притворяться)
  • Обманывать (to deceive; used when there's an element of lying, more active than скрывать)
  • Фальшивить (to fake or counterfeit; specific to insincere behavior in performances)
• Antonyms:
  • Быть искренним (to be sincere)
  • Открыто говорить (to speak openly)
  • Не скрывать (not to hide)

Related Phrases:

• Притворная улыбка (feigned smile) - A false expression to hide true emotions.
• Скрывать правду (to hide the truth) - Common in contexts of secrecy or deception.
• Маскировать намерения (to mask intentions) - Used in strategic or psychological discussions.
• Притворяться больным (to pretend to be sick) - An everyday phrase for feigning illness.

Usage Notes:

'Притворяться' is the most direct and idiomatic translation for 'dissimulate' in informal settings, capturing the act of feigning. Use 'Скрывать' for more formal or intellectual contexts where concealment is key. 'Маскировать' is best for situations involving deliberate hiding, like in tactics or psychology. Be mindful of the reflexive nature of 'Притворяться', which requires the -ся ending. English speakers often confuse these with simpler verbs like 'lie', but Russian nuances depend on context—choose based on formality and intent.

• Grammar tip: Always conjugate according to subject and aspect to maintain accuracy.
• Context guidance: In literature, 'Скрывать' might be preferred for its depth, while 'Притворяться' suits casual dialogue.

Common Errors:

• Using 'Притворяться' interchangeably with 'Обманывать': Error - Он обманывается своими чувствами (incorrect for dissimulating). Correct: Он притворяется, чтобы скрыть чувства. Explanation: 'Обманывать' implies active deception of others, while 'Притворяться' is about self-feigning.
• Omitting reflexive endings: Error - Он притворяет (missing -ся). Correct: Он притворяется. Explanation: This changes the verb's meaning and makes it grammatically incorrect in Russian.
• Confusing aspects: Error - Using perfective forms for ongoing actions, e.g., 'Притвориться' for habitual dissimulation. Correct: Use imperfective 'Притворяться' for repeated actions. Explanation: Russian verbs distinguish between completed and ongoing processes, which English 'dissimulate' does not.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, dissimulation is a recurring theme in literature, such as in the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, where characters often hide their true intentions to navigate social complexities. This reflects historical contexts like the Soviet era, where concealing opinions was a survival strategy, adding layers of irony and depth to words like 'Скрывать'.

Related Concepts:

• Лицемерие (hypocrisy)
• Обман (deception)
• Маска (mask, as in metaphorical hiding)
• Искренность (sincerity)