Bedeutung
To go through difficult times.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase reflects the Finnish 'Sisu'—the idea that life is inherently hard, and surviving it is a virtue. It's often used without self-pity. Used extensively in literature about the World Wars to describe the physical and mental toll on soldiers and civilians. Increasingly used to describe the 'burnout' generation, though some older people feel this 'cheapens' the phrase compared to wartime hardship. In the countryside, it's used for machinery and buildings, showing a pragmatic relationship with the elements.
Use for objects
Don't be afraid to use this for your old laptop or shoes. It makes you sound very native and adds character to your speech.
Avoid for minor issues
If you use it for a rainy day, people will think you are being very sarcastic or that you don't understand the word.
Bedeutung
To go through difficult times.
Use for objects
Don't be afraid to use this for your old laptop or shoes. It makes you sound very native and adds character to your speech.
Avoid for minor issues
If you use it for a rainy day, people will think you are being very sarcastic or that you don't understand the word.
Perfect for 'Sisu' talk
If you are discussing Finnish culture or history, this is the essential vocabulary to describe the national character.
Empathy marker
When a friend tells you about a struggle, saying 'Olet kokenut kovia' is a powerful way to validate their feelings without being overly intrusive.
Teste dich selbst
Täytä tyhjä kohta oikealla muodolla.
Isoisäni on elämänsä aikana ______ kovia.
The sentence requires the perfect tense (on kokenut) to describe a life experience.
Mikä lause on luonnollisin?
Kun puhutaan vanhasta, rikkinäisestä autosta:
The idiom 'kokea kovia' is the standard way to describe a battered object.
Yhdistä tilanne ja oikea reaktio.
Ystäväsi kertoo, että hän on menettänyt työnsä ja asuntonsa.
'Kokea kovia' is the appropriate empathetic response to serious life setbacks.
Täydennä keskustelu.
A: Katso tätä vanhaa kirjaa! B: Se on todellakin ______ ______.
The verb 'kokea' is the standard partner for 'kovia' in this idiom.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
What can 'kokea kovia'?
People
- • War veterans
- • Refugees
- • Burnout victims
Objects
- • Old cars
- • Used books
- • Antique furniture
Entities
- • Companies
- • Villages
- • Languages
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenIsoisäni on elämänsä aikana ______ kovia.
The sentence requires the perfect tense (on kokenut) to describe a life experience.
Kun puhutaan vanhasta, rikkinäisestä autosta:
The idiom 'kokea kovia' is the standard way to describe a battered object.
Ystäväsi kertoo, että hän on menettänyt työnsä ja asuntonsa.
'Kokea kovia' is the appropriate empathetic response to serious life setbacks.
A: Katso tätä vanhaa kirjaa! B: Se on todellakin ______ ______.
The verb 'kokea' is the standard partner for 'kovia' in this idiom.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, it must be 'kovia'. The plural partitive is fixed in this idiom.
Yes, 'kovia' in this context always implies hardship, pain, or damage.
No, use 'kova treeni'. 'Kokea kovia' implies suffering, not effort.
It's neutral. You can use it with friends or in a newspaper article.
Usually, yes. It's often used in the past tense to describe someone who is still here despite the hardships.
'Kärsiä' (to suffer) is a general verb. 'Kokea kovia' is more narrative and descriptive of a life path.
Yes, 'He kokivat kovia' is very common.
Yes, it's a staple of the language and hasn't aged at all.
Yes, that's a common variation meaning 'to experience hard times'.
'Olen kokenut kovia.'
Yes, for example, a rescue dog can be said to have 'kokenut kovia'.
Not really. For positive experiences, you'd say 'kokea hienoja asioita'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
joutua koville
similarTo be put to a hard test
nähdä nälkää
specialized formTo suffer from hunger
päästä helpolla
contrastTo get off easy
elämänkoulu
builds onThe school of life
