Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gaze'

English Word: gaze

Key Russian Translations:

• взгляд [vzɡlʲad] - [Noun, Formal, Used in descriptive contexts]
• смотреть [smatrʲitʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Plural forms possible]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature and everyday conversation, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "look").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions for 'взгляд' and verb conjugations for 'смотреть', based on CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

взгляд: [vzɡlʲad] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

смотреть: [smatrʲitʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; note the palatalized 'тʲ' sound.)

Note on взгляд: The 'лʲ' is a palatalized 'l' sound, similar to the 'l' in "million" in English, but softer. Variations in fast speech may soften the consonants.

Note on смотреть: This verb can have slight regional variations in pronunciation, such as in vowel length in informal Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: A steady intent look or stare.

Translation(s) & Context:

• взгляд - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe a prolonged, meaningful look, such as in art or psychology discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он бросил на неё быстрый взгляд, но быстро отвернулся. (He cast a quick gaze at her but quickly looked away.)

  Translation: He threw a quick glance at her but quickly looked away. (This example shows 'взгляд' in a casual social context.)

• Её взгляд был полон удивления и любопытства. (Her gaze was full of surprise and curiosity.)

  Translation: Her gaze was full of surprise and curiosity. (Illustrates 'взгляд' in an emotional, descriptive setting.)

• В его взгляде читалась усталость после долгого дня. (In his gaze, one could read fatigue after a long day.)

  Translation: In his gaze, one could read fatigue after a long day. (Demonstrates metaphorical use in narrative contexts.)

• Художник поймал её взгляд в портрете. (The artist captured her gaze in the portrait.)

  Translation: The artist captured her gaze in the portrait. (Shows 'взгляд' in artistic or visual arts contexts.)

As a verb: To look steadily or intently at something or someone.

Translation(s) & Context:

• смотреть - Used in everyday, informal contexts for prolonged observation, often implying focus or intensity.
• устремлять взгляд - A more formal or literary alternative for directed gazing.

Usage Examples:

• Она смотрела на горизонт, не моргая. (She gazed at the horizon without blinking.)

  Translation: She gazed at the horizon without blinking. (This highlights 'смотреть' in a contemplative, outdoor scene.)

• Дети устремляли взгляды на фейерверк с восторгом. (The children gazed at the fireworks with delight.)

  Translation: The children gazed at the fireworks with delight. (Shows plural use and excitement in a group setting.)

• Он смотрел в её глаза, пытаясь понять эмоции. (He gazed into her eyes, trying to understand the emotions.)

  Translation: He gazed into her eyes, trying to understand the emotions. (Illustrates interpersonal, emotional context.)

• Смотреть на звёзды по ночам стало её хобби. (Gazing at the stars at night became her hobby.)

  Translation: Gazing at the stars at night became her hobby. (Demonstrates habitual or routine use.)

• В зале все смотрели на сцену с заворожённым вниманием. (In the hall, everyone gazed at the stage with captivated attention.)

  Translation: In the hall, everyone gazed at the stage with captivated attention. (Shows 'смотреть' in a public, performative context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'взгляд' (a masculine noun of the third declension), it undergoes regular declension based on case and number. It is invariant in gender but changes in grammatical cases.

For 'смотреть' (a verb of the first conjugation), it conjugates regularly across tenses, persons, and numbers. Example in present tense:

Note: 'смотреть' does not have irregular forms in most tenses, making it relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for взгляд: взор (more poetic), stare (in informal contexts as пялиться, but less common), гляд (colloquial variant). Note: взор implies a more intense or spiritual gaze.
• Synonyms for смотреть: глядеть (more informal), взирать (formal, literary).
• Antonyms: отводить взгляд (to avert one's gaze), игнорировать (to ignore).

Related Phrases:

• Устремить взгляд - To direct one's gaze (used for focused attention, e.g., in tense situations).
• Бросить взгляд - To cast a quick gaze (implies a brief, fleeting look, often in passing).
• Взгляд в упор - A direct gaze (conveys confrontation or intensity, with English explanation: often used in arguments or eye contact challenges).

Usage Notes:

'Взгляд' as a noun corresponds closely to the English 'gaze' in formal writing or descriptions, but in spoken Russian, it's often used more dynamically than the static English term. For the verb 'смотреть', it's a general term for looking, so choose it over more specific verbs like 'взирать' for everyday contexts. Be mindful of grammatical cases with 'взгляд'—for example, use the genitive form in phrases like 'под взглядом' (under the gaze). When multiple translations exist, opt for 'взгляд' in literary or emotional scenarios and 'смотреть' for actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'взгляд' without proper declension, e.g., saying "в взгляд" instead of "взгляд" in nominative. Correct: Always adjust for case, as in "Его взгляд был холодным" (His gaze was cold). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, which English learners often overlook.
• Error: Confusing 'смотреть' with 'видеть' (to see); learners might say "Я смотрю книгу" meaning "I see the book," but it should be "Я смотрю на книгу" for gazing. Correct: Add prepositions like 'на' for direction. Explanation: 'Смотреть' implies intentional gazing, while 'видеть' is passive perception.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, a prolonged 'взгляд' (gaze) can carry significant meaning, often interpreted as rudeness or deep emotion in social interactions, influenced by historical literary works like those of Tolstoy, where gazes reveal character traits. Unlike in some Western cultures, avoiding eye contact might be seen as respectful in certain formal settings.

Related Concepts:

• взор
• глаза (eyes)
• наблюдение (observation)