Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'distinguish'

English Word: distinguish

Key Russian Translations:

• различать [rəzlʲɪˈt͡ɕætʲ] - [Verb, Formal/Informal, Used in general contexts for differentiating things]
• отличать [ɐtˈlʲit͡ɕɪtʲ] - [Verb, Formal/Informal, Used when emphasizing distinction or telling apart]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, academic, and professional contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and nuanced usage; for 'различать', it may be B1 due to simpler forms, while 'отличать' could be B2 for its aspectual variations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

различать: [rəzlʲɪˈt͡ɕætʲ]

Note on различать: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. A common variant in fast speech might soften the 'т' to [tʲ].

отличать: [ɐtˈlʲit͡ɕɪtʲ]

Note on отличать: Stress on the second syllable; the 'т' is palatalized, which may require practice to distinguish from similar verbs like 'отмечать'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To recognize or perceive the difference between things (e.g., distinguish between two objects)

Translation(s) & Context:

• различать - Used in scientific, educational, or everyday contexts to indicate differentiation based on characteristics.
• отличать - Applied in more precise or evaluative contexts, such as distinguishing quality or identity.

Usage Examples:

• Я могу различать разные виды птиц по их песням. (I can distinguish different bird species by their songs.)

  English: I can distinguish different bird species by their songs. (This example shows the verb in a natural, observational context.)

• Дети учатся отличать добро от зла в раннем возрасте. (Children learn to distinguish good from evil at an early age.)

  English: Children learn to distinguish good from evil at an early age. (Illustrates moral or ethical differentiation.)

• В темноте трудно различать цвета. (In the dark, it's hard to distinguish colors.)

  English: In the dark, it's hard to distinguish colors. (Demonstrates usage in sensory contexts.)

• Эксперт может отличать подлинные картины от фальшивок. (An expert can distinguish genuine paintings from fakes.)

  English: An expert can distinguish genuine paintings from fakes. (Shows application in professional settings.)

• С помощью микроскопа ученые различают микроорганизмы. (With a microscope, scientists distinguish microorganisms.)

  English: With a microscope, scientists distinguish microorganisms. (Highlights scientific usage with tools.)

Meaning 2: To make oneself noticeable or outstanding (e.g., distinguish oneself in a field)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отличать - Often used metaphorically for standing out or excelling, in personal or professional achievements.
• различать - Less common for this meaning, but can be used in broader differentiation contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Она отличилась в спорте, выиграв несколько медалей. (She distinguished herself in sports by winning several medals.)

  English: She distinguished herself in sports by winning several medals. (Example of personal achievement.)

• Чтобы отличиться на работе, нужно показывать инициативу. (To distinguish oneself at work, one needs to show initiative.)

  English: To distinguish oneself at work, one needs to show initiative. (Contextualizes career advancement.)

• Молодой артист стремится отличиться на сцене. (The young artist strives to distinguish himself on stage.)

  English: The young artist strives to distinguish himself on stage. (Shows artistic or performative usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'различать' and 'отличать' are imperfective verbs, which undergo regular conjugation in Russian. They follow the first conjugation pattern for most forms. Below is a table for 'различать' as an example; 'отличать' follows similar rules but with slight variations in prefixes.

For 'отличать', note that it is also imperfective and conjugates similarly, e.g., я отличаю, ты отличаешь. These verbs do not have irregular forms but must agree with gender in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дифференцировать (more technical, used in scientific contexts)
  • выделять (to single out or highlight)
• Antonyms:
  • смешивать (to mix or confuse)
  • не различать (to not distinguish, though not a single word)

Related Phrases:

• различать правду от лжи - (To distinguish truth from lies; used in contexts of deception or honesty.)
• отличать оригинал от копии - (To distinguish the original from the copy; common in art or authentication scenarios.)
• стремиться отличиться - (To strive to distinguish oneself; motivational phrase in personal development.)

Usage Notes:

'Различать' and 'отличать' both correspond to 'distinguish' in English but differ subtly: 'различать' is more neutral and frequent for general differentiation, while 'отличать' implies a higher level of discernment or excellence. Use 'различать' in everyday or descriptive contexts, and 'отличать' for evaluative ones. Be mindful of aspect in Russian; these are imperfective, so pair with perfective forms like 'различить' for completed actions. In formal writing, prefer these over direct English borrowings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'различать' with 'отличать' and using them interchangeably without context. For example, an English learner might say "Я отличаю цвета" when "различать" is more appropriate for simple color differentiation.

  Correct: Я различаю цвета. (Explanation: 'Отличать' implies a more profound distinction, so it's better for qualitative differences.)

• Error: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense, e.g., saying "Она различал" instead of "Она различала".

  Correct: Она различала. (Explanation: Russian past tense verbs must agree with the subject's gender, which is a common pitfall for English speakers.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of 'distinguishing' oneself (e.g., via 'отличаться') often ties to themes of personal achievement and resilience, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where characters strive to stand out in society. This reflects Russia's emphasis on collective identity, where individual distinction can be both celebrated and scrutinized.

Related Concepts:

• идентифицировать (to identify)
• сравнивать (to compare)
• выделяться (to stand out)