Because different languages often lack semantic equivalents, translationmay require looking for other cross-linguistic correlations on the level of theutterance. To find a functional equivalent that is adequate to the translation of agiven context, the search should focus on pragmatic correspondences rather thansemantic equivalents. The present article examines this phenomenon on the basisof the Russian near-synonymous discursive units with focus-sensitive semanticsimenno (just/precisely) and kak raz (just/precisely). They are important elements ofcommunication but have far not been fully described. Using relevant lexicographicinformation, text corpora, including parallel corpora, and works of fiction, we aregoing to show that synonymy of these discursive units is not as complete as itappears at first glance. We will analyze their semantic and pragmatic properties,usage peculiarities as well as systemic and translational equivalents in English, German and Swedish.