Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'expressly'

English Word: expressly

Key Russian Translations:

• явно [ˈjavnə] - [Formal; used to indicate something is clear or evident]
• специально [spʲɪˈt͡sɨlʲnə] - [Informal; used to denote something done specifically or on purpose]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in written and spoken Russian, but not as ubiquitous as basic adverbs like "очень")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adverbial nuances and context, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

явно: [ˈjavnə]

Note on явно: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'n' sound, which is common in Russian adverbs.

специально: [spʲɪˈt͡sɨlʲnə]

Note on специально: The 'sch' sound in 'spʲ' is palatalized; this word has a rolling rhythm that can vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Clearly and distinctly (emphasizing obviousness or explicitness)

Translation(s) & Context:

• явно - Used in formal contexts, such as legal or academic writing, to indicate something is plainly evident without ambiguity.

Usage Examples:

• Он явно не согласен с этим решением. (He expressly disagrees with this decision.)

  He expressly disagrees with this decision.

• В контракте явно указано, что оплата должна быть произведена вовремя. (The contract expressly states that payment must be made on time.)

  The contract expressly states that payment must be made on time.

• Её явно беспокоит эта ситуация, судя по её выражению лица. (She is expressly concerned about this situation, judging by her facial expression.)

  She is expressly concerned about this situation, judging by her facial expression.

• В инструкции явно сказано, как собрать мебель. (The instructions expressly explain how to assemble the furniture.)

  The instructions expressly explain how to assemble the furniture.

• Группа явно предпочитает работать в тишине. (The group expressly prefers to work in silence.)

  The group expressly prefers to work in silence.

Meaning 2: Specifically or particularly (indicating intention or purpose)

Translation(s) & Context:

• специально - Used in everyday conversations to highlight that something was done deliberately or for a particular reason.

Usage Examples:

• Я специально выбрал этот маршрут, чтобы избежать пробок. (I expressly chose this route to avoid traffic jams.)

  I expressly chose this route to avoid traffic jams.

• Она специально приготовила любимое блюдо для гостей. (She expressly prepared the favorite dish for the guests.)

  She expressly prepared the favorite dish for the guests.

• Мы специально приехали рано, чтобы занять лучшие места. (We expressly arrived early to get the best seats.)

  We expressly arrived early to get the best seats.

• Он специально подчеркнул этот пункт в отчёте. (He expressly emphasized this point in the report.)

  He expressly emphasized this point in the report.

• Компания специально разработала продукт для молодёжи. (The company expressly designed the product for youth.)

  The company expressly designed the product for youth.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'явно' and 'специально' are adverbs in Russian, which typically do not inflect for case, number, or gender. They remain unchanged across contexts, making them straightforward for learners. However, their usage can vary based on sentence structure:

• For 'явно': It is invariable and often placed before the verb or adjective it modifies (e.g., явно видно - clearly visible).
• For 'специально': Also invariable, but it can emphasize intention in various grammatical constructions, such as with verbs in different aspects (e.g., специально сделал - expressly did).

If needed, here's a simple table for clarity, though these words don't have complex inflections:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • явно: очевидно (obviously; more emphatic in formal settings)
  • специально: нарочно (deliberately; implies a stronger sense of intention)
• Antonyms:
  • явно: неявно (implicitly; used in philosophical or technical contexts)
  • специально: случайно (accidentally; contrasts with deliberate action)

Related Phrases:

• явно видно - Clearly visible; used to describe something obvious in sight.
• специально для - Expressly for; indicates purpose, e.g., in marketing or planning.
• явно выраженный - Expressly stated; common in legal or official language.
• специально подготовленный - Specially prepared; refers to customized efforts.

Usage Notes:

Use 'явно' when you want to convey that something is explicitly clear or evident, similar to 'expressly' in formal English contexts like contracts or explanations. It's ideal for written Russian. On the other hand, 'специально' aligns more with intentional actions, akin to 'specifically' or 'on purpose' in everyday English. Be mindful of register: 'явно' is more formal, while 'специально' fits casual speech. When choosing between translations, consider the context—opt for 'явно' in objective descriptions and 'специально' for subjective intentions. Grammatically, both adverbs precede the verb they modify for emphasis.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'явно' with 'специально' in contexts of intention. For example, an English learner might say "Я явно пришёл сюда" (I expressly came here) when meaning "I came here on purpose," but this is incorrect because 'явно' implies obviousness, not purpose. Correct: "Я специально пришёл сюда." Explanation: 'Явно' focuses on clarity, while 'специально' emphasizes deliberate choice.

• Error: Overusing 'явно' in informal speech, making it sound overly formal. Example: Incorrectly saying "Это явно вкусно" instead of "Это вкусно" in casual talk. Correct: Use 'явно' only when stressing evident truth. Explanation: In Russian, adverbs like this can make speech sound stilted if not contextually appropriate.

Cultural Notes:

Words like 'явно' and 'специально' don't carry strong cultural connotations in Russian, as they are neutral adverbs. However, in Russian communication, which often values directness, 'явно' might be used in debates or official settings to underscore transparency, reflecting a cultural emphasis on clarity in public discourse.

Related Concepts:

• очевидно (obviously)
• определённо (definitely)
• намеренно (intentionally)