Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gilded'

English Word: gilded

Key Russian Translations:

• позолоченный [IPA: /pəzɐˈɫoʧɪnnyj/] - [Formal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (This word is not extremely common in everyday Russian but appears in contexts like art, history, or descriptions of luxury items.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate - Learners at this level should understand adjective inflections, though the word's specificity may require familiarity with vocabulary related to materials and craftsmanship.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

позолоченный: [IPA: /pəzɐˈɫoʧɪnnyj/]

Note on позолоченный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("lo"), and the "ч" sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Covered with a thin layer of gold or appearing to be gold-plated, often implying superficial luxury.

Translation(s) & Context:

• позолоченный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts for objects that are gold-plated, such as jewelry or artifacts, to emphasize artificial gilding rather than solid gold.

Usage Examples:

• Эта статуя позолоченная, но она сделана из дешевой меди.

  This statue is gilded, but it's made from cheap copper.

• Позолоченный медальон был семейной реликвией.

  The gilded medallion was a family heirloom.

• В музее выставлены позолоченные иконы, которые выглядят очень величественно.

  In the museum, the gilded icons are displayed, looking very majestic.

• Его позолоченный браслет потерял блеск со временем.

  His gilded bracelet has lost its shine over time.

• Позолоченные рамы картин придают комнате роскошный вид.

  The gilded frames of the paintings give the room a luxurious appearance.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

позолоченный is an adjective in Russian, which follows the standard pattern of short and long forms and agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. It is a past passive participle form derived from the verb "позолотить" (to gild), and it inflects regularly.

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners once basic adjective agreement is mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • золотой (zolotoy) - More general, meaning "golden," but can imply real gold; used in poetic or literal contexts.
  • позолотный (pozolotnyy) - Specifically for gold-leaf application, with a slight nuance toward craftsmanship.
• Antonyms:
  • непозолоченный (nepozolochennyy) - Meaning "not gilded" or "unplated."
  • простой (prostoy) - Meaning "simple" or "plain," contrasting with the luxurious connotation.

Related Phrases:

• позолоченная рама (pozolochennaya rama) - A gilded frame; often used in art or decoration contexts to describe picture frames.
• позолотить поверхность (pozolotit' poverkhnost') - To gild a surface; a phrase for processes in crafting or restoration.
• позолоченный век (pozolochennyy vek) - The gilded age; refers to a historical period of apparent prosperity, with cultural connotations similar to the English term.

Usage Notes:

позолоченный directly corresponds to "gilded" in English, emphasizing something that is coated with gold rather than being inherently golden. It is typically used in formal or literary contexts, such as describing antiques or art, and carries a connotation of superficiality or imitation luxury. When choosing between translations like позолоченный and золотой, opt for the former if the object is artificially plated. Be mindful of adjective agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case in Russian sentences.

• In informal speech, Russians might prefer simpler terms like золотой, but позолоченный is more precise for technical or historical descriptions.
• It's often used in fixed phrases related to culture or history, so learners should practice with contextual examples to grasp its nuances.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse позолоченный with золотой, assuming they are interchangeable. For example:

• Error: Using "золотой" to describe a plated item, e.g., "Эта цепь золотая" when it should be "Эта цепь позолоченная" to accurately convey gilding.
• Correct Usage: Эта цепь позолоченная (This chain is gilded) - Explanation: Золотой implies real gold, while позолоченный specifies a coating, avoiding misrepresentation.
• Another Error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "позолоченный дом" for a feminine noun like "картина" (picture), resulting in "позолоченный картина" instead of "позолоченная картина." Always ensure agreement to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, позолоченный often evokes images of Orthodox icons or imperial artifacts from the tsarist era, symbolizing wealth and spirituality. It can carry a metaphorical sense, as in the "gilded age" of Russian history, reflecting themes of ostentation versus authenticity, similar to Western literature.

Related Concepts:

• золотой
• позолотить
• драгоценный (dragotsennyy)
• антиковка (antikovka)