Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'obvious'

English Word: obvious

Key Russian Translations:

• очевидный /ɐˈt͡ɕevʲɪdnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• явный /ˈjavnɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective, Used in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly encountered in written and spoken Russian, especially in discussions, news, and academic texts, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "большой").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; learners at this level should grasp its basic forms, though irregular inflections may require practice. For 'очевидный', it is B1; for 'явный', it is A2 due to simpler patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

очевидный: /ɐˈt͡ɕevʲɪdnɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ч' is a palatalized 'ch' sound, similar to 'ch' in 'church'.)

явный: /ˈjavnɨj/ (Stress on the first syllable; the 'я' is pronounced like 'ya' in 'yard'.)

Note on очевидный: This word has a soft 'в' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; practice the palatalization to avoid sounding unnatural.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Something easily seen, understood, or apparent.

Translation(s) & Context:

• очевидный - Used in formal contexts, such as scientific or legal discussions, to describe something plainly evident.
• явный - Applied in informal or everyday situations, emphasizing something obvious without subtlety.

Usage Examples:

• Очевидно, что решение проблемы требует времени. (Ochevidno, chto resheniye problemy trebuyet vremeni.)

  Obviously, solving the problem requires time. (This example shows the word in a declarative sentence, highlighting cause and effect in formal writing.)

• Это был явный признак усталости. (Eto byl yavnyy priznak ustalosti.)

  This was an obvious sign of fatigue. (Demonstrates usage in describing physical or emotional states in casual conversation.)

• Для всех очевидный факт игнорировался. (Dlya vsekh ochevidnyy fakt ignorirovalsya.)

  The fact obvious to everyone was ignored. (Illustrates the word in a sentence with negation, common in argumentative contexts.)

• Его явное раздражение было заметно всем. (Yego yavnoe razdrazheniye bylo zametno vsem.)

  His obvious irritation was noticeable to everyone. (Shows the word in emotional descriptions, varying sentence structure.)

• Очевидный вывод из эксперимента — это успех. (Ochevidnyy vyvod iz eksperimenta — eto uspekh.)

  The obvious conclusion from the experiment is success. (Used in scientific or analytical contexts to summarize findings.)

Secondary Meaning: Undisputed or straightforward in logic.

Translation(s) & Context:

• очевидный - In logical or philosophical discussions, to denote inescapable conclusions.

Usage Examples:

• Очевидный ответ на вопрос — да. (Ochevidnyy otvet na vopros — da.)

  The obvious answer to the question is yes. (Simple affirmative usage in decision-making scenarios.)

• Это очевидный выбор для начинающих. (Eto ochevidnyy vybor dlya nachinayushchikh.)

  This is an obvious choice for beginners. (Contextualizes the word in recommendations or advice.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'очевидный' and 'явный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns but can have irregularities in spelling or stress.

Note: 'Явный' follows a more regular pattern and is less prone to irregularities than 'очевидный', which may change stress in certain forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • явный (similar to 'obvious', but more neutral and everyday)
  • ясный (clear, often used when something is evident without doubt)
  • заметный (noticeable, with a connotation of being visually or perceptually obvious)
• Antonyms:
  • неясный (unclear, opposite in the sense of lacking clarity)
  • скрытый (hidden, implying something not obvious at all)

Related Phrases:

• Очевидно, что... (Ochevidno, chto...) - Meaning: Obviously, that...; Used to introduce a self-evident statement in arguments.
• Явный признак (Yavnyy priznak) - Meaning: Obvious sign; Common in descriptions of symptoms or indicators.
• Делать очевидным (Delat' ochevidnym) - Meaning: To make obvious; A phrase for emphasizing revelation in contexts like investigations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'очевидный' is preferred in formal or written contexts to mirror the English 'obvious' precisely, while 'явный' suits informal speech. Be cautious with gender agreement; for example, use 'очевидная' for feminine nouns. When choosing between translations, opt for 'очевидный' in academic settings and 'явный' in casual ones to match tone. Grammatically, these adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in case, number, and gender.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'очевидный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "очевидный книга" instead of "очевидная книга" for a feminine noun.

  Correct: Очевидная книга (The obvious book). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender; this mistake often stems from English's lack of gender agreement.

• Error: Confusing 'очевидный' with 'явный' in formal contexts, leading to a less precise tone.

  Correct: Use 'очевидный' for emphasis in professional writing. Explanation: 'Явный' might sound too casual, potentially undermining the statement's seriousness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'очевидный' often appear in contexts of skepticism or debate, reflecting a historical emphasis on critical thinking in literature and philosophy (e.g., in works by Tolstoy). It can carry an undertone of irony when something is stated as obvious yet disputed, highlighting Russia's rhetorical traditions.

Related Concepts:

• ясность (clearness)
• доказательство (proof)
• неоднозначность (ambiguity)