Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'simile'

English Word: simile

Key Russian Translations:

• уподобление [ʊpədɐˈblenʲije] - [Formal, Literary]
• сравнение [srɐvˈnʲenʲije] - [Informal, General use, but less precise for literary contexts]

Frequency: Low (Primarily used in literary, academic, or rhetorical contexts; not common in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding literary devices and Russian grammatical structures; for уподобление, it's straightforward once basic noun declensions are learned)

Pronunciation (Russian):

уподобление: [ʊpədɐˈblenʲije]

Note on уподобление: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("blenʲije"). Pronounce the "ʊ" as in "book" and the "ʲ" as a soft palatalized sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. For сравнение, the stress is on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A figure of speech that directly compares two things using words such as "like" or "as" (e.g., "as brave as a lion").

Translation(s) & Context:

• уподобление - Used in formal literary analysis, poetry, or rhetoric to denote explicit comparisons; common in educational or artistic contexts.
• сравнение - Applied in more general or informal discussions, but may lack the precision for literary simile; used when emphasizing similarities in everyday language.

Usage Examples:

• В русской поэзии уподобление часто используется для усиления образов, например: "Её глаза как звёзды на небе".

  In Russian poetry, simile is often used to enhance imagery, for example: "Her eyes like stars in the sky".

• Писатель применил уподобление в романе: "Он бежал, словно ветер в бурю".

  The writer used a simile in the novel: "He ran like the wind in a storm".

• В школьном уроке литературы мы обсуждали сравнение как "Дерево стояло, как страж в ночи".

  In the literature class, we discussed simile as "The tree stood like a guard in the night".

• Современные авторы используют уподобление для эмоционального воздействия: "Её улыбка была как рассвет после тьмы".

  Modern authors use simile for emotional impact: "Her smile was like dawn after darkness".

• В повседневной речи сравнение может быть простым: "Этот дом такой же крепкий, как скала".

  In everyday speech, simile can be simple: "This house is as strong as a rock".

Russian Forms/Inflections:

уподобление is a neuter noun in Russian, which follows the standard second declension pattern. It is inflected based on case, number, and gender. Below is a declension table for уподобление:

сравнение is also a neuter noun and follows a similar second declension pattern, with regular inflections as shown above (e.g., Nominative singular: сравнение; Genitive plural: сравнений). Both words do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • метафора (metaphor) - Often used interchangeably but implies a more implicit comparison; suitable for broader literary contexts.
  • аналогия (analogy) - Emphasizes structural similarities; less direct than уподобление in poetic use.
• Antonyms:
  • противопоставление (antithesis) - Highlights contrasts rather than similarities.

Related Phrases:

• Прямое уподобление - Direct simile; used in literary critiques to specify explicit comparisons.
• Уподобление с помощью "как" - Simile using "like"; common in poetry for vivid descriptions.
• Сравнение в прозе - Simile in prose; refers to its application in narrative writing, with the meaning "comparison in prose".

Usage Notes:

уподобление directly corresponds to the English "simile" in literary contexts, emphasizing explicit comparisons with words like "как" (like) or "словно" (as if). It is typically formal and restricted to educational, artistic, or analytical settings, unlike the more versatile сравнение, which can apply to general comparisons but may not capture the rhetorical nuance. When choosing between translations, opt for уподобление in poetry or rhetoric discussions. Be mindful of Russian word order and case agreements; for example, in a sentence like "Использование уподобления в тексте," the genitive case is used after prepositions.

Common Errors:

• Confusing уподобление with метафора: English learners often mix simile (уподобление) with metaphor (метафора). Incorrect: "Это метафора: 'как лев'." Correct: "Это уподобление: 'как лев'." Explanation: Unlike metaphors, similes use connectors like "как," so always check for explicit comparison words.

• Improper inflection: Forgetting to decline the noun in context, e.g., saying "в уподобление" instead of "в уподобиении" (prepositional case). Incorrect: "Обсуждение уподобление." Correct: "Обсуждение уподобления." Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so practice declension tables to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, similes (уподобление) are deeply embedded in literature, as seen in the works of poets like Alexander Pushkin, who used them to evoke nature and emotion, such as in his descriptions of landscapes. This reflects Russia's rich poetic tradition, where similes often draw from folklore and rural life, helping to convey national identity and emotional depth.

Related Concepts:

• метафора
• аллегория
• эпитет