Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'smear'

English Word: smear

Key Russian Translations:

• мазок [ˈmazək] - [Formal, Noun, Used in medical or technical contexts]
• пятно [ˈptʲanə] - [Common, Noun, Informal, Refers to a stain or mark]
• мазать [ˈmazətʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for applying or spreading something]
• очернять [ɐˈt͡ɕɛrnʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Implies defamation or slandering]

Frequency: Medium (The word 'smear' and its translations are encountered in everyday language, especially in medical, artistic, and metaphorical contexts, but not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for 'мазок' and 'пятно'; A2 for 'мазать' as it's more basic; B2 for 'очернять' due to its abstract connotations. Learners at CEFR B1 level should grasp these with practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мазок: [ˈmazək] (The stress is on the first syllable; note the soft 'з' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.)

Note on мазок: This word has a clear, crisp pronunciation; avoid softening the 'k' sound excessively in casual speech.

пятно: [ˈptʲanə] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'тʲ' is palatalized, making it sound softer than in English.)

Note on пятно: In fast speech, the 'тʲ' might blend with the following vowel; practice with native audio for accuracy.

мазать: [ˈmazətʲ] (Stress on the first syllable; the verb ending '-ать' is common in Russian infinitives.)

Note on мазать: The 'тʲ' at the end indicates a soft consonant; it's often pronounced quickly in verbs.

очернять: [ɐˈt͡ɕɛrnʲɪtʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ч' is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in 'church'.)

Note on очернять: This word involves a more complex consonant cluster; English learners may confuse it with similar verbs like 'чернить'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A substance spread on a surface (Noun, e.g., in art or medical contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мазок - Used in formal or technical settings, such as medical tests or painting.
• пятно - Applied in everyday informal contexts, like a stain on clothing.

Usage Examples:

• Врачу понадобился мазок для анализа. (The doctor needed a smear for the analysis.)

  Translation: The doctor needed a smear for the analysis. (This example shows 'мазок' in a medical context, highlighting its noun form.)

• Художник сделал мазок кистью на холсте. (The artist made a smear with the brush on the canvas.)

  Translation: The artist made a smear with the brush on the canvas. (Illustrates 'мазок' in an artistic setting, demonstrating its versatility.)

• На рубашке появилось пятно от кофе. (A smear of coffee appeared on the shirt.)

  Translation: A smear of coffee appeared on the shirt. (Here, 'пятно' is used informally for a common stain.)

• Я случайно оставил мазок краски на столе. (I accidentally left a smear of paint on the table.)

  Translation: I accidentally left a smear of paint on the table. (Shows 'мазок' in an accidental, everyday scenario.)

Meaning 2: To spread or apply something (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мазать - Informal verb for physically spreading, like butter on bread.
• очернять - Formal verb for metaphorical smearing, like damaging someone's reputation.

Usage Examples:

• Не мажь масло слишком толстым слоем. (Don't smear the butter too thickly.)

  Translation: Don't smear the butter too thickly. (This demonstrates 'мазать' in a daily routine, with imperative form.)

• Он пытается очернить мою репутацию в прессе. (He's trying to smear my reputation in the press.)

  Translation: He's trying to smear my reputation in the press. (Shows 'очернять' in a figurative, formal context.)

• Дети любят мазать краски по бумаге. (Children love to smear paints on paper.)

  Translation: Children love to smear paints on paper. (Illustrates 'мазать' in a playful, imperfective aspect.)

• Политики иногда мажут грязь на оппонентов. (Politicians sometimes smear dirt on their opponents.)

  Translation: Politicians sometimes smear dirt on their opponents. (Uses 'мазать' metaphorically, bridging to defamation.)

• Чтобы защитить кожу, нужно мазать кремом. (To protect the skin, you need to smear on cream.)

  Translation: To protect the skin, you need to smear on cream. (Example in a health-related context, showing habitual use.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For nouns like 'мазок' and 'пятно', Russian exhibits declension based on case, number, and gender. 'Мазок' is a masculine noun, while 'пятно' is neuter. Verbs like 'мазать' and 'очернять' conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

Note: 'Мазок' and 'пятно' do not change in plural forms as frequently in informal speech, but follow standard declension rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Для 'мазок': размаз (a spread or smudge; more informal)
  • Для 'пятно': пятно (no direct synonym, but 'след' implies a trace with slight differences in connotation)
  • Для 'мазать': размазывать (to spread out; used for broader actions)
  • Для 'очернять': клеветать (to slander; often interchangeable in legal contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • Для 'пятно': чистота (cleanliness; opposite of a stain)
  • Для 'очернять': восхвалять (to praise; directly opposes defamation)

Related Phrases:

• Мазок крови - A blood smear; used in medical diagnostics to refer to a sample slide.
• Пятно на репутации - A smear on one's reputation; a common idiomatic phrase for defamation.
• Мазать по холсту - To smear on canvas; refers to artistic techniques.
• Очернять имя - To smear a name; implies damaging someone's public image.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'smear' translations like 'мазок' are precise for physical applications (e.g., medical or artistic), while 'очернять' aligns with metaphorical uses like defamation, similar to English 'smear campaign'. Choose 'мазать' for everyday actions and 'очернять' for formal contexts to avoid sounding overly casual. Be mindful of aspect in verbs: 'мазать' is imperfective, implying ongoing action, whereas perfective forms like 'намазать' might be more appropriate for completed actions. Grammar note: Nouns decline based on case, so 'мазок' becomes 'мазка' in genitive.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'мазок' with 'пятно' in medical contexts. Incorrect: Использовать пятно для медицинского теста. Correct: Использовать мазок для медицинского теста. Explanation: 'Мазок' specifically denotes a prepared sample, while 'пятно' is too general.
• Error: Overusing 'очернять' in casual speech. Incorrect: Он мазал меня в разговоре. Correct: Он очернял меня в прессе. Explanation: 'Мазать' is for physical actions; 'очернять' is for abstract smearing, and mixing them can lead to confusion in tone.
• Error: Forgetting verb conjugations. Incorrect: Я мазать хлеб. Correct: Я мажу хлеб. Explanation: Verbs must agree with subject; infinitive forms are not used in sentences like this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'очернять' often carry historical connotations from Soviet-era propaganda, where public figures were 'smeared' in media to discredit them. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on reputation and collective image, differing from Western individualism.

Related Concepts:

• Клевета (slander)
• Размаз (smudge or spread)
• След (trace or mark)
• Восхваление (praise, as an opposite concept)