Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'explicate'

English Word: explicate

Key Russian Translations:

• объяснить [ɐbʲjɪˈzʲnʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used in explanations or teaching contexts]
• прояснить [prɐˈjasʲnʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for clarifying ambiguities in casual or professional discussions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, educational settings, and everyday conversations where clarity is needed)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations, but the core meaning is straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

объяснить: [ɐbʲjɪˈzʲnʲɪtʲ]

прояснить: [prɐˈjasʲnʲɪtʲ]

Note on объяснить: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'bʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers due to its softness.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To explain or make clear the meaning of something, often in detail.

Translation(s) & Context:

• объяснить - Used in formal or educational contexts, such as lectures or written analyses, to provide a thorough breakdown.
• прояснить - Applied in informal or problem-solving scenarios, like resolving misunderstandings in conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Профессор объяснил сложную концепцию студентам. (The professor explicated the complex concept to the students.)

  The professor explained the complex concept to the students in a detailed manner.

• Она постаралась прояснить недоразумение во время встречи. (She tried to explicate the misunderstanding during the meeting.)

  She attempted to clarify the misunderstanding in a straightforward way during the meeting.

• В статье автор объяснил исторический контекст события. (In the article, the author explicated the historical context of the event.)

  In the article, the author provided a detailed explanation of the historical context of the event.

• Чтобы прояснить вопрос, он использовал простые примеры. (To explicate the issue, he used simple examples.)

  To clarify the issue, he employed straightforward examples in his explanation.

• Учитель объяснил правило грамматики с помощью диаграммы. (The teacher explicated the grammar rule using a diagram.)

  The teacher explained the grammar rule in detail with the help of a diagram.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "объяснить" and "прояснить" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for "объяснить" (as it is more common), showing key conjugations. "Прояснить" follows similar patterns but may vary slightly in usage.

Note: "Прояснить" has irregular aspects in some forms but generally follows standard conjugation rules. These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive form but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • растолковать - More emphatic, often used for explaining to someone who doesn't understand.
  • прояснить - Similar to "explicate" but lighter, for quick clarifications.
• Antonyms:
  • запутать - To confuse or complicate.
  • осложнить - To make more complex.

Related Phrases:

• объяснить подробно - (To explain in detail; used when a thorough explication is required in professional or academic settings.)
• прояснить ситуацию - (To clarify the situation; common in everyday conversations to resolve conflicts.)
• объяснить на примерах - (To explicate with examples; helpful for teaching or illustrating concepts.)

Usage Notes:

"Объяснить" is the most direct equivalent to "explicate" in Russian and is preferred in formal contexts, such as academic papers or lectures, where detailed elaboration is needed. In contrast, "прояснить" is better for informal or conversational settings. English speakers should note that Russian verbs like these require agreement in aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions), and the choice between translations depends on the level of formality—use "объяснить" for precise, analytical explication and "прояснить" for quicker resolutions. Always consider the audience; in business Russian, these words might appear in reports or meetings.

Common Errors:

• Mistaking the aspect: English learners often use the perfective form incorrectly. For example, incorrect: "Я объясню" (meaning "I will explicate" but implying completion), when they mean ongoing explanation. Correct: Use imperfective forms like "Я буду объяснять" for future ongoing actions. Explanation: Russian verbs have aspects that English lacks, so focus on context to choose the right one.
• Overusing in informal speech: Learners might say "объяснить" in casual chats where "прояснить" is more natural, e.g., incorrect overuse in friendly talks. Correct: Switch to "прояснить" for lighter contexts to avoid sounding overly formal.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, explication through detailed explanations ("объяснить") is highly valued in education and intellectual discussions, reflecting a tradition of thoroughness in fields like literature and philosophy. For instance, in Russian literature classes, teachers often "explicate" texts like those of Tolstoy to uncover deeper meanings, emphasizing the cultural importance of context and interpretation.

Related Concepts:

• понять (to understand)
• изложить (to set forth or outline)
• распространить (to elaborate or spread ideas)