Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'typify'

English Word: typify

Key Russian Translations:

• типизировать [tʲipʲizʲirəˈvatʲ] - [Formal, Literary]
• характеризовать [xərɐktʲɪrʲɪˈzovatʲ] - [General, Everyday]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in casual conversation but appear in academic or technical contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for "типизировать"; A2 for "характеризовать" as it is more straightforward and frequently encountered in intermediate Russian learning.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

типизировать: [tʲipʲizʲirəˈvatʲ]

характеризовать: [xərɐktʲɪrʲɪˈzovatʲ]

Note on типизировать: The soft sign (ь) in this verb softens the preceding consonant, making it challenging for English speakers; practice the "zh" sound as in "measure". For характеристикировать, the initial "kh" sound is guttural, similar to the Scottish "loch".

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Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To be a typical example of something (representing the essential characteristics).

Translation(s) & Context:

• типизировать - Used in formal, academic, or literary contexts to denote precise representation of traits.
• характеризовать - Applied in everyday situations for general description, often in discussions or descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Эта архитектура типизирует средневековый стиль. (Eta arkhitektura tipiziruet srednevekovyy stil').

  This architecture typifies the medieval style.

• Его поведение характеризует типичного студента. (Yego povedeniye kharakterizuet tipichnogo studenta.)

  His behavior typifies that of a typical student.

• Этот фильм типизирует культурные изменения 90-х. (Etot film tipiziruet kul'turnyye izmeneniya 90-kh.)

  This film typifies the cultural changes of the 90s.

• Она характеризует идеальную руководительницу. (Ona kharakterizuet ideal'nuyu rukovoditel'nitsu.)

  She typifies the ideal leader.

• Такие события типизируют исторические повороты. (Takiye sobytiya tipiziruyut istoricheskiye povoroty.)

  Such events typify historical turning points, showcasing the verb in a narrative context.

Meaning 2: To embody or exemplify in a symbolic way.

Translation(s) & Context:

• типизировать - In metaphorical or symbolic uses, especially in literature.
• характеризовать - In broader contexts, like personal traits or societal norms.

Usage Examples:

• Герой романа типизирует человеческие слабости. (Geroy romana tipiziruet chelovecheskiye slabosti.)

  The hero of the novel typifies human weaknesses.

• Этот символ характеризует национальную идентичность. (Etot simvol kharakterizuet natsional'nuyu identichnost'.)

  This symbol typifies national identity.

• Природа здесь типизирует свободу. (Priroda zdes' tipiziruet svobodu.)

  Nature here typifies freedom, in a poetic context.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Типизировать" and "характеризовать" are imperfective verbs in the first conjugation group, which means they have regular endings but can be irregular in stem changes. Below is a table for infinitive and key conjugated forms:

Note: These verbs do not change in a highly irregular manner but require attention to aspect (imperfective here). If used as participles, they form as "типизирующий" or "характеризующий".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • представлять (predstavlyat') - More general, used for broader representation.
  • эмблемировать (emblemirovat') - For symbolic embodiment, with a slight artistic connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • отличать (otlichat') - To distinguish or differentiate.
  • не соответствовать (ne sootvetstvovat') - To not match or exemplify.

Related Phrases:

• типизировать эпоху - To typify an era; used in historical discussions.
• характеризовать личность - To characterize a personality; common in psychology or biography.
• быть типичным примером - To be a typical example; a fixed phrase for everyday analogy.

Usage Notes:

"Типизировать" directly corresponds to the formal, precise sense of "typify" in English, making it ideal for academic writing, while "характеризовать" is more versatile and aligns with everyday English usage. Be mindful of the formal register for "типизировать"; in casual speech, Russians might opt for simpler phrases. Grammatically, both verbs require agreement with the subject in tense and aspect, and they often pair with nouns like "стиль" (style) or "поведение" (behavior). When choosing between translations, use "типизировать" for exact embodiment and "характеризовать" for descriptive contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "типизировать" with "типизировать" as a noun, leading to misuse like "типизирование" incorrectly.

  Correct: Use as a verb, e.g., "Он типизирует идею" (He typifies the idea). Explanation: Russian verbs don't function as nouns without proper derivation; learners often forget to conjugate properly.

• Error: Overusing "характеризовать" in formal contexts where "типизировать" is more precise.

  Correct: In academic texts, say "Это типизирует концепцию" instead of "Это характеризует концепцию". Explanation: The latter is too vague; precision helps avoid dilution of meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "типизировать" are often linked to literary traditions, such as in the works of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, where characters typify societal archetypes. This reflects Russia's emphasis on symbolism in literature, helping users appreciate how language embodies cultural depth in discussions of national identity.

Related Concepts:

• эмблема (emblema)
• архетип (arkhetip)
• символизировать (simvolizirovat')