Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'duplicity'

English Word: duplicity

Key Russian Translations:

• Двуличие [dvʊˈlʲitɕɪjə] - [Formal, Noun, Used in discussions of ethics or politics]
• Обман [ɐbˈman] - [Informal, Noun, Used in everyday contexts for general deceit]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, literature, and discussions, but less frequent in casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves abstract ethical concepts; for 'Обман', also B2, but slightly easier due to its broader everyday usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Двуличие: [dvʊˈlʲitɕɪjə]

Note on Двуличие: The stress falls on the third syllable ('li'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'л' sound; pronounce it with a palatalized 'l' as in 'luxury'.

Обман: [ɐbˈman]

Note on Обман: The initial 'О' is pronounced as a short, unstressed vowel, similar to 'a' in 'about'; no major variants in standard Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The act of being deceitful or having a double standard in behavior or speech.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Двуличие - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe hypocritical behavior, often in ethical or political discussions.
• Обман - Applied in everyday situations for straightforward deception, such as in personal relationships or business.

Usage Examples:

• Его двуличие в переговорах стало очевидным, когда он изменил свою позицию.

  His duplicity in the negotiations became obvious when he changed his position.

• Двуличие политиков часто приводит к потере доверия среди населения.

  The duplicity of politicians often leads to a loss of trust among the population.

• Обман в его словах был легко разоблачен друзьями.

  The duplicity in his words was easily uncovered by his friends.

• Ее обман проявился в мелких повседневных ситуациях, где она скрывала правду.

  Her duplicity showed in minor everyday situations where she hid the truth.

Meaning 2: The quality of being two-faced or insincere in one's intentions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Двуличие - Common in psychological or literary analysis, emphasizing internal conflict or insincerity.
• Обман - Used more casually for external actions, like lying to avoid consequences.

Usage Examples:

• Двуличие героя романа раскрывается через его внутренние монологи.

  The duplicity of the novel's hero is revealed through his internal monologues.

• В её двуличие входило притворство дружбы, пока она преследовала свои цели.

  Her duplicity involved feigning friendship while pursuing her own goals.

• Обман в бизнесе может привести к юридическим проблемам, если его раскрыть.

  Duplicity in business can lead to legal issues if it's uncovered.

• Его обман был мастерским, но в итоге он потерял всех союзников.

  His duplicity was masterful, but in the end, he lost all his allies.

• Двуличие в отношениях часто маскируется под заботу.

  Duplicity in relationships is often disguised as care.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Двуличие is a neuter noun in the third declension group, which follows regular patterns for Russian nouns. It inflects based on case and number. Below is a table of its inflections:

Обман is also a masculine noun in the second declension and inflects regularly:

Both words do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Гипокризия (Hypocrisy) - More formal, often used in moral or religious contexts.
  • Лживость (Deceitfulness) - Emphasizes habitual lying, slightly less intense than Двуличие.
• Antonyms:
  • Честность (Honesty) - Direct opposite, implying sincerity and truthfulness.
  • Прямолинейность (Straightforwardness) - Used for blunt or open behavior without deceit.

Related Phrases:

• Проявление двуличия - Manifestation of duplicity; Used to describe evident signs of deceit in behavior.
• Быть в обмане - To be in duplicity; Refers to living a double life or maintaining false pretenses.
• Маска обмана - Mask of duplicity; A phrase for hidden intentions in social interactions.

Usage Notes:

Duplicity in English closely aligns with 'Двуличие' in Russian, which is ideal for formal contexts like literature or politics, but 'Обман' is better for everyday deception. Choose 'Двуличие' when emphasizing internal hypocrisy, as it carries a more nuanced, ethical connotation. Be mindful of Russian's case system; for example, use the genitive case (e.g., двуличия) when indicating possession. This word is common in neutral or formal registers, avoiding slang, and pairs well with verbs like 'проявлять' (to manifest) or 'скрывать' (to hide).

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'Двуличие' with 'Обман': English learners often use 'Обман' interchangeably, but it's less precise for double standards. Error: "Его обман в политике" (implying simple lying). Correct: "Его двуличие в политике" (for duplicitous behavior). Explanation: 'Обман' focuses on active deceit, while 'Двуличие' implies duality.
• Ignoring case inflections: Learners might say "Я видел двуличие" instead of "Я видел двуличие" (correct for accusative), leading to grammatical errors. Correct usage requires proper declension based on sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'Двуличие' often appears in literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where it reflects the complexity of human morality and the facade of social norms. It ties into themes of insincerity in Soviet-era contexts, symbolizing the tension between public persona and private truth, helping users appreciate its role in Russian philosophical discussions.

Related Concepts:

• Ложь (Lie)
• Гипокризия (Hypocrisy)
• Манипуляция (Manipulation)