Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'guise'

English Word: guise

Key Russian Translations:

• облик [ˈoblʲɪk] - [Formal]
• маска [ˈmaskə] - [Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literary or descriptive contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun inflections and context-specific usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

облик: [ˈoblʲɪk]

маска: [ˈmaskə]

Note on облик: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Note on маска: Pronounced with a hard 'к' at the end; no significant variations in standard Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: An outward appearance or disguise that conceals the true nature

Translation(s) & Context:

• облик - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone's external form or facade.
• маска - Applied in informal settings, like metaphorical disguises in everyday life or theater.

Usage Examples:

• Он скрывал свои истинные намерения под облик доброжелательности.

  He hid his true intentions under a guise of friendliness.

• В маскарадном костюме она предстала в совершенно ином облике.

  In the masquerade costume, she appeared in a completely different guise.

• Политик носил маску честности, но его облик быстро раскрылся.

  The politician wore a guise of honesty, but his true appearance was quickly revealed.

• Под этим обликом скрывается нечто гораздо более сложное.

  Under this guise lies something much more complex.

• Её маска равнодушия не обманула никого.

  Her guise of indifference fooled no one.

Meaning 2: A manner or style of appearance

Translation(s) & Context:

• облик - Often used in artistic or descriptive writing to refer to overall appearance.
• маска - In contexts involving pretense or role-playing, such as in psychology or performance arts.

Usage Examples:

• Город изменил свой облик после реконструкции.

  The city changed its guise after the reconstruction.

• Актер мастерски создал маску героя в пьесе.

  The actor skillfully created the guise of the hero in the play.

• Её облик на фотографии был полон загадочности.

  Her guise in the photo was full of mystery.

• Под маской простоты скрывалось глубокое знание.

  Under the guise of simplicity hid deep knowledge.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "облик" and "маска" are masculine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard masculine noun inflections. "Облик" is indeclinable in some contexts, but typically follows regular patterns. "Маска" has standard inflections.

Note: "Облик" can be irregular in poetic usage and may remain unchanged in certain fixed expressions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вид (vid) - More general appearance.
  • маскарад (maskarad) - Specifically for festive or deceptive disguises.
  • прикид (prikid) - Informal synonym for casual or everyday guise.
• Antonyms:
  • суть (sut') - The essence or true nature.
  • истина (istina) - Truth, opposing any form of disguise.

Related Phrases:

• Под маской - Under the guise; used to indicate hidden intentions. (e.g., in deceptive contexts)
• Изменить облик - To change one's guise; refers to altering appearance or style.
• Маска равнодушия - A guise of indifference; a common expression for feigned apathy.

Usage Notes:

"Облик" is more formal and often appears in written Russian, such as literature or journalism, while "маска" is versatile for both spoken and written language, especially in metaphorical senses. When translating "guise," choose "облик" for static or descriptive appearances and "маска" for dynamic or deceptive ones. Be mindful of grammatical gender and case agreements in sentences. For English learners, note that Russian requires explicit articles or prepositions in contexts where English might imply them.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; context is key to selecting the appropriate Russian equivalent.
• In formal writing, "облик" pairs well with adjectives like "внешний" (external).

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing "облик" with "область" (region), leading to sentences like "Он скрывал под область доброжелательности" instead of "под облик доброжелательности." Correct usage: Use "облик" for appearance. Another error is improper inflection, e.g., saying "в маску" (incorrect accusative) instead of "в маске" for prepositional case. Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case with their governing prepositions, so always check the sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "маска" often ties to literary traditions, such as in works by Chekhov or Dostoevsky, where characters wear emotional masks to hide inner turmoil. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on the dichotomy between outward appearances and inner truths, influenced by historical events like the Soviet era's emphasis on conformity.

Related Concepts:

• внешность (vneshnost')
• псевдоним (psevdonim)
• обман (obman)