Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'flashback'

English Word: flashback

Key Russian Translations:

• флэшбэк [flɛʃˈbɛk] - [Informal, Borrowed term, Commonly used in media and psychology]
• вспышка воспоминаний [ˈfspɨʂkə vəspəmɪˈnanʲɪj] - [Formal, Literary or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium - The term is not everyday vocabulary but appears frequently in discussions of films, literature, and psychology.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it involves borrowed English words and requires understanding of narrative or psychological contexts; for "вспышка воспоминаний," it may be slightly easier at B1 due to more native Russian phrasing.

Pronunciation (Russian):

флэшбэк: [flɛʃˈbɛk]

вспышка воспоминаний: [ˈfspɨʂkə vəspəmɪˈnanʲɪj]

Note on флэшбэк: The stress is on the second syllable, and the "ш" sound is a soft fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's often pronounced similarly to the English original.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Narrative device in stories, films, or literature (interruption to show a past event)

Translation(s) & Context:

• флэшбэк - Used in informal or modern contexts, such as film reviews or casual discussions about storytelling.
• вспышка воспоминаний - Preferred in formal literary analysis or when emphasizing emotional depth.

Usage Examples:

• В фильме режиссёра был впечатляющий флэшбэк, показывающий детство主人公.

  In the director's film, there was an impressive flashback showing the protagonist's childhood.

• Эта вспышка воспоминаний в романе помогает понять мотивы героя.

  This flashback in the novel helps to understand the hero's motives.

• Флэшбэк в сериале внезапно возвращает зритателя к событиям прошлого года.

  The flashback in the series suddenly returns the viewer to events from last year.

• Без этой вспышки воспоминаний история потеряла бы эмоциональную глубину.

  Without this flashback, the story would lose its emotional depth.

2. Psychological phenomenon (sudden memory of a past traumatic event, e.g., in PTSD)

Translation(s) & Context:

• флэшбэк - Common in psychological or medical discussions, often in informal or professional settings.
• вспышка воспоминаний - Used in more descriptive or therapeutic contexts to convey emotional intensity.

Usage Examples:

• Пациент описал свой флэшбэк как внезапное возвращение к травматическому событию.

  The patient described his flashback as a sudden return to a traumatic event.

• Во время терапии она пережила вспышку воспоминаний о детстве.

  During therapy, she experienced a flashback to her childhood.

• Флэшбэк может быть симптомом посттравматического стресса, требующим профессиональной помощи.

  A flashback can be a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder, requiring professional help.

• Эта вспышка воспоминаний заставила его обратиться к психологу.

  This flashback made him seek out a psychologist.

• Вспышка воспоминаний иногда возникает у ветеранов войны без видимой причины.

  Flashbacks sometimes occur in war veterans without an apparent trigger.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"флэшбэк" is a masculine noun borrowed from English and typically does not inflect regularly in modern Russian usage. It remains unchanged in most cases, especially in informal contexts.

For "вспышка воспоминаний," which is a phrase, "вспышка" is a feminine noun that follows standard Russian inflection patterns for nouns of the first declension:

"Воспоминаний" is the genitive plural form of "воспоминание" (neuter noun), which inflects as per standard patterns but is less variable in this fixed phrase.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • воспоминание (vospominanie) - A general term for memory, often used interchangeably but less specific to sudden interruptions.
  • ретроспектива (retrospektiva) - Implies a broader review, commonly in historical or artistic contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • прогноз (prognoz) - Forward-looking prediction, contrasting the backward focus.
  • будущее (budushchee) - Future, as it opposes the past-oriented nature of flashbacks.

Related Phrases:

• иметь флэшбэк - To have a flashback; used in psychological contexts to describe experiencing involuntary memories.
• вспышка прошлого - A burst of the past; a more poetic way to refer to sudden recollections in literature.
• возвращение к воспоминаниям - Return to memories; often in therapeutic or reflective settings.

Usage Notes:

"Флэшбэк" directly borrows from English and is most accurate for modern, informal uses, especially in media or psychology, while "вспышка воспоминаний" offers a more native Russian equivalent for formal writing. English speakers should note that Russian often requires specifying the case or context, e.g., using genitive for possessions. Choose "флэшбэк" for brevity in casual conversations, but opt for "вспышка воспоминаний" in literary analysis to align with Russian grammatical norms. Be cautious with verb pairings, such as "испытывать флэшбэк" for psychological contexts.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "флэшбэк" as if it were a verb, e.g., "Я флэшбэкил вчера" (incorrect).
  Correct: "У меня был флэшбэк вчера" (I had a flashback yesterday). Explanation: "Флэшбэк" is a noun; use verbs like "иметь" or "испытывать" for actions.
• Mistake: Confusing it with "воспоминание" without context, leading to vague statements.
  Correct: Specify as "внезапное воспоминание" for accuracy. Explanation: "Воспоминание" is broader; add descriptors to match the suddenness of a flashback.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, flashbacks are prominent in literature and film, influenced by Soviet-era cinema like Andrei Tarkovsky's works, where they symbolize introspection and the weight of history. This reflects Russia's historical emphasis on memory and collective past, making terms like "вспышка воспоминаний" resonate deeply in discussions of national identity or personal trauma.

Related Concepts:

• память (pamyat') - Memory
• травма (travma) - Trauma
• ретроспекция (retrospektsiya) - Retrospection