Якраз meaning "actually"

Question

So in these examples:

1. він якраз в магазині зараз.
2. Я якраз хотіла зробити пару знімків того критого мосту по дорозі.
3. Якраз ії я розумію

I've seen people translate this usage of "якраз" as "actually". Then in this case, what would the difference be if I'd used instead "насправді"?

Answer 1

Dictionaries, indeed, translate якраз as actually. The problem is that both якраз and actually have several different meanings that do not perfectly match:

• Actually (1) = really; in fact;

  I will check what you're actually doing.

  A good Ukrainian equivalent for this meaning would be насправді.

• Actually (2) = the truth is; surprisingly:

  I thought he's tall. Actually, he's short.

  Here, actually = якраз.

As you may expect, words that have several meanings would not always retain all these meanings when translated.

Ukrainian якраз has a certain overlap with the English one, but not precisely. I believe it is better to explain it with short dialogues.

• Якраз (1) = right at the moment; right at the opportunity.

  Moment:

  — You said he will go to the shop.
  — You caught me right at the moment when he is in the shop. — Він якраз у магазині

  Opportunity:

  — Let's go to a neighboring town.
  — Good idea, I just wanted to take a photo of that covered bridge in the midway — Я якраз хотіла зробити пару знімків того критого мосту по дорозі.

  Note that він якраз у магазині can be the opportunity, too:

  — I forgot to buy milk.
  — Call him to buy it for you. He's at the shop right now.

• Якраз (2) = on the contrary; surprisingly;

  Imagine a dialog:

  — I understand her.
  — No, you said don't understand anyone.
  — (yes, I agree that I don't understand anyone, but) I do understand her nevertheless. — Якраз ії я розумію

• Якраз (3) = fit for

  There's one more meaning of якраз, just for completeness:

  These shoes fit for me — Ці туфлі мені якраз.