Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'opacity'

English Word: opacity

Key Russian Translations:

• непрозрачность [nʲɪprɐˈzraʧnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Technical]
• закрытость [zɐˈkri.təsʲtʲ] - [Informal, Metaphorical, used in artistic or philosophical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This term is commonly encountered in scientific, technical, or artistic discussions but not in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2 level; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and technical vocabulary, with "непрозрачность" being more challenging due to its length and phonetic complexity, while "закрытость" is slightly easier.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

непрозрачность: [nʲɪprɐˈzraʧnəsʲtʲ]

закрытость: [zɐˈkri.təsʲtʲ]

Note on непрозрачность: This word has a soft sign (ь) at the end, which softens the preceding consonant and can be tricky for English speakers; pronounce the "ч" as a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to "ch" in "loch" but softer. Variations may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The quality or state of being opaque, i.e., not allowing light to pass through (common in scientific or physical contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• непрозрачность - Used in technical discussions, such as in physics or photography, to describe materials that block light.
• закрытость - Used metaphorically in non-technical contexts, like in art or psychology, to imply emotional or conceptual barriers.

Usage Examples:

• В стекле этой бутылки есть некоторая непрозрачность, что делает её идеальной для хранения светочувствительных жидкостей.

  In this bottle's glass, there is some opacity, making it ideal for storing light-sensitive liquids.

• Художник использовал непрозрачность красок, чтобы создать глубину в пейзаже.

  The artist used the opacity of paints to create depth in the landscape.

• Её закрытость в разговоре иногда воспринимается как непрозрачность характера.

  Her closed-off nature in conversation is sometimes perceived as opacity of character.

• При увеличении непрозрачности экрана, изображение становится менее ясным.

  With the increase in screen opacity, the image becomes less clear.

• В поэзии, закрытость метафор добавляет слой непрозрачности, требующий интерпретации.

  In poetry, the closed-off metaphors add a layer of opacity that requires interpretation.

Meaning 2: Figurative sense, such as lack of transparency in communication or ideas (e.g., in politics or abstract concepts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• непрозрачность - Applied in formal contexts like politics or business to denote unclear or secretive practices.
• закрытость - More common in everyday or emotional contexts to describe personal reserve.

Usage Examples:

• Непрозрачность политических решений часто приводит к недоверию среди населения.

  The opacity of political decisions often leads to distrust among the population.

• Его закрытость в отношениях маскирует внутреннюю непрозрачность эмоций.

  His closed-off behavior in relationships masks the inner opacity of his emotions.

• В контракте была непрозрачность, которая вызвала споры.

  There was opacity in the contract that caused disputes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are feminine nouns in Russian, which follow standard declension patterns for abstract nouns. "Непрозрачность" and "закрытость" are derived from adjectives and exhibit regular inflection based on case, number, and gender.

Note: These nouns do not change in plural forms as they are typically used in singular for abstract concepts, but if pluralized (rarely), they follow standard patterns (e.g., непрозрачности for plural genitive).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мутность (mutnost') - More specific to cloudiness or haziness, often used interchangeably in optical contexts.
  • тусклость (tusklość) - Implies dullness, suitable for artistic descriptions but with a subtle shade of reduced brightness.
• Antonyms:
  • прозрачность (prozrachnost') - Direct opposite, meaning transparency or clarity.
  • открытость (otkrytost') - Figurative opposite, implying openness or accessibility.

Related Phrases:

• Высокая непрозрачность - High opacity; used in technical contexts to describe dense materials.
• Непрозрачность информации - Opacity of information; refers to lack of clarity in data or communication.
• Закрытость души - Opacity of the soul; a metaphorical phrase for emotional guardedness, often in literature.

Usage Notes:

"Opacity" translates most accurately to "непрозрачность" in formal or scientific settings, where precision is key, but "закрытость" is preferred for metaphorical or everyday uses to convey emotional or conceptual barriers. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words often require proper declension based on sentence structure (e.g., genitive case after prepositions like "о"). English speakers should note that Russian favors more abstract nouns in such expressions, and choosing between translations depends on the desired level of formality—use "непрозрачность" for technical writing and "закрытость" for personal narratives.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "непрозрачность" in informal contexts where "закрытость" would be more natural, e.g., saying "Его непрозрачность раздражает" instead of "Его закрытость раздражает."
  Correct: "Его закрытость раздражает" (His opacity annoys [in a personal sense]).
  Explanation: "Непрозрачность" sounds overly technical and can make the sentence feel stiff or out of place.
• Mistake: Forgetting to decline the noun, e.g., using "непрозрачность" in the wrong case, like "о непрозрачность" instead of "о непрозрачности."
  Correct: "о непрозрачности"
  Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case with prepositions and governing words, which is a common pitfall for English learners due to English's lack of cases.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "закрытость" often carry connotations of the "Russian soul" (душа), a literary concept from 19th-century writers like Dostoevsky, implying depth and mystery. This can add a layer of introspection to discussions of opacity, contrasting with Western views that might emphasize practicality over emotional depth.

Related Concepts:

• прозрачность
• мутность
• открытость