Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lineament'

English Word: lineament

Key Russian Translations:

• черты лица [ʧʲertɨ lʲɪtsə] - [Formal, used in descriptive contexts like literature or anatomy]
• контуры [kɐnˈturɨ] - [General, often in artistic or geographical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literary, artistic, or scientific discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian noun declensions and contextual usage; for 'черты лица', it's slightly more advanced due to its compound nature, while 'контуры' is straightforward)

Pronunciation (Russian):

черты лица: [ʧʲertɨ lʲɪtsə]

контуры: [kɐnˈturɨ]

Note on черты лица: The stress falls on the first syllable of 'черты' [ʧʲertɨ], and the 'ы' sound is a distinctive Russian vowel that English speakers might confuse with 'i'. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Facial features or contours (referring to distinctive lines or outlines of the face)

Translation(s) & Context:

• черты лица - Used in formal descriptions of physical appearance, such as in literature, portraits, or medical contexts.
• контуры - Applied in broader senses, like artistic outlines or metaphorical descriptions of features.

Usage Examples:

• Его черты лица были резкими и аристократическими, что придавало ему загадочный вид.

  His lineaments were sharp and aristocratic, giving him a mysterious appearance.

• Художник мастерски передал контуры лица модели в своем портрете.

  The artist skillfully captured the lineaments of the model's face in his portrait.

• В старости черты лица человека часто смягчаются, но его контуры остаются узнаваемыми.

  In old age, a person's lineaments often soften, but their contours remain recognizable.

• Эти черты лица напоминают мне о древних скульптурах, где контуры подчеркивают вечную красоту.

  These lineaments remind me of ancient sculptures, where contours emphasize eternal beauty.

• Контуры ее лица в полумраке комнаты создавали драматический эффект, как в фильме.

  The lineaments of her face in the dim room created a dramatic effect, like in a film.

2. General outlines or features (in a non-facial context, e.g., geological or abstract)

Translation(s) & Context:

• контуры - Used for broader outlines, such as in geography or design, where 'lineament' refers to structural features.

Usage Examples:

• Геологи изучили контуры горного хребта, чтобы понять его lineament.

  Geologists studied the lineaments of the mountain range to understand its structure.

• В архитектуре контуры здания должны гармонировать с окружающим ландшафтом.

  In architecture, the lineaments of a building should harmonize with the surrounding landscape.

• Эти контуры на карте указывают на древние lineament земной коры.

  These lineaments on the map indicate ancient outlines of the earth's crust.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'черты лица': This is a compound phrase where 'черты' is the plural nominative form of the feminine noun 'черта' (feature). It follows standard Russian first-declension patterns for feminine nouns ending in -а. 'Лица' is the genitive singular of 'лицо' (face), indicating possession.

Inflection table for 'черта' (as the base noun):

For 'контуры': This is the plural nominative form of the neuter noun 'контур' (contour). It follows second-declension patterns and is irregular in some cases due to its foreign origin.

Both words are invariant in gender and number in their primary forms but change based on case as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • лицо (face) - More general, often used interchangeably in casual contexts.
  • внешность (appearance) - Emphasizes overall look rather than specific features; differs by focusing on external traits.
  • очертания (outlines) - Similar to контуры, but with a softer connotation in artistic descriptions.
• Antonyms:
  • деформация (deformation) - Indicates distortion or irregularity, contrasting with clear lineaments.
  • неясность (vagueness) - Refers to lack of defined features, opposing the precision of контуры.

Related Phrases:

• Выразительные черты лица - Expressive facial features; used to describe vivid or emotional lineaments in character portraits.
• Резкие контуры - Sharp outlines; common in discussions of bold designs or geological formations.
• Черты лица в искусстве - Facial features in art; a phrase for analyzing lineaments in paintings or sculptures.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'черты лица' directly corresponds to the facial aspect of 'lineament' and is preferred in formal or literary English-to-Russian translations. Use 'контуры' for more abstract or non-human contexts, such as geography. Be mindful of Russian's genitive constructions, e.g., 'черты лица' implies possession. When choosing between translations, opt for 'черты лица' in personal descriptions and 'контуры' in technical ones to match the original word's nuance.

• Grammar note: Always ensure agreement in case and number; for example, in a sentence, 'черты' must align with adjectives or verbs.
• Context tip: In everyday Russian, these terms are more common in written or artistic language rather than spoken dialogue.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'черты лица' with 'лицо' alone, leading to oversimplification. For example:

• Incorrect: "Его лицо было резким." (This misses the specific 'lineament' detail.)
• Correct: "Его черты лица были резкими." (This captures the nuances of features.)
• Explanation: The error stems from not using the compound phrase, which adds precision. Another common mistake is misdeclining 'контуры' in sentences, e.g., using nominative in genitive contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'черты лица' often carries connotations from literature and art, such as in the works of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, where facial lineaments symbolize character depth. This reflects a historical emphasis on physiognomy in Russian realism, where physical features are tied to inner personality, differing from Western interpretations that might focus more on individualism.

Related Concepts:

• похожий (similar)
• внешние признаки (external signs)
• эмоциональное выражение (emotional expression)