Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'likeness'

English Word: likeness

Key Russian Translations:

• Похожесть [pɐˈxɐʐdnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, used in academic or descriptive contexts]
• Сходство [ˈskʰɐdstvə] - [Informal, common in everyday conversation]

Frequency: Medium (Appears regularly in literature and general discourse but not as common as basic vocabulary like "love" or "house").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of noun declensions and abstract concepts, as per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Похожесть: [pɐˈxɐʐdnəsʲtʲ]

Note on Похожесть: The stress falls on the second syllable ("xɐʐ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's complex stress patterns. Be careful with the soft sign (ʲ) indicating palatalization.

Audio: []

Сходство: [ˈskʰɐdstvə]

Note on Сходство: The initial "s" is pronounced with a slight aspiration (ʰ), and the word ends with a soft vowel sound. This is a more straightforward pronunciation for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Similarity in appearance or characteristics

Translation(s) & Context:

• Похожесть - Used in formal contexts, such as describing physical or conceptual resemblances in art or science.
• Сходство - Applied in informal settings, like casual comparisons in daily life.

Usage Examples:

• В портрете есть поразительная похожесть с оригиналом.

  In the portrait, there is a striking likeness to the original.

• Это сходство в их характерах делает их лучшими друзьями.

  This likeness in their characters makes them best friends.

• Похожесть этих двух картин поражает искусствоведов.

  The likeness of these two paintings astonishes art historians.

• В их внешности есть неожиданное сходство.

  There is an unexpected likeness in their appearance.

Meaning 2: A representation, image, or copy (e.g., a portrait or statue)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Похожесть - Often used metaphorically in formal writing, such as in literature or legal descriptions.
• Сходство - Less common for this meaning; typically reserved for more abstract similarities, but can be used informally.

Usage Examples:

• Статуя — это точная похожесть знаменитого политика.

  The statue is an exact likeness of the famous politician.

• В фильме актеры добиваются идеального сходства с историческими фигурами.

  In the film, the actors achieve a perfect likeness to historical figures.

• Эта фотография передает похожесть ее улыбки.

  This photo captures the likeness of her smile.

• Художник уловил сходство в глазах модели.

  The artist captured the likeness in the model's eyes.

• Похожесть этой копии с подлинником обманчива.

  The likeness of this copy to the original is deceptive.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Похожесть" and "Сходство" are feminine nouns (third declension in Russian). They follow standard noun inflection patterns for case, number, and gender. Russian nouns like these are inflected based on grammatical case, which changes depending on their role in a sentence.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively straightforward for learners at B1 level.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Аналогичность (Analogy or similarity, often used in scientific contexts; more precise than Похожесть)
  • Образ (Image or likeness, with a visual connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • Различие (Difference, contrasting with Сходство in everyday comparisons)
  • Несходство (Dissimilarity, a less common but direct opposite)

Related Phrases:

• Похожесть черт (Likeness of features) - Refers to physical similarities, often in family resemblances.
• Сходство вкусов (Likeness of tastes) - Used for shared preferences, like in friendships or relationships.
• Идеальная похожесть (Perfect likeness) - Common in art or photography to describe accurate representations.

Usage Notes:

"Likeness" corresponds closely to "Похожесть" in formal English-Russian translations, especially for abstract or visual similarities, while "Сходство" is more versatile in informal speech. Be mindful of context: use "Похожесть" in written or professional settings to avoid sounding overly casual. Grammatically, both are feminine nouns, so adjectives and verbs must agree in gender and case. When choosing between translations, opt for "Сходство" in spoken language for a more natural feel, but "Похожесть" for precision in descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Похожесть" interchangeably with "Сходство" without considering formality. For example, learners might say "Есть сходство в их лицах" when a formal context demands "Есть похожесть в их лицах". Correct: In formal writing, use "Похожесть" for accuracy. Explanation: This confuses the nuance, making speech sound inconsistent.

• Error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "В похожесть" instead of "В похожести" (prepositional case). Correct: "В похожести" (in the likeness). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "Похожесть" often appear in discussions of family lineage or art, reflecting the importance of heritage and visual representation in Russian literature (e.g., in Tolstoy's works). It can carry emotional weight, symbolizing connections or deceptions, as seen in folklore where likenesses in portraits reveal deeper truths about identity.

Related Concepts:

• Аналог (Analogue)
• Образец (Model or prototype)
• Идентичность (Identity)