Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'painting'

English Word: painting

Key Russian Translations:

• картина [ˈkartʲɪnə] - [Formal, Singular]
• живопись [ʐɨˈvopʲɪsʲ] - [Formal, Uncountable]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in art, literature, and cultural discussions)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires basic familiarity with Russian nouns and vocabulary for "картина", slightly higher for "живопись" due to abstract concepts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

картина: [ˈkartʲɪnə]

Note on картина: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'т' is palatalized, which is a common feature in Russian nouns. Be careful with the soft 'т' sound, as it differs from English.

живопись: [ʐɨˈvopʲɪsʲ]

Note on живопись: The initial 'ж' is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in "measure"; stress is on the third syllable. This word often has a more fluid pronunciation in casual speech.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A picture or image created by painting (e.g., a work of art).

Translation(s) & Context:

• картина - Used in formal or artistic contexts to refer to a specific painting, such as in museums or galleries; common in everyday discussions about visual art.
• живопись - Used more abstractly for the art form or technique of painting; often in educational or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• В музее висит древняя картина, написанная великим художником.

  In the museum, there hangs an ancient painting created by a great artist.

• Она изучает историю живописи в университете.

  She is studying the history of painting at the university.

• Эта картина отражает русскую природу в ярких красках.

  This painting reflects Russian nature in vivid colors.

• Живопись стала её любимым хобби после посещения выставки.

  Painting became her favorite hobby after visiting the exhibition.

• Художник создал картину, которая теперь экспонируется в галерее.

  The artist created a painting that is now on display in the gallery.

The act or process of applying paint (e.g., as a verb or technique).

Translation(s) & Context:

• живопись - Primarily used for the broader concept; in contexts like art classes or descriptions of techniques.

Usage Examples:

• Живопись маслом требует специальных кистей и красок.

  Oil painting requires special brushes and paints.

• Он освоил технику живописи за несколько месяцев.

  He mastered the technique of painting in just a few months.

• В этой школе преподают живопись для начинающих.

  This school teaches painting for beginners.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "картина" (a feminine noun, first declension):

This word follows regular Russian noun inflections. It changes based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table of its declensions:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	картина	картины
Genitive	картины	картин
Dative	картине	картинам
Accusative	картину	картины
Instrumental	картиной	картинами
Prepositional	картине	картинах

For "живопись" (an uncountable feminine noun, typically invariable in number):

This word does not change in the plural as it is abstract. It follows standard feminine inflections for case in singular form only:

• Nominative: живопись
• Genitive: живописи
• Dative: живописи
• Accusative: живопись
• Instrumental: живописью
• Prepositional: живописи

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • полотно (polotno) - Often used interchangeably with картина for a canvas or large painting; more specific to the physical medium.
  • изображение (izobrazheniye) - A broader term for any image or depiction, but can overlap in art contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • скульптура (skulʹptura) - Refers to sculpture, contrasting with painting as a visual art form.
  • графика (grafika) - For graphics or drawings, which differ from painted works.

Related Phrases:

• Масляная картина (maslyanaya kartina) - Oil painting; a common technique in fine art.
• Абстрактная живопись (abstraktnaya zhivopis') - Abstract painting; refers to non-representational art styles.
• Пейзажная картина (peyzazhnaya kartina) - Landscape painting; used for depictions of natural scenes.

Usage Notes:

Use "картина" when referring to a specific, tangible artwork, as it directly corresponds to the English "painting" in contexts like galleries. "Живопись" is better for the general concept or process, similar to "painting" as an art form or verb. In formal Russian, these words are preferred in written or educational settings; in casual speech, they might be simplified. Always consider the grammatical case when using them in sentences, as Russian requires agreement with other elements.

• For beginners, start with "картина" in nominative case for simple sentences.
• If the English "painting" implies action, lean towards "живопись" but pair it with verbs like "заниматься" (to engage in).

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing "картина" with "картинка" (kartinka), which means a small picture or illustration, not a fine art painting. For example:

• Incorrect: Я нарисовал картинку в галерее. (This implies a casual sketch, not a serious painting.)
• Correct: Я нарисовал картину в галерее. (This properly conveys a formal painting.)
• Explanation: "Картинка" is more informal and often used for children's drawings, so use "картина" for artistic contexts to avoid understating the significance.

Another error is treating "живопись" as countable, e.g., saying "две живописи" instead of rephrasing to "две картины" for multiple paintings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "картина" often evokes iconic works from artists like Ilya Repin or Wassily Kandinsky, reflecting Russia's rich tradition in visual arts. "Живопись" is tied to historical movements like the Peredvizhniki (Wanderers), which emphasized realism and social themes, helping to understand the word's deeper cultural resonance in contexts of national identity and expression.

Related Concepts:

• художник (khudozhnik) - Artist
• галерея (galereya) - Gallery
• музей (muzei) - Museum