Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'imitation'

English Word: imitation

Key Russian Translations:

• Имитация [ˌɪmʲɪˈtaʦɨjə] - [Formal, commonly used in technical or scientific contexts]
• Подражание [pədrɐˈʒanʲɪje] - [Informal, often in artistic or behavioral contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in everyday Russian, especially in media and education, but not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and context-specific usage. For 'имитация', it's straightforward; for 'подражание', nuances may vary.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Имитация: [ˌɪmʲɪˈtaʦɨjə] (The stress is on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'мʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

Подражание: [pədrɐˈʒanʲɪje] (Emphasize the 'ʒ' sound, similar to the 's' in 'measure'; the final 'e' is soft.)

Note on Имитация: Be cautious with the vowel reductions in unstressed syllables, common in Russian speech.

Note on Подражание: The 'ж' sound is voiced and may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The act of copying or mimicking something, often in behavior or art.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Подражание - Used in informal or creative contexts, such as imitating a style in painting or music.
• Имитация - Applied in formal settings, like scientific simulations or counterfeit products.

Usage Examples:

• Его подражание голосу певца было очень точным. (His imitation of the singer's voice was very accurate.)

  Translation: His imitation of the singer's voice was very accurate. (This example shows 'подражание' in an artistic context.)

• Эта имитация кожи используется в производстве обуви. (This imitation leather is used in shoe manufacturing.)

  Translation: This imitation leather is used in shoe manufacturing. (Illustrates 'имитация' in a practical, material context.)

• Дети часто занимаются подражанием взрослым в играх. (Children often engage in imitating adults in games.)

  Translation: Children often engage in imitating adults in games. (Demonstrates 'подражание' with children, highlighting behavioral usage.)

• В фильме показана имитация реальных событий для образовательных целей. (The film shows an imitation of real events for educational purposes.)

  Translation: The film shows an imitation of real events for educational purposes. (Shows 'имитация' in a formal, simulated context.)

• Её подражание акценту было забавным, но не совсем точным. (Her imitation of the accent was funny but not entirely accurate.)

  Translation: Her imitation of the accent was funny but not entirely accurate. (Varied usage to show imperfections in imitation.)

Meaning 2: A fake or counterfeit version of an object.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Имитация - Common in commercial or legal contexts, such as fake jewelry or products.

Usage Examples:

• Это имитация бриллианта, а не настоящий камень. (This is an imitation diamond, not a real stone.)

  Translation: This is an imitation diamond, not a real stone. (Focuses on material fakeness.)

• В магазине продают имитацию меха по низкой цене. (The store sells imitation fur at a low price.)

  Translation: The store sells imitation fur at a low price. (Example in a shopping context.)

• Имитация подлинника может обмануть неопытного покупателя. (An imitation of the original can fool an inexperienced buyer.)

  Translation: An imitation of the original can fool an inexperienced buyer. (Highlights deceptive usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'имитация' and 'подражание' are feminine nouns in Russian, following standard declension patterns for first-declension nouns. They inflect based on case, number, and gender.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively straightforward for learners at B2 level.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Копия (kopiya) - Exact copy, often neutral.
  • Повторение (povtoreniye) - Repetition, with a subtle difference in implying recurrence.
• Antonyms:
  • Оригинал (original) - The authentic version.
  • Аутентичный (autentichnyy) - Genuine, emphasizing truthfulness.

Related Phrases:

• Имитация жизни (imitatsiya zhizni) - Simulation of life; a phrase used in psychology or virtual reality contexts.
• Подражать кому-то (podrazhat' komu-to) - To imitate someone; common in educational or behavioral discussions.
• Искусственная имитация (iskusstvennaya imitatsiya) - Artificial imitation; refers to man-made replicas with technological connotations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'имитация' is the most direct equivalent to 'imitation' in formal English contexts, such as technology or manufacturing, while 'подражание' is better for creative or social imitation. Always consider the context: use 'имитация' for objects and 'подражание' for actions. Grammatically, these nouns require agreement in gender, number, and case with accompanying words. For English learners, choose 'имитация' when translating 'imitation' as a noun for fake items, and 'подражание' for verbs like 'to imitate'.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'имитация' with 'копия': Learners might overuse 'копия' for all imitations, but 'копия' implies an exact duplicate, whereas 'имитация' allows for imperfections. Correct: Use 'имитация' for simulations (e.g., "Это имитация боя" instead of "Это копия боя").

• Misdeclining the noun: For example, saying "имитациям" in nominative plural instead of "имитации". Correct form: "Имитации" for nominative plural, as shown in the inflections table.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'подражание' often carries a positive connotation in art and literature, as seen in the works of authors like Pushkin, who celebrated imitation as a form of learning. However, 'имитация' can imply deception, reflecting historical suspicions of counterfeits in Russian society, especially during Soviet times when genuine goods were scarce.

Related Concepts:

• Симуляция (simulyatsiya)
• Копирование (kopirovaniye)
• Оригинальность (original'nost')