Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stain'

English Word: stain

Key Russian Translations:

• пятно [ˈpʲætnə] - [Noun, Neutral gender, Singular]
• пачкать [pɐˈʨkatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts]
• запятнать [zɐˈpʲætnətʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used for moral or reputational staining]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in daily conversations, literature, and practical contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of Russian noun declensions and verb conjugations for accurate use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пятно: [ˈpʲætnə]

пачкать: [pɐˈʨkatʲ] (Note the soft 'ч' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it's similar to the 'ch' in 'church' but softer)

запятнать: [zɐˈpʲætnətʲ] (Emphasize the stress on the second syllable; common in formal speech)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Noun: A mark or discoloration caused by dirt, liquid, or other substances

Translation(s) & Context:

• пятно - Used for physical stains on objects, clothes, or surfaces; common in everyday informal and formal settings.

Usage Examples:

• На ковре появилось пятно от кофе.

  A coffee stain appeared on the carpet.

• Это пятно на блузке трудно вывести.

  This stain on the blouse is hard to remove.

• Пятно от чернил осталось на бумаге.

  An ink stain remained on the paper.

• В старом доме были пятна от плесени.

  There were mold stains in the old house.

• Пятно на репутации может быть фатальным.

  A stain on one's reputation can be fatal. (Extends to metaphorical use)

Verb: To mark or discolor something, or to tarnish morally

Translation(s) & Context:

• пачкать - Informal verb for physically dirtying something; used in casual speech.
• запятнать - Formal verb for moral or reputational damage; often in literary or serious contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Дети пачкают одежду, играя в саду.

  Children stain their clothes while playing in the garden.

• Не пачкай стол краской!

  Don't stain the table with paint!

• Его действия запятнали семейную честь.

  His actions stained the family's honor.

• Этот скандал может запятнать карьеру политика.

  This scandal could stain the politician's career.

• Пачкать руки в грязи — неизбежно в ремонте.

  Staining your hands with dirt is inevitable during repairs.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "пятно" (noun, neuter gender): It follows the standard second declension for neuter nouns in Russian, which is regular but requires attention to case changes.

For "пачкать" (verb, imperfective): It is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns. Example conjugations in present tense:

For "запятнать" (verb, perfective): It is irregular in some forms but follows perfective patterns; base form is used for past actions, e.g., запятнал (he stained).

These words do not have significant stem changes, making them relatively straightforward once basic rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • загрязнение (zagryazneniye) - More formal, often for environmental stains.
  • пятнышко (pyatnyshko) - Diminutive form of пятно, for small or endearing stains.
• Antonyms:
  • чистота (chistota) - Cleanliness, opposite of a stain.
  • очистить (ochistit') - To clean, opposite action of staining.

Related Phrases:

• Удалить пятно (Udalit' pyatno) - To remove a stain; used in cleaning contexts.
• Пачкать руки (Pachkat' ruki) - To get one's hands dirty; figuratively means to get involved in something messy.
• Запятнанная репутация (Zapyatnannaya reputatsiya) - Stained reputation; common in discussions of ethics or scandals.

Usage Notes:

"Пятно" directly corresponds to the noun form of "stain" and is versatile for both literal and metaphorical uses, but always consider the neuter gender in sentences. "Пачкать" is informal and imperfective, implying ongoing action, while "запятнать" is perfective and formal, often for one-time events with deeper implications. English speakers should note that Russian verbs require aspect matching; use "пачкать" for habitual actions and "запятнать" for completed ones. In formal writing, opt for "запятнать" to convey moral staining, as it aligns with English's abstract sense.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "пятно" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я вижу пятно" but incorrectly declining it in complex sentences like "Я думаю о пятно" (wrong; should be "пятне"). Correct: "Я думаю о пятне". Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case with prepositions.
• Mistake: Confusing verb aspects, e.g., using "пачкать" for a completed action: "Я запятнал одежду" instead of "Я запятнал одежду" (already correct, but mixing with "пачкаю" errors). Correct: Use "пачкать" for ongoing and "запятнать" for finished. Explanation: This leads to tense confusion in narratives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of a "stain" (e.g., пятно) often extends metaphorically to honor and reputation, influenced by literary traditions like those in Dostoevsky's works. For instance, a "stained" reputation can have lasting social consequences, reflecting Russia's emphasis on collective morality and personal integrity in historical contexts.

Related Concepts:

• грязь (gryaz') - Dirt or filth.
• очистка (ochistka) - Cleaning or purification.
• репутация (reputatsiya) - Reputation, especially in moral staining contexts.