Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'face'

English Word: face

Key Russian Translations:

• лицо [ˈlʲit͡sə] - [Formal, Everyday use]
• фас [fas] - [Informal, Specific to architecture or design contexts, e.g., front of a building]

Frequency: High (Common in daily Russian conversations and media)

Difficulty: A1 for 'лицо' (Beginner level, as it's a basic noun); B1 for 'фас' (Intermediate, due to contextual specificity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лицо: [ˈlʲit͡sə]

фас: [fas]

Note on лицо: The 'ц' sound is a voiceless alveolar affricate [ts], which can be challenging for English speakers; it softens before vowels in some dialects.

Note on фас: Pronounced similarly to the English word "fast," but with a short vowel; no major variations.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The front part of the human head, including features like eyes and mouth.

Translation(s) & Context:

• лицо - Used in general, everyday contexts for human anatomy or expressions.

Usage Examples:

• Его лицо светилось от счастья.

  His face was glowing with happiness. (Shows emotional expression in a positive context.)

• Она скрывала эмоции за маской на лице.

  She hid her emotions behind a mask on her face. (Illustrates physical and metaphorical use in daily life.)

• Лицо ребенка было покрыто грязью после игры.

  The child's face was covered in dirt after playing. (Demonstrates simple descriptive usage.)

• В зеркале я увидел свое усталое лицо.

  In the mirror, I saw my tired face. (Common self-reflection scenario.)

2. The front or outer surface of an object, such as a building or clock.

Translation(s) & Context:

• фас - Used in architectural or design contexts, less common for human faces.

Usage Examples:

• Фас здания украшен классическими колоннами.

  The face of the building is adorned with classical columns. (Refers to the front exterior in a formal description.)

• На фасе часов показывало полночь.

  The face of the clock showed midnight. (Applies to mechanical objects in a literal sense.)

• Дизайнер обновил фас смартфона.

  The designer updated the face of the smartphone. (Modern tech context, showing evolution of usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'лицо' (a neuter noun), it follows standard Russian declension patterns. It is inflected based on case, number, and gender. Below is a declension table:

For 'фас' (an indeclinable noun in modern Russian, often treated as a foreign borrowing), it does not change forms and remains invariant across cases: фас (e.g., in genitive: фас, dative: фас, etc.).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • морда (used for animal faces, with a more informal or pejorative connotation)
  • физиономия (slangy, humorous way to refer to a face, often in informal speech)
• Antonyms:
  • зад (back, as in the opposite side)
  • тыл (rear, in a more formal or military context)

Related Phrases:

• Лицо в лицо - Face to face; A common phrase meaning direct, in-person interaction, often used in conversations or negotiations.
• Потерять лицо - To lose face; Equivalent to the English idiom, implying loss of dignity or respect in social situations.
• Сохранить лицо - To save face; Refers to maintaining one's reputation or avoiding embarrassment.

Usage Notes:

'Лицо' is the most direct and common translation for the human face in Russian, aligning closely with English usage in everyday contexts. It can be used formally or informally but is neutral. For non-human objects, 'фас' is preferred in technical or architectural discussions. Be cautious with word choice: 'морда' should be avoided for humans as it can sound derogatory. In sentences, 'лицо' requires proper declension based on Russian grammar rules, such as using the genitive case after prepositions like 'на' (on). When multiple translations exist, choose based on context—e.g., opt for 'лицо' in personal descriptions and 'фас' in design-related scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'лицо' inflexibly without declension, e.g., saying "Я вижу лицо" instead of "Я вижу это лицо" in certain contexts.

  Correct: In Russian, nouns must agree in case; correct example: "Я увидел его лицо" (I saw his face). Explanation: English speakers often forget case endings, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing 'лицо' with 'фас' in human contexts, e.g., saying "Его фас было грустным."

  Correct: Use "Его лицо было грустным" (His face was sad). Explanation: 'Фас' is not appropriate for people, which can make the sentence sound absurd or incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like 'потерять лицо' (to lose face) reflect influences from Eastern philosophies, similar to concepts in Chinese culture, emphasizing social harmony and reputation. This phrase is commonly used in literature and media to discuss personal dignity, highlighting the cultural value placed on maintaining a positive public image in interpersonal relationships.

Related Concepts:

• глаза (eyes)
• улыбка (smile)
• выражение лица (facial expression)