Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'imitative'

English Word: imitative

Key Russian Translations:

• имитирующий /ɪmʲɪtʲɪˈruʊʂɕɪj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• подражательный /pədrəˈʐatʲjɪvnyj/ - [Literary, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in academic, artistic, and psychological contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and nuanced vocabulary; 'имитирующий' may be slightly easier for beginners, while 'подражательный' leans toward advanced due to its literary connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

имитирующий: /ɪmʲɪtʲɪˈruʊʂɕɪj/

подражательный: /pədrəˈʐatʲjɪvnyj/

Note on имитирующий: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ruʊʂɕɪj'), and the 'щ' sound can be challenging for English speakers as it combines 'sh' and 'ch'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to the act of imitating or copying something, often in behavior, art, or sound.

Translation(s) & Context:

• имитирующий - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing imitative behavior in psychology or animal studies.
• подражательный - Applied in literary or artistic settings, emphasizing mimicry with a creative or cultural angle.

Usage Examples:

• Дети часто проявляют имитирующее поведение, копируя действия родителей.

  Children often exhibit imitative behavior, copying their parents' actions.

• В искусстве имитирующий стиль помогает художникам осваивать техники мастеров.

  In art, an imitative style helps artists master the techniques of masters.

• Подражательное пение птиц в лесу создаёт иллюзию хора.

  The imitative singing of birds in the forest creates an illusion of a choir.

• Его подражательный акцент в фильме сделал персонажа более убедительным.

  His imitative accent in the film made the character more convincing.

Meaning 2: Descriptive of something that mimics or replicates another thing, often with a sense of derivation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• имитирующий - Common in scientific or everyday descriptions, such as technology or materials.
• подражательный - More poetic, used in critiques or analyses of culture and media.

Usage Examples:

• Имитирующий материал в одежде делает её водонепроницаемой, как настоящая кожа.

  The imitative material in clothing makes it waterproof, like real leather.

• Подражательное искусство в эпоху Возрождения часто вдохновлялось античными образцами.

  Imitative art in the Renaissance era was often inspired by ancient models.

• Робот обладает имитирующими функциями, позволяющими ему повторять человеческие жесты.

  The robot has imitative functions that allow it to repeat human gestures.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'имитирующий' and 'подражательный' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives. Below is a table for 'имитирующий' as an example; 'подражательный' follows similar rules.

For 'подражательный', the forms are identical in pattern but with the base word changed (e.g., Nominative Masculine: подражательный). These adjectives do not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • имитативный (more neutral, often used in scientific contexts; differs from 'имитирующий' by being less action-oriented)
  • копирующий (focuses on direct copying, common in everyday language)
• Antonyms:
  • оригинальный (original, creative)
  • самобытный (authentic, unique)

Related Phrases:

• Имитирующее поведение - Imitative behavior (refers to actions that mimic others, common in child development studies).
• Подражательный стиль - Imitative style (used in art or writing to describe derivative works).
• Имитирующая речь - Imitative speech (in linguistics, for echoed or mimicked language patterns).

Usage Notes:

'Имитирующий' is the most direct equivalent to 'imitative' in formal English contexts, such as science or education, and is preferred for its precision. 'Подражательный' carries a more cultural or artistic connotation, making it suitable for discussions of literature or performance. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the nouns they describe. For example, use 'имитирующий' for masculine nouns and 'имитирующая' for feminine ones. When choosing between translations, opt for 'имитирующий' in technical scenarios and 'подражательный' in creative ones to ensure natural flow.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'имитирующий' interchangeably with 'копирующий' without considering nuance. For instance, learners might say "имитирующий текст" when meaning a direct copy, but 'копирующий' is more accurate for literal replication.

  Correct: "Копирующий текст" (Copying text) vs. Incorrect: "Имитирующий текст" (which implies emulation rather than exact duplication). Explanation: 'Имитирующий' suggests imitation with intent, while 'копирующий' is about mechanical copying.

• Error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "имитирующий книга" instead of "имитирующая книга" for a feminine noun like 'книга' (book).

  Correct: "Имитирующая книга" (Imitative book). Explanation: Always adjust the adjective ending to match the noun's gender, number, and case to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'подражательный' often evoke historical contexts, such as the imitation of Western styles in 19th-century Russian literature (e.g., Pushkin's influences). This reflects Russia's tradition of blending indigenous and borrowed elements, highlighting how imitation can be a pathway to innovation rather than mere copying.

Related Concepts:

• копирование
• эмуляция
• вдохновение