Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'purblind'

English Word: purblind

Key Russian Translations:

• близорукий [blɪzɐˈrukʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in both literal and figurative contexts for short-sightedness]
• слепой [slʲɪˈpoj] - [Informal, Adjective, Primarily figurative for dim-witted or obtuse, though it can be literal]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation; more prevalent in literary or technical contexts.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2 level; requires understanding of nuanced meanings and proper inflection, with variations depending on context.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

близорукий: [blɪzɐˈrukʲɪj]

Note on близорукий: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ru"). Be mindful of the soft sign (ʲ) which affects the pronunciation of the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

слепой: [slʲɪˈpoj]

Note on слепой: The initial "sl" sound is soft; common variations in fast speech may soften the vowel sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Literal Meaning: Near-sighted or partially blind

Translation(s) & Context:

• близорукий - Used in medical, descriptive, or everyday contexts to describe physical vision impairment.

Usage Examples:

• Он близорукий с детства и всегда носит очки для чтения.

  He has been near-sighted since childhood and always wears glasses for reading.

• Близорукий человек часто испытывает трудности с дальними объектами.

  A near-sighted person often has difficulties with distant objects.

• Врачи диагностировали у неё близорукий глаз, требующий коррекции.

  Doctors diagnosed her with a near-sighted eye that requires correction.

• Близорукий взгляд на проблему может привести к ошибкам в оценке.

  A near-sighted view of the problem can lead to errors in assessment.

Figurative Meaning: Dim-witted, obtuse, or lacking foresight

Translation(s) & Context:

• слепой - Used metaphorically in discussions, literature, or criticism to describe someone who is mentally shortsighted or ignorant.
• близорукий - Also applicable here, in contexts involving poor judgment or limited perspective.

Usage Examples:

• Его слепой подход к инвестициям привёл к финансовым потерям.

  His dim-witted approach to investments led to financial losses.

• Политик проявил близорукий характер, игнорируя долгосрочные последствия.

  The politician showed a purblind character by ignoring long-term consequences.

• Слепой оптимизм в таких ситуациях может быть опасным.

  Purblind optimism in such situations can be dangerous.

• Близорукий лидер не видит потенциальных рисков для команды.

  A purblind leader fails to see potential risks for the team.

• Её слепая вера в старые методы тормозит прогресс.

  Her purblind faith in old methods is hindering progress.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "близорукий" and "слепой" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for agreement with nouns.

For "близорукий" (irregular in some forms due to its structure):

For "слепой" (regular adjective):

These adjectives do not change in short form contexts but must agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • недальновидный (less farsighted; similar to близорукий, but emphasizes lack of vision in planning)
  • ограниченный (limited; often used interchangeably with слепой in figurative senses)
• Antonyms:
  • зоркий (keen-sighted; opposite of both literal and figurative meanings)
  • далновидный (farsighted; directly contrasts with близорукий in planning contexts)

Related Phrases:

• близорукий взгляд - A short-sighted view; used in discussions of perspective or strategy.
• слепая вера - Blind faith; implies unquestioning belief without evidence.
• близорукое решение - A myopic decision; refers to choices lacking long-term consideration.

Usage Notes:

"Purblind" corresponds most closely to "близорукий" for literal meanings and "слепой" for figurative ones. Choose "близорукий" in formal or medical contexts to emphasize physical or intellectual shortsightedness, while "слепой" is better for informal, metaphorical use. Be cautious with gender and case agreements in Russian sentences. In English-Russian translation, context is key to avoid ambiguity.

• Always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun it modifies.
• In figurative uses, "слепой" can carry emotional connotations, so use it sparingly in neutral contexts.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse inflections or select the wrong translation based on context. For example:

• Error: Using "близорукий" without proper agreement, e.g., "Она близорукий" (incorrect; should be "Она близорукая").
• Correct: "Она близорукая женщина." Explanation: Adjectives must match the noun's gender (feminine here).
• Error: Confusing "слепой" with literal blindness in figurative contexts, e.g., translating "purblind leader" as "слепой лидер" without nuance.
• Correct: Use "близорукий лидер" for better precision in non-physical senses. Explanation: This avoids potential misinterpretation and aligns with idiomatic Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "слепой" often appear in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky) to symbolize ignorance or moral blindness, reflecting themes of human folly. This adds a layer of depth, as Russian proverbs frequently use vision metaphors to critique societal issues.

Related Concepts:

• недооценка (underestimation)
• ограниченность (limitedness)
• зоркость (keenness)