betimlemek

Betimlemek is a Turkish verb meaning to describe or depict something in words. It is a transitive verb used to convey the characteristics, appearance, action, or situation of a subject, so that the listener or reader forms a clear mental image. In everyday and literary Turkish, betimlemek covers both factual description and descriptive narration.

The form is built from the noun betim (description, depiction) with the infinitive suffix -lemek, yielding betimlemek, “to describe/depict.” The related noun betimleme refers to the act or result of describing, while betimleyici is a descriptive attribute or person that describes in detail.

Usage and nuance: Betimlemek emphasizes the descriptive process. It is often used in essays, reviews, journalism, and narrative prose. It is commonly contrasted with tasvir etmek (to depict vividly) and anlatmak (to tell, recount); tasvir etmek can carry a stronger visual sense, while betimlemek stresses methodical description of features, conditions, or contexts.

Examples: “Yazar, karakterin iç dünyasını betimlemek için ayrıntılı tasvirler kullanır.” “Haber raporunda olayların akışını betimlemek için kronolojik bir anlatım tercih edildi.”

References: In Turkish dictionaries, betimlemek is defined as “bir şeyi betimlemek, tasvir etmek” and is linked to betimleme, betimleyici, and related terms.