Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'misinterpret'

English Word: misinterpret

Key Russian Translations:

• неправильно истолковать [nʲɪˈpravʲɪlnə ɪstɐˈlʲkəvətʲ] - [Formal, used in discussions or analysis]
• искажать [ɪsˈkaʒətʲ] - [Informal, often in everyday conversations]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in educational, professional, and casual contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced word choice, but accessible to learners with basic Russian grammar).

Pronunciation (Russian):

неправильно истолковать: [nʲɪˈpravʲɪlnə ɪstɐˈlʲkəvətʲ]

искажать: [ɪsˈkaʒətʲ]

Note on неправильно истолковать: The stress falls on the third syllable of "истолковать," which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants; pronounce it with a clear palatalized 't' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To understand or interpret something in the wrong way

Translation(s) & Context:

• неправильно истолковать - Used in formal contexts like academic discussions or professional settings to describe errors in understanding texts or statements.
• искажать - Applied in informal or creative contexts, such as misrepresenting facts in media or personal misunderstandings.

Usage Examples:

• Он неправильно истолковал её слова, что привело к конфликту.

  He misinterpreted her words, which led to a conflict.

• Журналисты часто искажают факты в своих статьях.

  Journalists often misinterpret facts in their articles.

• Не стоит неправильно истолковать этот жест; в русской культуре он может означать что-то иное.

  Don't misinterpret this gesture; in Russian culture, it might mean something else.

• Она исказила историю, чтобы сделать её более драматичной.

  She misinterpreted the story to make it more dramatic.

• В переводе неправильно истолковали ключевые термины, из-за чего смысл изменился.

  In the translation, key terms were misinterpreted, changing the overall meaning.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both key translations are verbs, which follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Неправильно истолковать" is an infinitive form of a perfective verb, while "Искажать" is imperfective. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for "искажать" (imperfective) to illustrate conjugations:

For "неправильно истолковать," as a perfective verb, it doesn't have a present tense form and is used for completed actions (e.g., истолковал - he misinterpreted). It remains relatively regular but requires attention to aspectual pairs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неверно понимать (similar to "misinterpret" but emphasizes cognitive error; often used interchangeably in casual speech)
  • перевирать (implies deliberate distortion, with a slightly more negative connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • правильно истолковать (directly opposite, meaning to interpret correctly)
  • понимать точно (to understand precisely)

Related Phrases:

• неправильное толкование - Incorrect interpretation (used in legal or literary contexts to describe errors in analysis).
• искажение фактов - Distortion of facts (common in media discussions, implying biased misrepresentation).
• неверное понимание текста - Misunderstanding of text (often in educational settings for reading comprehension errors).

Usage Notes:

• Russian translations like "неправильно истолковать" align closely with the English "misinterpret" in formal contexts, but "искажать" may carry a connotation of intentional alteration, so choose based on intent.
• Be mindful of aspect: Use imperfective forms like "искажать" for ongoing actions and perfective like "истолковать" for completed ones.
• In spoken Russian, these words are common in debates or explanations, but avoid them in very informal settings where simpler phrases might suffice.
• When selecting between translations, consider the audience; "неправильно истолковать" is more neutral and educational, while "искажать" suits accusations of bias.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "искажать" with "искажать" in the wrong aspect, e.g., using it for a one-time event instead of ongoing. Correct: Use "истолковать неправильно" for a single instance. Example of error: "Я искажаю вчера" (incorrect); Correct: "Я истолковал неправильно вчера" – This mixes aspects, leading to grammatical awkwardness.
• Error: Overusing "неправильно истолковать" in informal speech, making it sound overly formal. Correct: Opt for "неверно понять" in casual contexts to match register.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, misinterpretation (e.g., "искажать") often relates to historical contexts like propaganda during the Soviet era, where facts were frequently distorted in media. This adds a layer of sensitivity; using these words in discussions about history or politics requires caution to avoid unintended offense.

Related Concepts:

• понимать (to understand)
• толковать (to interpret)
• переводить (to translate)