Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'resemble'

English Word: resemble

Key Russian Translations:

• походить [pəxəˈdʲitʲ] - [Verb, Formal/Informal, Used in general descriptions]
• похожий [pɐˈxɐʐɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used to describe similarity in appearance or characteristics]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in descriptive contexts, but not as basic as core vocabulary like "быть").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and adjective declensions, per CEFR standards. For 'походить', it's B1; for 'похожий', it's A2-B1.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

походить: [pəxəˈdʲitʲ] (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'дʲ' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers as it involves palatalization.)

Note on походить: The pronunciation varies slightly in fast speech, where the 'x' sound (like a guttural 'h') may soften. Practice with native speakers for accuracy.

похожий: [pɐˈxɐʐɨj] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ж' sound is a voiced fricative, similar to 'zh' in 'measure'.)

Note on похожий: In informal speech, the ending may reduce to [pɐˈxɐʐɨj] in unstressed positions, common in Russian vowel reduction.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To be similar in appearance, character, or function (as a verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• походить - Used in contexts comparing objects, people, or ideas, often in formal writing or speech (e.g., in literature or descriptions).

Usage Examples:

• Эта картина походит на шедевр Ван Гога. (This painting resembles a masterpiece by Van Gogh.)

  Translation: This sentence shows 'походить' in a simple declarative structure, comparing art pieces.

• Его манера говорить походит на манеру его отца. (His way of speaking resembles that of his father.)

  Translation: Here, it demonstrates use in describing familial traits, with a personal context.

• Этот дом походит на замок из сказки. (This house resembles a castle from a fairy tale.)

  Translation: Illustrates imaginative or metaphorical usage in everyday conversation.

• По внешнему виду, эти фрукты походить на яблоки, но на вкус они другие. (In appearance, these fruits resemble apples, but they taste different.)

  Translation: Shows contrast in a more complex sentence, highlighting limitations of resemblance.

• В архитектуре этот мост походит на римские акведуки. (In architecture, this bridge resembles Roman aqueducts.)

  Translation: Used in historical or technical contexts, emphasizing structural similarity.

Secondary Meaning: Similar in quality or form (as an adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• похожий - Applied to describe resemblances in visuals or attributes, common in informal and formal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Эти два брата очень похожи друг на друга. (These two brothers resemble each other greatly.)

  Translation: Demonstrates use with people, in a familial context.

• Похожий дизайн используется в современных зданиях. (A resembling design is used in modern buildings.)

  Translation: Shows application in professional or architectural discussions.

• Её улыбка похожа на улыбку матери. (Her smile resembles her mother's.)

  Translation: Illustrates emotional or physical trait comparison.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'походить' (infinitive verb), it is an imperfective verb that follows regular conjugation patterns in Russian. It changes based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a basic conjugation table:

For 'похожий' (adjective), it declines like a regular first-declension adjective. It changes by case, number, and gender:

Note: These forms are regular, but always check for context-specific irregularities in Russian adjectives.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • аналогичный (analogichnyy) - More formal, emphasizing exact similarity.
  • похожий (as above, but can be a synonym in some contexts).
  • сходный (skhodnyy) - Used for conceptual similarities, often in scientific contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • разный (raznyy) - Different, opposite in variety.
  • непохожий (nepokhozhiy) - Unresembling, directly contrasting.

Related Phrases:

• Похожий на... (Pokhozhiy na...) - Meaning: Similar to...; used in comparisons, e.g., for describing objects.
• Походить друг на друга (Pochodit' drug na druga) - Meaning: To resemble each other; common in social or relational contexts.
• Внешне похожий (Vneshne pokhozhiy) - Meaning: Resembling in appearance; often used in descriptions of people or things.

Usage Notes:

'Походить' is the most direct verb translation for 'resemble' and is used for dynamic or ongoing similarities, while 'похожий' functions as an adjective for static descriptions. In Russian, choose 'походить' for actions or processes and 'похожий' for attributes. Be mindful of context: formal writing prefers these over slang. Unlike English, Russian requires gender and case agreement, so adjectives like 'похожий' must match the noun they describe.

• Tip: When translating 'resemble', consider the aspect; Russian verbs often distinguish perfective/imperfective, so pair with perfectives like 'похожать' if needed.
• Multiple translations: Use 'походить' for verbs and 'похожий' for adjectives to maintain precision.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse case endings with 'похожий', e.g., saying "похожий на дом" incorrectly in oblique cases. Correct: In genitive, it should be "похожего на дом". Error example: "Я вижу похожий цвет" (wrong if context demands accusative); Correct: "Я вижу похожий цвет" (but ensure agreement). Another common mistake is confusing it with 'быть похожим', overusing it literally without cultural nuance.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'похожий' or 'походить' often appear in literature and art criticism, reflecting the value placed on visual and emotional resemblances, as seen in works by Pushkin or in folk tales where characters resemble mythical figures. This emphasizes Russia's rich tradition of storytelling and symbolism.

Related Concepts:

• аналог (analog)
• сходство (skhodstvo)
• различие (razlichie)