I interpreted вот прям to mean right now, but I came across this sentence, where this wouldn't really make sense:
Я тебя вот прям уважаю, но...
What is the meaning here?
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1another equivalent which is even semantically close is 'straight up' - man, i (just) respect you, straight up - the difference as you may have noticed is that the Russian phrase goes for interrogative sentences as well– Баян Купи-каAug 24, 2016 at 20:35
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Thank you, DK, the fact that it makes no sense here was the point of my question :)– CocoPopAug 25, 2016 at 12:18
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3 Answers
One should most likely connect «вот» with «я», and «прям» with «уважаю». I think you should not connect «вот» and «прям» in one unit. "Listen, I respect you so much, but…”
“Вот" with “я” is often used to introduce some statement that is going to be new or unexpected: «я вот тебе скажу …», “я вот думаю …”, and so on. Such introduction might also mean that the statement is awkward, and I'm somewhat shy to say it.
«Прям» means that you shouldn't really think he doesn't respect you. The closest explanation is “plain”: my respect is something plain, there is readily that and that to say about my respect, so don't be mistaken thinking I don't respect you; better listen to what I say.
An example: «Я прямо не знаю …» — “Really, I don't know …” One might also translate: «я тебя прям уважаю, но» — “I really respect you, but…”
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Hey, what's the problem? The statement is true, the examples are telling, the exposition is clear, the translation is adequate. I think all that requires an exact statement of the reason for the downvote.– EvgeniyFeb 18, 2017 at 10:32
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Thank you! I don't know why I just saw your response, but it's very helpful indeed. I especially like your perspective on the use of вот as a personal "introduction" to what the speaker may find awkward to say outright. Good stuff!– CocoPopJun 29, 2018 at 14:12
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You only got my vote, but I liked your answer the most because it went below the surface and told me what I wanted to know)))– CocoPopJun 29, 2018 at 14:14
Прям(о) is a parasite word colloquially used to emphasize something. It could correspond to any of just, really, exactly or whichever you use for this task.
A pair of examples,
Я тебя прям зауважал --> You really earned my respect
Я прям не знаю что сказать --> I just don't know what to say
Это прям то что надо --> That's exactly what I/you/we/etc. need
"Вот прям" is a widespread pleonasm, as both words mean the same. Sort of "just really", I guess.
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Thank you, Matt. So in a way it's like the colloquial counterpart of как раз in these examples?– CocoPopAug 24, 2016 at 17:11
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@CocoPop "Как раз" is tricky. In (1) and (2) anyone could understand it as "by the way": "я как раз не знаю что сказать" --> "By the way, I don't know what to say". Or alternatively, if you do stress "Я" it becomes: "And for my part, I don't know what to say".– MattAug 24, 2016 at 17:52
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JUST REALLY is actually very expressive and common in English. Great analogy)))– CocoPopJun 29, 2018 at 14:13
вот прям has nothing to do with time. The closest translation will be "really", though it may wary depending on context
Examples:
вот прям щас – "right now". Note that it's usually used with "щас" instead of "сейчас", which is not a correct word, but imitation of how it sounds.
Я тебя вот прям уважаю — I do really respect you.
— показал охраннику паспорт моего друга и прошел — что, вот прям так и прошел?
— showed the guard my friend's document and walked in. – Really? Walked in, just like that?
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