Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tantalise'

English Word: tantalise

Key Russian Translations:

• искушать (/ɪsˈkuʂətʲ/) - [Informal, often used in everyday contexts]
• заманивать (/zəmɐˈnʲivətʲ/) - [Formal, typically in persuasive or manipulative scenarios]

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

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts for 'искушать', while 'заманивать' may also be B2 due to its formal usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

искушать: /ɪsˈkuʂətʲ/ (The 'ш' sound is a soft, retroflex fricative; stress on the second syllable.)

заманивать: /zəmɐˈnʲivətʲ/ (The 'а' in the second syllable is pronounced as a short 'uh'; stress on the third syllable.)

Note on искушать: Be cautious with the soft 'тʲ' at the end, which can vary in speed of speech; it's often palatalized in casual dialogue.

Note on заманивать: This word may have regional variations in vowel length in Russian dialects, such as in Southern Russia.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To tease or excite someone by offering something desirable but keeping it out of reach.

Translation(s) & Context:

• искушать - Used in contexts involving temptation or emotional allure, such as in personal relationships or advertising.
• заманивать - Applied in more strategic or deceptive scenarios, like business or traps, emphasizing luring.

Usage Examples:

• Он искушал её обещаниями богатства, но никогда не исполнял их. (He tantalised her with promises of wealth but never fulfilled them.)

  Translation: He tantalised her with promises of wealth but never fulfilled them. (This example shows the verb in a present tense narrative, highlighting emotional manipulation.)

• Рекламные кампании часто заманивают потребителей скидками, которые недоступны. (Advertising campaigns often tantalise consumers with discounts that are out of reach.)

  Translation: Advertising campaigns often tantalise consumers with discounts that are out of reach. (Here, the verb is used in a formal, commercial context with plural subjects.)

• Дети искушают друг друга сладостями, но не делятся ими. (Children tantalise each other with sweets but don't share them.)

  Translation: Children tantalise each other with sweets but don't share them. (This illustrates informal, playful usage in everyday interactions.)

• Эта книга заманивает читателя загадками, которые раскрываются только в конце. (This book tantalises the reader with mysteries that are only revealed at the end.)

  Translation: This book tantalises the reader with mysteries that are only revealed at the end. (Demonstrates the verb in a literary context with abstract objects.)

• Политики искушают избирателей обещаниями перемен, но редко действуют. (Politicians tantalise voters with promises of change but rarely act.)

  Translation: Politicians tantalise voters with promises of change but rarely act. (Shows usage in a societal or political discourse.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'искушать' and 'заманивать' are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have variations based on tense, aspect, and person. 'Искушать' is imperfective, while 'заманивать' can be used in imperfective forms. Below is a table for key inflections:

These verbs do not have irregular forms, but pay attention to the soft endings in present tense, which are standard for Russian verbs ending in -ать.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • соблазнять (more sensual connotation, often implying moral temptation)
  • привлекать (neutral, focuses on attraction without deception)
• Antonyms:
  • отпугивать (to repel or scare away)
  • отвращать (to disgust or deter)

Related Phrases:

• Искушать судьбу (To tempt fate) - A common idiom used to describe risky behavior with uncertain outcomes.
• Заманивать в ловушку (To lure into a trap) - Refers to deceptive tactics in situations like hunting or negotiations.
• Искушать удачей (To tempt luck) - Implies testing probabilities in games or life decisions.

Usage Notes:

• 'Искушать' is the closest direct equivalent to 'tantalise' in informal English-Russian correspondence, especially for emotional or psychological contexts, but it carries a stronger sense of moral temptation derived from religious influences.
• 'Заманивать' is better for formal or strategic uses, such as in business English, where 'tantalise' might imply marketing tactics; choose based on the level of deception involved.
• Grammar note: Both verbs require the accusative case for direct objects, e.g., "искушать кого-то" (tantalise someone). In negative sentences, the aspect might shift to emphasize impossibility.
• Contextual tip: In Russian culture, these words often appear in proverbs, so they're ideal for literary translation but less common in casual speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'искушать' with 'соблазнять' and using it in overly sensual contexts where 'tantalise' means simple teasing. Correct: Use 'привлекать' for neutral attraction. Example: Incorrect: "Он соблазнял её игрушкой" (if no moral implication); Correct: "Он искушал её игрушкой".
• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., saying "он искушает" incorrectly as "он искушать". Correct: Always conjugate based on person and tense, as shown in the inflections table above.
• Error: Overusing 'заманивать' in everyday talk, making it sound formal. Correct: Reserve for professional contexts; use 'искушать' for casual English equivalents.

Cultural Notes:

The concept of 'tantalise' in Russian often ties back to ancient mythology, similar to the Greek myth of Tantalus, reflected in phrases like 'искушать судьбу'. In Russian literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, these words convey deeper existential temptations, highlighting cultural values around fate and human desires.

Related Concepts:

• соблазн (temptation)
• приманка (bait or lure)
• азарт (excitement or thrill, often linked to risky behavior)