{"id":1546,"date":"2010-11-17T10:00:11","date_gmt":"2010-11-17T10:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=1546"},"modified":"2014-07-17T14:03:45","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T14:03:45","slug":"same-same-but-different-iv-paronyms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/same-same-but-different-iv-paronyms\/","title":{"rendered":"Same-Same but Different IV: Paronyms"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Quick grammar check: what’s the right way of saying this –\u00a0“\u0414\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438 \u043e\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0438 \u043f\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044c\u044f \u0432 \u0433\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u0435\u043a” <\/strong>or “\u0414\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438 \u043d\u0430\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0438 \u043f\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044c\u044f \u0432 \u0433\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u0435\u043a”?<\/strong> If you’re not sure, then read on.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sometimes I set out to write a post about one thing, but life gets in the way and I end up writing about something totally different. For example, I meant to write about a particular \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [informal: cartoon] and went to watch it on YouTube.<\/p>\n

Since it happens to be \u00ab<\/strong>\u043b\u044e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u043c\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043c\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0438\u043a <\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/span> <\/strong>\u0441\u044b<\/span>\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [my son\u2019s favorite cartoon], at least for now, it reminded me to order some Russian-language \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435 <\/strong>\u043a\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0433\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [children\u2019s books].<\/p>\n

While browsing for and reviewing the books, I came across one from the \u00ab<\/strong>\u041d\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> series. The name of the series itself is quite interesting. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> means \u201cto not be bored\u201d. \u00ab\u041d\u0435 \u0441\u043a\u0443\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> is \u00ab\u043f\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u043a\u043b\u043e\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0435\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0447\u0438\u0441\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [imperative<\/a> in singular] – \u201cdon\u2019t be bored\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041d\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> is, however, a noun. It\u2019s not just any noun, but the one that evaluates a person to whom it\u2019s applied. It describes someone, typically a child, who \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [is not (ever) bored].<\/p>\n

Other similarly constructed nouns include \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [someone who knows a lot], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [someone who doesn\u2019t know much], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0430\u00bb <\/strong>[someone who asks a lot of \u201cwhy\u201d questions]. It is also a convenient way to make up words as you go along, and is frequently used in children\u2019s stories – a little jackdaw \u00ab<\/strong>\u0425\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [someone who grabs everything he sees], a little bunny \u00ab<\/strong>\u041f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [someone who runs a lot], etc.<\/p>\n

Anyway, back to the book I was telling you about\u2026 One of the exercises got me scratching my head and doing some double-checking. It had to do with \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0430\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u043c\u044b\u00bb <\/strong>[paronyms] – words that sound the same and have the same root, but have different meanings.<\/p>\n

Some most frequently confused and misused paronyms include<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0410\u0434\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [recipient of a message] v. \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u0434\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [sender of a message] – personally, the only time I use \u00ab\u0430\u0434\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0430\u0442\u00bb is when I sing this song<\/a>. The rest of the time I get by with \u00a0\u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [sender] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [recipient] for years, except when humming the<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0410\u0431\u043e\u043d\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [subscriber] v. \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u0431\u043e\u043d\u0435\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [subscription] – if in doubt, use \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0447\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [subscriber] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [subscription]. However, remember that a season\u2019s ticket or a multi-use pass is always \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u0431\u043e\u043d\u0435\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u00bb <\/strong>as in \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u0431\u043e\u043d\u0435\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442 <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0431\u0430\u0441\u0441\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0413\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [belonging to a General] v. \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [general] – can\u2019t think of any good alternatives here.<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [act, conduct] v. \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [transgression]<\/p>\n

It might serve as a consolation to learn that many Russians confuse their paronyms and use them incorrectly.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve heard the word \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> applied to someone who doesn\u2019t know subject matter. Even my school teachers would use \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> to shame their students for not preparing for class. Except, of course, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> is the proper word for an uneducated, unlearned person (comes from \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0430\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to know]). \u00ab<\/strong>\u041d\u0435\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0430\u00bb<\/strong>, on the other hand, describes someone rude, lacking proper manners (from \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u043b\u0438\u0432\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [polite]).<\/p>\n

Of course, I am also guilty as charged for similar mess-ups. I freely admit that a simple \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0434\u0435\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to dress someone or something] v. \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0434\u0435\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to put something on] question in the children\u2019s book gave me a pause.<\/p>\n

And while I\u2019ve always known that \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043a\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [to get adjusted to something unpleasant] shouldn\u2019t be confused with \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043a\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to get used to something, whether positive, negative or neutral and\/or form a habit], but I still get these two mixed up.<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u044e <\/strong>\u0431\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u043e <\/strong>\u0442\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043a\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u044b\u043c\u0438 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0434\u0430\u043c\u0438 <\/strong>\u0442\u0451<\/span>\u0449\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [Nikolay had a hard time getting used to his mother-in-law\u2019s frequent visits]<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041c\u044b <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043a\u043b\u0438 <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u041d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0413\u043e\u0434 <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0441\u0435\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u043e\u043c <\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433\u0443<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [We are used to greeting the New Year with the family]<\/p>\n

Or as I saw it in a Russian-language ad for dentures:<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0422\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u0441\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043a\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0441\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u0435\u043c <\/strong>\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0430 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e <\/strong>\u0440\u0442\u0443, <\/strong>\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u043a <\/strong>\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0438\u043c <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u043c <\/strong>\u0432\u044b <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043a\u043d\u0435\u0442\u0435 <\/strong>\u0431\u044b<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u043b\u0435\u0433\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [It\u2019s difficult to get accustomed to the presence of a foreign object in one\u2019s mouth, but you will quickly and easily get used to our dentures].<\/p>\n

By the way, if you need to brush up on other same, but different words, then check out these posts:<\/p>\n

Same-Same but Different I: Homonyms<\/a><\/p>\n

Same-Same but Different II: Homophones<\/a><\/p>\n

Same-Same but Different III: Homographs<\/a><\/p>\n

P.S.<\/strong> One of our Facebook fans, Ellen Belle, suggested a simple mnemonic device to remember when to use \u00ab\u043d\u0430\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> and when to use \u00ab\u043e\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043e\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u0443, <\/strong>\u043e\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u041d\u0430\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u0443\u00bb <\/strong>[to put on clothing, to dress Nadezhda]. Thank you, Ellen!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Quick grammar check: what’s the right way of saying this –\u00a0“\u0414\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438 \u043e\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0438 \u043f\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044c\u044f \u0432 \u0433\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u0435\u043a” or “\u0414\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438 \u043d\u0430\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0438 \u043f\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044c\u044f \u0432 \u0433\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u0435\u043a”? If you’re not sure, then read on. Sometimes I set out to write a post about one thing, but life gets in the way and I end up writing about something totally different…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":1547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[12460,1237,1248,12459],"class_list":["post-1546","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language","tag-confusing-russian-words","tag-russian-grammar","tag-russian-language","tag-russian-paronyms"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t