Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'seduce'

English Word: seduce

Key Russian Translations:

• соблазнить [sɐˈblazʲnʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, often used in everyday or literary contexts]
• искушать [ɪˈskuʂətʲ] - [Formal, implies temptation or moral testing]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, media, and conversations, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper-Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and nuanced contexts; for 'соблазнить', it's B2, while 'искушать' might be B1 due to its broader applicability)

Pronunciation (Russian):

соблазнить: [sɐˈblazʲnʲɪtʲ]

Note on соблазнить: The stress falls on the second syllable ('bla'), and the 'zʲ' sound is palatalized, which can be tricky for learners. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

искушать: [ɪˈskuʂətʲ]

Note on искушать: The 'ʂ' sound is a retroflex fricative, similar to 'sh' in English but more guttural; stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To persuade someone to engage in sexual activity through attraction or charm.

Translation(s) & Context:

• соблазнить - Used in informal or intimate contexts, such as personal stories or novels, to describe successful seduction.
• искушать - Applied in more formal or metaphorical contexts, like moral dilemmas, but can overlap with seduction in relational scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Он соблазнил её сладкими словами и вниманием в тихом кафе. (He seduced her with sweet words and attention in a quiet cafe.)

  He seduced her with sweet words and attention in a quiet cafe.

• В романе главный герой искушает молодую женщину, обещая ей мир. (In the novel, the main character tempts the young woman, promising her the world.)

  In the novel, the main character tempts the young woman, promising her the world.

• Соблазнить кого-то на вечеринке не всегда приводит к хорошим последствиям. (Seducing someone at a party doesn't always lead to good outcomes.)

  Seducing someone at a party doesn't always lead to good outcomes.

• Она не поддалась на его попытки искушать её в профессиональной среде. (She didn't give in to his attempts to tempt her in a professional setting.)

  She didn't give in to his attempts to tempt her in a professional setting.

• Молодой человек решил соблазнить девушку, подарив ей цветы и комплименты. (The young man decided to seduce the girl by giving her flowers and compliments.)

  The young man decided to seduce the girl by giving her flowers and compliments.

To entice or lure someone into an action, not necessarily sexual (extended meaning).

Translation(s) & Context:

• искушать - Often used in broader contexts, like tempting someone with opportunities, e.g., in business or ethics.

Usage Examples:

• Реклама часто искушает потребителей купить ненужные вещи. (Advertising often tempts consumers to buy unnecessary things.)

  Advertising often tempts consumers to buy unnecessary things.

• Он искушал друзей рискованной авантюрой, но они отказались. (He tempted his friends with a risky adventure, but they refused.)

  He tempted his friends with a risky adventure, but they refused.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'соблазнить' and 'искушать' are verbs of the first conjugation in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have specific inflections based on tense, aspect, and person. 'Соблазнить' is a perfective verb (indicating a completed action), while 'искушать' is imperfective (indicating an ongoing process).

For 'соблазнить' (perfective):

For 'искушать' (imperfective):

These verbs are regular but pay attention to gender agreement in the past tense (e.g., соблазнила for feminine subjects).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: завлекать (zavlekat' - to lure or attract, often less intense); прельщать (prel'schat' - to entice, with a focus on charm; differs from соблазнить by being more subtle)
• Antonyms: отпугивать (otpugivat' - to repel or scare away); удерживать (uderzhivat' - to restrain, in a moral sense)

Related Phrases:

• соблазнительный взгляд (soblaznitel'nyy vzglyad) - A seductive glance; used to describe alluring eye contact in romantic contexts.
• искушение судьбы (iskushenie sud'by) - Tempting fate; a phrase for taking unnecessary risks, often with philosophical undertones.
• завлекать в ловушку (zavlekat' v lovushku) - To lure into a trap; implies deception, similar to seductive manipulation.

Usage Notes:

'Соблазнить' directly corresponds to the sexual connotation of 'seduce' and is best used in informal or narrative contexts, while 'искушать' is more versatile for general temptation. Be cautious with 'соблазнить' in formal writing, as it can carry strong implications; opt for 'искушать' for broader or less explicit scenarios. Always consider gender and aspect in Russian verbs—'соблазнить' is perfective, so it's for completed actions. English learners should note that Russian often requires specifying the object (e.g., кого соблазнить), unlike English.

• In romantic contexts, 'соблазнить' pairs well with adjectives like 'романтический' (romantic).
• For moral temptations, 'искушать' is preferred and can be used in ethical discussions.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'соблазнить' with 'искушать', using 'соблазнить' for non-sexual contexts, which can sound inappropriate. For example, an incorrect use might be: "Я соблазнил друга пойти в кино" (I seduced my friend to go to the movies)—this implies sexual intent. The correct form is: "Я уговорил друга пойти в кино" (I persuaded my friend to go to the movies). Another error is forgetting past tense gender agreement, e.g., saying "Она соблазнил" instead of "Она соблазнила". Always match the verb ending to the subject's gender for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, themes of seduction and temptation are prevalent in literature, such as in works by Fyodor Dostoevsky, where 'искушать' often represents moral struggles. 'Соблазнить' appears in romantic contexts in classic novels like those by Leo Tolstoy, reflecting societal attitudes toward desire and restraint. These words carry a depth influenced by Orthodox Christian traditions, where temptation is a common motif in folklore and proverbs.

Related Concepts:

• любовь (lyubov' - love)
• страсть (strast' - passion)
• обман (obman - deception)