Thread: же и уж

Can someone explain to me the difference between же and уж and how they are used. I know they are for emphasising but where do you put them in the sentance?

Thanks!

I'm not sure about уж but же comes right after the word you want to emphasize.

Here's some info and example sentences I pulled from a book. Hopefully it helps:

Source: Using Russian: A guide to contemporary usage by Derek Offord

же:

a) categoric emphasis on what the speaker considers a complellinng point or indisputable fact, eg
разве ты идёшь на работу? У тебя же температура!
Surely you aren't going to work? You've got a temperature after all!

я не умею играть в шахматы. вы же сами знаете, что не умею.
I can't play chess. You yourself know very well that I can't.

b) with imperatives, expresses insistence on the part of the speaker together with impatience or irritation, feigned at least, that the order has to be given or repeated, eg

Алёша! Иди же скорее сюда!
Aliosha, come here at once!

c) in questions, may indicate that the speaker cannot envisage or accept any answer other than the one he or she invites, eg

вы же не солжёте?
You surely wouldn't tell a lie, would you?

ты же не будешь утверждать, что не знаешь?
You're surely not going to say you don't know, are you?

d) in questions framed with an interrogative pronoun or adverb, may express incredulity or perplexity on the speaker's part, in which case it may correspond to the english suffix -ever, eg

где же ты был?
Wherever have you been?

почему же вы возвражаете на это?
Why on earth do you object to this?

что же ему подарить на рождество?
Whatever can we give him for Christmas?

e) may also be used in questions in which the speaker is aksing for precise information, eg

вы говорите, что кто-то погиб. Кто же погиб?
You said that somebody was killed. Who exactly was killed?

вы тоже живёте в центре города? на какой же улице?
So you live in the center of town as well? Which street do you live on?

уж:

a) expresses certainty about something the speaker considers incontestable, eg

как ты думаешь, не опоздаем?
уж не опоздаем! только шесть часов!

Do you think we'll be late?
Of course we won't! It's only 6!

по-моему, уж ясно, что нас подвели.
I think it's absolutely clear that they've let us down.

b) intensifies some word denoting affirmation, negation or degree, eg

ты устал?
да уж. плохо спалось.

Are you tired?
I certainly am. I slept badly.

Он уж совсем перестал заходить к нам.
He's completely given up calling on us.

c) expresses acceptance or concession, perhaps reluctant, eg

дай мне свой зонтик на день.
бери уж, толькл не забудь его в поезде.

Will you lend me your umbrella for the day?
All right, but don't leave it on the train.

сигареты тебе мешают? может, попросить, чтоб не курили?
уж пусть они курят.

Are the cigarettes bothering you? Shall we ask them to stop smoking?
Oh, let them smoke.

d) with an imperative, lends the order a blunt but good-natured tone, an air of camaraderie, eg

молчи уж об этом. тебе нечем гордиться.
Youd better keep quiet about that. You've got nothing to be proud of.

иди уж.
Get a move on!

Forgive any spelling errors, I typed this up in a hurry. (Yes, I typed ALL of it. For you. )

So you can kinda see where they stick those words in the example sentences.

Thank you so much thats a great help!
Hm looks complex, i’ll probably be studying this for the next month!

Wow! Thank you Saibot that is helpful to me too!

уж is also a grass snake.

Hey i've got another question. How do you say these words in a sentance, i mean are they emphasised or what?

Originally Posted by basurero

Hey i've got another question. How do you say these words in a sentance, i mean are they emphasised or what?

No, never emphasised.

Vow that surely is a nice book.
btw: "zhe" is a lot more common than "uzh".

saibot rules! это уж понятно всем!

Quiz: which rule did the above sentance fall under?

I believe it is this one!

a) expresses certainty about something the speaker considers incontestable, eg

как ты думаешь, не опоздаем?
уж не опоздаем! только шесть часов!

Do you think we'll be late?
Of course we won't! It's only 6!

по-моему, уж ясно, что нас подвели.
I think it's absolutely clear that they've let us down.

I think i might be getting the hang of it finally...

Clap clap! Ok, how about these:

у меня же нет денег!

-Ты хочешь пойти со мной в кино, Герти.
- нет уж...

пей же быстрее! мы тебя ждём!

Сайбот, почему же ты такой умный?

уж ты знаешь! я заменил мозгом Эйнштейна свой мозг!

Уж это причина!

(Я употребил то слово правильно?)

Какое слово?

Уж это причина is acceptable. It sounds a bit akward though.


saibot, in this case (if you've now got Einstein's brain) tell me something extremely clever plz.... I'm waiting.... Замути чё-нить такое, чтобы мне не по себе стало!

Originally Posted by ReDSanchous

Какое слово?

Уж это причина is acceptable. It sounds a bit akward though.

Слово "уж" конечно!

I tried. I was just trying to find a way to use the word.

Originally Posted by ReDSanchous

Какое слово?

Уж это причина is acceptable. It sounds a bit akward though.


saibot, in this case (if you've now got Einstein's brain) tell me something extremely clever plz.... I'm waiting.... Замути чё-нить такое, чтобы мне не по себе стало!

I can't come up with anything clever.

Einstein's brain is malfunctioning....

saibot, you just should have used the other word from the topic "ты же знаешь..."