Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ravishing'

English Word: ravishing

Key Russian Translations:

• ослепительный [ɐslʲɪˈpʲitʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal, often used for visual or aesthetic appeal]
• чаровавшийший [t͡ɕɐrɐˈvaʂːɪj] - [Informal, poetic or literary context]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in descriptive literature, fashion, and everyday compliments, but not as frequent as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary; varies slightly by translation, e.g., 'ослепительный' is B2, while 'чаровавшийший' may be C1 due to its literary tone).

Pronunciation (Russian):

ослепительный: [ɐslʲɪˈpʲitʲɪlʲnɨj]

чаровавшийший: [t͡ɕɐrɐˈvaʂːɪj]

Note on ослепительный: The stress falls on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Note on чаровавшийший: This is a past active participle form; pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, softening the 'ш' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Extremely attractive or beautiful, often implying a striking visual impact.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ослепительный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as describing appearance in literature or media.
• чаровавшийший - Applied in informal or narrative settings, emphasizing enchantment over mere beauty.

Usage Examples:

• Она выглядела ослепительно в своем новом вечернем платье.

  She looked ravishing in her new evening dress.

• Его ослепительная улыбка завораживала всех в комнате.

  His ravishing smile captivated everyone in the room.

• Чаровавшийший пейзаж гор заставил нас остановиться и полюбоваться.

  The ravishing mountain landscape made us stop and admire it.

• Актриса была ослепительно красива на красной ковровой дорожке.

  The actress was ravishing on the red carpet.

• Ее чаровавшийший голос и осанка сделали ее идеальной для роли.

  Her ravishing voice and demeanor made her perfect for the role.

Secondary Meaning: Overwhelmingly impressive or delightful in a non-visual sense (e.g., a ravishing performance).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ослепительный - In contexts like performances or experiences, to denote something stunning.

Usage Examples:

• Концерт был ослепительно эмоциональным, оставив публику в восторге.

  The concert was ravishingly emotional, leaving the audience in awe.

• Его ослепительная речь на конференции вдохновила всех слушателей.

  His ravishing speech at the conference inspired all listeners.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives or participles, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Ослепительный' is a standard adjective with regular inflections, while 'Чаровавшийший' is a past active participle and follows verbal adjective patterns.

Note: These inflections are regular for adjectives. 'Чаровавшийший' may not change in informal speech but follows standard patterns in formal writing.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • прелестный (prelestnyy) - More general charm, less intense than ослепительный.
  • захватывающий (zakhvatyvayushchiy) - Emphasizes captivation, often in experiences.
• Antonyms:
  • отвратительный (otvratitel'nyy) - Repulsive or ugly.
  • скучный (skuchnyy) - Boring or uninteresting.

Related Phrases:

• ослепительная красота - Ravishing beauty (refers to stunning physical appeal).
• чаровавшийший взгляд - Ravishing gaze (used for an enchanting look, often in romantic contexts).
• ослепительный успех - Ravishing success (implies overwhelmingly impressive achievement).

Usage Notes:

'Ослепительный' directly corresponds to 'ravishing' in formal English contexts, making it ideal for descriptions of beauty or excellence. Use it in written or spoken Russian to convey intensity, but note its formal tone—opt for 'чаровавшийший' in literary or poetic settings for a more nuanced effect. Be cautious with gender and case agreements, as Russian adjectives must match the noun they describe. When choosing between translations, select 'ослепительный' for visual impact and 'чаровавшийший' for emotional or historical narratives.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'ослепительный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying 'ослепительный женщина' instead of 'ослепительная женщина'.

  Correct: ослепительная женщина (ravishing woman). Explanation: Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun; this mistake often stems from English's lack of inflection.

• Error: Confusing 'чаровавшийший' with simple adjectives, leading to overuse in everyday speech.

  Correct: Reserve it for past or narrative contexts; for general use, stick with 'ослепительный'. Explanation: 'Чаровавшийший' is a participle, not a standard adjective, so it implies a temporary or past state, which English learners might overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'ослепительный' often evoke ideals of beauty from literature (e.g., in works by Pushkin), emphasizing aesthetic perfection tied to romanticism. This can carry a sense of fleeting glamour, as seen in fashion or theater, reflecting Russia's appreciation for dramatic expressions of beauty in art and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• прелестный
• захватывающий
• красивый