just / precisely
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just then
Expresses that something happened just a moment ago or at exactly this moment. It is a colloquial alternative to 'gerade' (just/right now).
Ich wollte dich anrufen, aber du bist ja just in dem Moment zur Tür hereingekommen.
I wanted to call you, but you came through the door just then.
precisely
Used to emphasize something; in the sense of 'of all times' or 'precisely'.
Just heute, wo ich kein Geld dabei habe, sehe ich das perfekte Geschenk.
Precisely today, when I don't have any money with me, I see the perfect gift.
'Just' (just then/precisely) is a false friend of the English word 'just'. In German it means 'gerade eben' (just now) or 'ausgerechnet' (of all times/precisely), not 'nur' (only) or 'einfach' (simply).
Just als ich gehen wollte, hat das Telefon geklingelt.
Just as I was about to leave, the phone rang.
The word 'just' (just then/precisely) is perceived as somewhat more elevated or literary than the everyday 'gerade' (just/right now) or 'ausgerechnet' (of all times). It is often used to emphasize a moment in particular.
Er erreichte den Bahnhof und just in diesem Augenblick fuhr der Zug ab.
He reached the station, and just at that moment the train departed.
In the meaning 'ausgerechnet' (of all times/precisely), 'just' often expresses surprise, irony, or an unfortunate coincidence. It emphasizes that something happens at a particularly inconvenient or unexpected time.
Just an meinem freien Tag muss es den ganzen Tag regnen.
Precisely on my day off, it has to rain all day.
right now / straight
Both „gerade“ and „just“ can express that something is happening right now. „Gerade“ is the neutral choice, while „just“ is a stylistically marked, colloquial alternative with the same temporal meaning.
Ich schreibe dir just eine Nachricht.
I'm writing you a message right now.
Ich schreibe dir gerade eine Nachricht.
I'm writing you a message right now.
