Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'imitate'

English Word: imitate

Key Russian Translations:

• имитировать [i.mi.ti.rə.vatʲ] - [Formal, often used in technical or artistic contexts]
• подражать [pə.dra.ʐatʲ] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday speech for mimicking behavior]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, media, and daily conversations, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать").

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and context-specific usage; for 'имитировать', it may lean towards B2 due to its formal nature, while 'подражать' is more accessible at B1).

Pronunciation (Russian):

имитировать: [i.mi.ti.rə.vatʲ]

Note on имитировать: The stress is on the second syllable ('mi'), and the final 'тʲ' sound is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'r' as in "measure".

подражать: [pə.dra.ʐatʲ]

Note on подражать: The 'ж' sound is like the 's' in "measure", and the word ends with a palatalized 'tʲ'. Avoid overemphasizing the 'r' for a more natural flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To copy or reproduce the actions, sounds, or appearance of something or someone, often in a deliberate manner.

Translation(s) & Context:

• имитировать - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as imitating sounds in acting or replicating processes in science.
• подражать - Applied in informal settings, like imitating a celebrity's style or behavior in casual conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Он имитировал голос известного актёра во время представления.

  He imitated the voice of a famous actor during the performance.

• Дети любят подражать взрослым, повторяя их жесты и слова.

  Children love to imitate adults by repeating their gestures and words.

• В лаборатории учёные имитировали условия космоса для эксперимента.

  In the laboratory, scientists imitated space conditions for the experiment.

• Она подражала манере речи своего учителя, чтобы лучше понять урок.

  She imitated her teacher's speaking style to better understand the lesson.

• Компьютерная программа может имитировать человеческий голос с высокой точностью.

  The computer program can imitate a human voice with high accuracy.

Meaning 2: To mimic or emulate something as a form of learning or parody, often with nuances of imitation in behavior or art.

Translation(s) & Context:

• подражать - Common in educational or social contexts, emphasizing behavioral mimicry.
• имитировать - Used when the imitation is more precise or artificial, such as in simulations.

Usage Examples:

• Молодые художники часто подражают стилям великих мастеров в начале карьеры.

  Young artists often imitate the styles of great masters at the beginning of their careers.

• В комедийном шоу актёр подражал президенту, вызывая смех у аудитории.

  In the comedy show, the actor imitated the president, making the audience laugh.

• Робот может подражать движениям человека благодаря продвинутому программированию.

  The robot can imitate human movements thanks to advanced programming.

• Она имитировала акцент иностранца, чтобы сделать шутку забавной.

  She imitated a foreign accent to make the joke funny.

• В театре актёры подражали животным, чтобы передать историю.

  In the theater, actors imitated animals to convey the story.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'имитировать' and 'подражать' are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. 'Имитировать' is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns, while 'подражать' follows imperfective aspect rules and is also regular but requires attention to perfective counterparts.

Note: These verbs do not change based on gender in the infinitive form but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • копировать (kopirovatʲ) - More literal, like copying exactly, often in digital contexts.
  • воспроизводить (vosproizvoditʲ) - Emphasizes reproduction, e.g., in media or sound.
• Antonyms:
  • оригинализировать (originalizirovatʲ) - To create something original.
  • отличаться (otlichatʲsya) - To differ or stand out.

Related Phrases:

• Подражать кому-то (Podražatʲ komu-to) - To imitate someone; used in contexts of learning or mockery.
• Имитировать поведение (Imitirovatʲ povedeniye) - To imitate behavior; common in psychological or social discussions.
• Слепое подражание (Slepoye podražaniye) - Blind imitation; implies uncritical copying, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Notes:

Use 'имитировать' for more precise, formal imitations, such as in scientific simulations, while 'подражать' is better for everyday behavioral mimicry. In Russian, these verbs often require the dative case for the object being imitated (e.g., подражать кому-то). Be cautious with aspect: 'имитировать' can have a perfective form 'имитировать' for completed actions. English speakers might confuse these with direct translations, but context dictates choice—opt for 'подражать' in informal settings to sound more natural.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'имитировать' in casual conversations where 'подражать' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я имитирую моего друга" instead of "Я подражаю моему другу".
  Correct: "Я подражаю моему другу" (I imitate my friend in an informal way). Explanation: 'Имитировать' sounds overly formal and may confuse listeners in everyday contexts.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., saying "Он имитирует" incorrectly as "Он имитируй".
  Correct: "Он имитирует". Explanation: Always match the verb ending to the subject for proper agreement in person and number.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, imitation like 'подражать' is often linked to literary traditions, such as in the works of authors like Pushkin, where mimicking styles was a form of homage. However, it can carry a negative connotation in modern contexts, implying a lack of originality, especially in art and education, reflecting Russia's emphasis on innovation in the face of historical influences.

Related Concepts:

• Копирование (Kopirovaniye)
• Вдохновение (Vdokhnovyeniye)
• Оригинальность (Originalʹnostʹ)